Workshop title: Collaborative Assessment of Food Loss and Waste in Lebanon: Challenges and Pathways for Action in the Tomato and Pepper Value Chains
Project: FUSION
Date: 19 November 2025
Place: Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Zahle and the Bekaa
Participants: 30 (20 women -10 men)
Workshop Overview ICU and Consumers Lebanon, under the FUSION project within the PRIMA program, organized a workshop titled “Collaborative Assessment of Food Loss and Waste in Lebanon: Challenges and Pathways for Action in the Tomato and Pepper Value Chains.”
The workshop began with welcoming remarks outlining the activity’s objectives, expected outcomes, followed by an overview of the FUSION project, including its partners and projected impact on Lebanon’s agri-food sector. Thereafter, a presentation was delivered on the global and regional trends in food waste and loss with emphasis on the Mediterranean context, the main causes of these losses within the tomato and pepper production chains, including production inefficiencies, post-harvest handling, processing gaps and retail practices, and examples of innovative practices and solutions to reduce waste at various stages of the value chain.
One participant also presented insights into dried tomato and pepper production, highlighting recent technological advancements and innovative drying methods that can help minimize losses and increase product value.
Finally, the participants were divided into three specialized working groups (production, processing, distribution/retail), to analyze the technical, behavioral, and policy challenges facing the targeted food chains. Each group developed practical solutions and proposed actionable recommendations for the short, medium, and long term.
This event gathered key stakeholders from the agricultural and food sectors to discuss challenges, exchange knowledge, and explore effective pathways to reduce food loss and waste
