A hackathon titled “Local Production and Food Safety” was held at Mingachevir State University with the aim of promoting innovative approaches in the field of food safety, supporting the development of local production, and encouraging young people’s creative initiatives in this area. The event was jointly organized by the Department of Physics and Ecology and the Department of Information Technologies, providing students with broad opportunities to present innovative solutions to current challenges related to food production and safety.

Within the framework of the hackathon, participants developed various projects aimed at expanding local production, strengthening quality control of food products, and ensuring safety at all stages from production to consumption. Student teams worked on digital systems for tracking agricultural products, technological solutions for monitoring food quality, platforms designed to optimize logistics and supply chains, as well as innovative models that increase market access for local producers.

The main objective of the event was to encourage students to approach the issues of food safety and local economic development more deeply and motivate them to propose technology-based solutions to real-world challenges. Working in teams, participants developed their ideas from the conceptual stage into project models and prepared presentations explaining their practical applicability and economic efficiency.

During the final stage of the hackathon, the participating teams presented their projects to the jury panel. The evaluation process considered criteria such as innovativeness, applicability, and the potential contribution of the projects to food safety and the development of local production. The most promising ideas selected by the jury were specially recognized, and participants received recommendations for the further development of their initiatives.

It should be noted that such initiatives organized at Mingachevir State University promote students’ creative and innovative approaches to socio-economic challenges and contribute significantly to strengthening the startup and innovation environment at the university. These events enable young people to combine theoretical knowledge with practical projects and support the emergence of new ideas that can contribute to the country’s economic and social development.