A BAHAMIAN agriculture student is among three semifinalists in an international sustainability competition after helping develop biodegradable packaging made from coffee-processing waste.

Aaron John, a 2017 graduate of the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI), and fellow Agricultural Engineering student Heran Mekonnen Gebrewahid of Ethiopia are developing Bereka BioPacks, a venture that aims to transform coffee pulp into environmentally friendly packaging products.

The pair, who are studying at EARTH University in Costa Rica, advanced from an initial field of 16 student businesses to the final three in the university's Sustainability Prize Program.

Mr John said reaching the semifinal stage was an encouraging sign that the concept has commercial potential.

The venture is based on a circular economy model, seeking to convert agricultural waste into raw material for new products instead of allowing it to be discarded.

The team plans to test the material for strength, durability, moisture resistance, biodegradability, manufacturability and cost before deciding which products offer the greatest commercial potential. Proposed applications include food containers, seedling trays, protective packaging and biodegradable sheets.

Initially, the project is focused on Ethiopia's coffee industry, drawing on Mr Gebrewahid's knowledge of the country's coffee sector. However, the students believe the technology could eventually be adapted for use in other coffee-producing countries.

The next stage of the competition includes a US$1,000 development allowance and mentorship while the team continues refining the product over the next year before finalists are selected.

Mr John, who enrolled at EARTH University in 2023 and is expected to graduate in 2027, credited his education at BAMSI with shaping his interest in agricultural engineering and sustainability.

He said he believes similar value-added approaches could be applied in The Bahamas to reduce agricultural waste while creating new business opportunities.

"I personally believe that these concepts of adding value to agricultural by-products can easily be applied to The Bahamas so that as Bahamians we can add value to our rapidly expanding agriculture sector while minimizing the waste produced," he said.

BAMSI president Dr Raveenia Roberts-Hanna said Mr John's achievements demonstrate how agricultural education can lead to innovation beyond traditional farming and encourage students to develop practical solutions to environmental challenges.