Bucharest Polytechnic, through the Faculty of Biotechnical Systems Engineering, will organize BIOFEST between April 23 and 25, an event that transforms the university campus into a space dedicated to innovative solutions for the future of food, agriculture and sustainability.

According to the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, BIOFEST 2026 highlights technologies that 'radically' change the way agricultural production is done - from intelligent systems for monitoring and optimizing crops, to solutions that reduce waste and increase the efficiency of production chains. The event aims to show the public that innovation is no longer an abstract concept, but a necessity.

'From solutions for traceability and quality control, to new methods of food processing and preservation, BIOFEST offers a perspective on how the entire food chain is transforming to become safer, more efficient and more transparent. (...) As more and more people live in urban environments, an essential question arises: how can we integrate sustainability into everyday life? The area dedicated to home and garden solutions brings to the forefront technologies and concepts that transform urban spaces into more efficient and environmentally friendly environments. From solutions for reducing consumption, to ideas for urban gardening and the intelligent use of resources, visitors can discover how small changes can have a real impact,' claim the organizers.

BIOFEST 2026 also includes an area dedicated to visitors who want to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. They will be able to purchase a wide range of plants and horticultural products, along with useful accessories for gardening and landscaping. Visitors can purchase from aromatic plants such as lovage, bay, lavender or basil, to fruit trees, classic species (apple, pear, cherry, sour cherry) or less common varieties such as kaki, Issai kiwi, fig, pomegranate or 'northern banana'.

The public will also be able to discover a diverse selection of decorative plants, including magnolias, roses, ornamental shrubs and seasonal flowers. This area offers not only the opportunity to purchase, but also inspiration for the design of sustainable green spaces, whether it is gardens, balconies or urban courtyards.

The event will also feature the 6th edition of the 'Food You Trust' international symposium, held on April 23 and 24, 2026, in the Senate Hall. The symposium brings together authorities, researchers and representatives of the food and retail industry.

Organized by ICA Research & Development, in collaboration with the Faculty of Biotechnical Systems Engineering, this year's symposium is the main forum for technical and strategic analysis dedicated to the new requirements imposed by the European Union in the field of food safety. The current edition is entitled 'The Zero Tolerance Paradigm: Listeria monocytogenes Control in the Era of Sustainability and the Fight Against Food Waste'.

The debate is prompted by the strict amendments to Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs, the set of amendments that will enter into force on 1 July 2026.

An important focus is placed on the concept of 'food you trust', the idea of offering consumers safe, transparent food that complies with the latest European regulations. In this context, topics such as product traceability, correct labeling, food safety control and responsibility throughout the food chain will be addressed and studies as well as the most modern analytical techniques that support the aforementioned themes will be presented.

Discussions will focus on how industry operators can adapt to these requirements, not only from a legislative compliance perspective, but also as an opportunity to build a stronger relationship with consumers. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Roberto Stan, editing by: Mihai Simionescu; EN - writing by: Catalin Cristian Trandafir)