Agri-food Innovation Award

Under the Patronage of the Minister of Industry of Lebanon, H.E. George Boujikian, the Agrifood Innovation Award praises Lebanon’s Agrifood manufacturers, aiming at recognizing ground-breaking innovations in the Lebanese Agrifood sector.

Applications are closed

QOOT Agrifood Innovation Award Trophy

Eligible Product Categories

Products in the Agrifood Innovation Awards are judged across these 6 categories:

Bars, biscuits, bread, cakes, cereal-based products, chips, chocolate, cookies, crackers, crisps, nuts, pastries, savoury pies.

High protein, low carbs, low fat, and alternative foods such as dairy free, gluten free, sugar free and vegan.

Confectioneries, condiments, conserves, dressings, jams, jellies, preserves and sauces.

Dairy products, frozen vegetables, meat products and ready to eat products.

Alcoholic cocktails, beers, ciders, liqueurs, meads, perries, seltzers, spirits, wine and distilled spirits such as brandy, cognac, gin, pisco, rum, tequila, vodka and whisky.

Coffee, hot drinks, infusions, juices, non-alcoholic cocktails, soft and fermented drinks, tea.

Participation Fees

Early Bird

March 15  - April 10
$ 20
00
per entry
  • Qoot Cluster members get 2 free entries
  • Products can be submitted into multiple categories.

Regular

April 11 – April 20
$ 35
00
per entry
  • Qoot Cluster members get 2 free entries
  • Products can be submitted into multiple categories.

Late Registration

April 21 – April 30
$ 50
00
per entry
  • Qoot Cluster members get 2 free entries
  • Products can be submitted into multiple categories.

Gain nation-wide recognition

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Applications are closed

Applications are closed

The nominees for the Agrifood Innovation Award will be assessed through a cumulative scoring summing the experts’ grades and the grand public voting.

Judging Process

Entries Evaluation is the cumulative scoring of the judging criteria results and the grand public voting results:

Voting

All nominees can boost their chances of winning through online voting.

Prizes*

Finalist and winning products earn the Agrifood Innovation Award’s quality mark to highlight their innovation capability, consumer acceptability, regulatory compliance, and food quality and safety to shoppers and industry.

Terms and conditions apply

Trophy & Certificate

A nationwide symbol of agrifood innovation will be printed in the winner's name.

1-year Free Membership

1-year free membership in the QOOT cluster
Free-of-charge access to one QOOT activity of choice.

Voucher

USD 3000 in-kind through laboratory analyses

AFID2023 Exposure

Interview promoting the win on QOOT and Berytech social media channels and website.

Winner's Seal

An official digital seal will be granted for use on the winning product.

Online Exposure

The story is featured on the Berytech website and social media platforms.

Partner Prizes

Spinneys Lebanon

Showcase at Spinneys

on a Qoot branded stand displayed for 3 months (size 1.5x1.5 designed and provided by Qoot)

Install Shelf Talkers

An official digital seal will be granted for use on the winning product.

1-month Promotion

for the 6 winning brands on the Spinneys screens network

50% Off

on Spinneys promotional price list for a period of 3 months

Listing

Facilitating the listing of the winning products at Gray Mackenzie Retail Lebanon outlets

Fattal Group

Capacity Building

on road to market and business development plan which can potentially result in an distribution agreement with Fattal Group.

AIL Lebanon

First-year ISO 22000:2018 Certificate Audit

Read Terms and Conditions

Showcase your innovation

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Applications are closed

Meet the Jury

Our Judges represent a cross-section of the industry and bring technical, culinary, scientific, and commercial expertise to the awards.
Alejandro Rodarte

Alejandro Rodarte

Senior Policy Manager, FoodDrinkEurope

Brahms Chouity

Brahms Chouity

Serial Entrepreneur & Social Influencer

Hassan Ezzeldine

Hassan Ezzeldine

Chairman of Gray Mackenzie Retail Lebanon

Joseph Matta

Joseph Matta

Professor / Applied Research and Testing Director, Industrial Research Institute (IRI)

Mohamad Abiad

Director, Laboratories for the Environment, Agriculture, & Food (LEAF)
Professor & Coordinator, Food Science & Management Program

Nicole Maftoum

Nicole Maftoum

Entrepreneur, Dietitian, Food blogger and Home cook

Sally El Armaly Yacoub Fattal

Sally El Armaly Yacoub

Head of Food & Beverage at Fattal Group

Meet the 2023 Winners

(by category)

The Original Hummus Bar

Tradition is what binds generations and keeps memories of the past alive. In the foothills of Mount Hermon in the picturesque village of Rashaya, one tradition in particular has not only survived, but has served to enrich this community and its inhabitants. For centuries, Rashaya and the surrounding areas have been known for their successful grape growing industry. Rashaya is the home of the Kadamani family and the place where their great grandfather’s love for the vines and its offerings inspired him to produce this sweet creation, grape molasses. The recipe and devotion has bridged over four generations of the family.
Utilizing traditions passed down from their ancestors, today Grapeful has raised the bar, adding modern technology and applying advanced standards of food safety to continue producing the sweet molasses, grape syrup and energy bars.

Kids Bites

Today our kids are bombarded with junk, unhealthy, heavily processed, sweetened with refined sugar, and chemically preserved snacks.

KIDS BITES are puffs that are healthy, safe, and nutritious alternatives, made from real food ingredients only. It can be consumed by all the members of the family.

NEVER BAKED OR FRIED. GLUTEN AND WHEAT FREE. MADE OF REAL FOOD SUCH AS GRAINS, MILK AND CORN. NO ARTIFICIAL FLAVORING. NO COLORINGS. NO ADDED SUGAR. ONE NUTRITIOUS MEAL. RICH IN VITAMINS AND CALCIUM.

It’s not just about eating a snack full of protein and vitamins; it is also a guaranteed way to start a new healthy lifestyle that will improve the overall health of your little ones.

Del Libano Lasagna

Del Libano Lasagna is made from 100% Lebanese Durum Wheat with high protein 13% and Pure Mount
Lebanon water with absolutely no additives, colorings, or preservatives. It’s the first time ever that
Lasagna is made in Lebanon.
We procure durum wheat from Lebanese farmers
Clean it from any rocks, sand, dust, dirt, straws, or metal
Wash it in pure mountain water
Mill it after removing the outside layer (the bran) to produce pure durum wheat flour
Mix the flour with pure mount Lebanon water under vacuum
Extrude it to produce Lasagna
Dry it slowly for many hours to obtain a pasteurized product with low humidity
Pack it to be shipped and enjoyed by our customers around the world.
Lasagna is Made with Love.

Gutdolli Mushroom Ravioli

Mushrooms Ravioli

Gudtolli specializes in crafting exceptional stuffed pasta, with a particular focus on our mouthwatering Ravioli Cepes featuring Lebanese mushrooms. Our ravioli stands out not only for its exquisite taste but also for its vibrant natural colors derived from fresh spinach, basil, carrots, and pumpkin.

At Gudtolli, we take care in perfecting the texture and flavor of our product. Instead of simply blending herbs and ingredients, we meticulously mince them to ensure each ravioli is bursting with fresh and distinct flavors.

What sets our ravioli apart is its incredible tenderness, providing a truly delightful culinary experience.
Visit Gudtolli online shop at www.gudtolli.com or contact us at +961 81 717437.

Za'atar Liqueur

Crafted by hand, The Good Thymes Zaatar liqueur is the result of a unique terroir that offers freshness
and minerality. It offers a splendid aroma that will put you on a journey through
the mountains of our highlands. Enjoy it as a digestif or spice it up in a refreshing
cocktail for the ultimate savory experience

Tearapy Functional Tea

A Blend of Tradition and Innovation in Every Cup
Our journey with Tearapy began with the influence of our beloved grandparents, who instilled in us a deep appreciation for the power of herbal teas.

At Tearapy, we believe that every cup of tea should tell a story. That’s why we are dedicated to sourcing the finest natural and responsibly grown ingredients, ensuring the highest quality and authenticity. From soothing blends that inspire tranquility to invigorating infusions that boost energy, we strive to create a diverse and captivating range of teas that cater to the diverse needs and preferences of tea lovers everywhere.

Triana logo

The winner ceremony takes place during

The Agri-Food Innovation Days (AFID) returns in its fourth edition plotting Lebanon on the regional agri-food innovation map.

2-day global event
30+ exhibiting startups
10+ activities
5000 expected attendees
25 speakers
12 programs
10 economic delegations from across continents
50 companies
150 matchmaking sessions

Award Highlights 2023

Agrifood Innovation Award Partners

Gray Mackenzie Lebanon
Fattal Group

Benefit from practical prizes

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Applications are closed

QOOT Cluster contributes to the below United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

SDG9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG17 Partnerships for the Goals
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

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Alejandro Rodarte
Agri-food Innovation Award

Alejandro Rodarte

Senior Policy Manager

Food Drink Europe

Alejandro Rodarte is Senior Food Policy Manager at FoodDrinkEurope, which represents the European food and drink manufacturers.
Alejandro is a Food Chemist from Mexico City’s National University and studied International Agricultural Sciences at the Humboldt University of Berlin. What in his words, ‘has greatly contributed to have a holistic approach to the agri-food supply chain and food systems’.

Since 2007 he has worked in food quality and safety in various roles from researcher to scientific manager in EU funded projects, both in Berlin and in Rome.
From the research and development sector, Alejandro joined the Brussels world of regulatory affairs in 2017 representing the savoury snacks and later the horticultural sector.

At FoodDrinkEurope, he covers since 2019 the areas of Food Contact Materials, Contaminants, Process Contaminants, and Novel Foods; helping to achieve an adequate regulatory environment where food businesses can operate and thrive.

He is a passionate biker and supporter of sustainable mobility, loves to learn languages, and of course, all things food related.

Brahms Chouity
Agri-food Innovation Award

Brahms Chouity

Serial Entrepreneur & Social Influencer

Brahms is a serial entrepreneur, a global award-winning social media influencer, a two-time TEDx Speaker, and one of the Arab World’s leading food and lifestyle media content creators. He is an Australian national who was raised in KSA, but has also lived in Europe, USA and Asia, and is native in Arabic, English & French.

Brahms holds a Bsc. in International Hotel Management and an MB in Hospitality Investment from the prestigious Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne, and is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). He has spent the last 20 years of his life building some of the region’s most exciting and successful companies. With almost 30 start-ups under his belt, he has built concepts in fields ranging from F&B consulting and hospitality investment, to interior decoration and luxury lifestyle management, to gaming, motorsports and online publishing.

Brahms has been named by Executive Magazine as one of the region’s “Top 20 Entrepreneur”, and is a member of the prestigious “Endeavor High Impact Entrepreneur Network”. He has produced several food and travel shows, and amassed a large and loyal online following, became a Brand Ambassador for several international and local brands (namely Spinney’s, Starbucks, Zomato, Lipton, Lurpak, The Art of Shaving…) and established himself as the Arab World’s leading food & lifestyle blogger. Brahms has recently won the “Best International Food Blogger Award” at the World Bloggers Awards held in Cannes, alongside famous international stars such as Victoria Silvstedt, Nusret, Gianluca Vacchi, and FoodGod.

Hassan Ezzeldine
Agri-food Innovation Award

Hassan Ezzeldine

Chairman of Gray Mackenzie Retail Lebanon

Executive Chairman of Gray Mackenzie Retail Lebanon, the leading retail chain of one-stop-shops in Lebanon, including 50 stores under 4 different formats; Spinneys, Happy Discount Store, Grab’N Go Convenience Store, and Signature by Spinneys Gourmet Store.

Returned to Lebanon after several years abroad, lead by passion for entrepreneurship and strong beliefs in the country and the retail industry, where he sees opportunity for change.
Philanthropist and active board member at The Children Cancer Center of Lebanon.

Joseph Matta
Agri-food Innovation Award

Joseph Matta

Professor / Applied Research and Testing Director, Industrial Research Institute (IRI)

Professor Joseph MATTA holds a PhD degree from the University of Lille, France since 2001 and a Post-Doctorate since 2002 from the Louis Pasteur University, France.

Professor MATTA is the Applied Research and Testing Director of the Industrial Research Institute (IRI). He joined the faculty members of the Saint Joseph University, Faculty of Pharmacy, in 2001. He provided scientific interaction between universities and industries at the local and international level to ensure multiple projects and research. He published more than 100 international scintific articles.

He is a member of several scientific committees (Lebanese Institution of Standards, Codex Alimentarius..,). At the international level, he is member of the Technical Committee of the Scientific Association of Reference Laboratories “European Federation of National Associations of Measurement, Testing and Analytical Laboratories.” In addition, he is a lead auditor of the Food Safety Management Systems ISO 22000 and the competence of the analysis and testing laboratories ISO 17025, member of Technical Committees of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Member of the AOAC International.

Agri-food Innovation Award

Mohamad Abiad

Director, Laboratories for the Environment, Agriculture, & Food (LEAF)
Professor & Coordinator, Food Science & Management Program

Dr. Mohamad Abiad is a Professor of Food Processing and Packaging at the Department of Nutrition & Food Sciences and the Director of the Laboratories for the Environment, Agriculture, & Food (LEAF) at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut. He also holds an adjunct faculty position at the School of Packaging, Michigan State University, USA.
Dr. Abiad is also the Senior Advisor for the Minister of Environment and a member of several Ministerial committees, including the National Committee for the Central Public Health Laboratory and the National Committee on Food Safety at the Ministry of Public Health, Chair of the Scientific Committee Assessing Grains at Beirut Seaport following the explosion of August 4, 2020, and a member of several National Committees for Lebanese Standards at the Ministry of Industry’s LIBNOR.
Dr. Abiad holds a Bachelor of Engineering, an MBA, a Master of Science in Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Food Process Engineering. Dr. Abiad is a Lifetime Certified Packaging Professional (CPP-L) from the Institute of Packaging Professionals and a Certified Environmental Sampler (CES). He is Certified by the Better Process Control School on Canned Foods, Principles of Thermal Process Control, Acidification and Container Closure Evaluation, and PCQI Certified by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance.
Dr. Abiad is a member of several professional organizations, including the Institute of Packaging Professionals; the Institute of Food Technologists; the International Society of Food Engineering; the Food Safety Alliance for Packaging; the Registry of International Environmental Samplers, as well as the Order of Engineers and Architects.
Dr. Abiad’s research focuses on sustainability and recycling as it relates to the agro-food sector, mainly working on food waste mitigation and conversion into added-value products. He also investigates food waste recycling, packaging design, innovation, and product development. Dr. Abiad is well-published, with more than 60 publications in international high-tier peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and reports.
Dr. Abiad has more than 20 years of consulting experience in the agro-food industry, working with private companies in Lebanon, the Middle East, & the North African region. He has also worked with several funding programs, including the European Union, PRIMA Horizon 2020, USAID, FAO, UNDP, and ESCWA. He has organized over a dozen capacity-building workshops on various topics related to the food industry, food waste and food loss, and participated in various international conferences presenting his research.

Nicole Maftoum
Agri-food Innovation Award

Nicole Maftoum

Entrepreneur, Dietitian, Food blogger and Home cook

Entrepreneur, Dietitian, Food blogger, and Home cook, Nicole Maftoum is the founder of Eat Like Nicole. She was born and raised in a house where cooking and eating were the essences of showing love and celebrating life in all its forms. Inspired by her parents’ passion, she started mixing, matching, and creating recipes at the age of 10 when she baked a cake for the first time…
She is a firm believer that one shouldn’t be obsessed with calorie counting, but rather enjoy good food and try cooking from scratch using fresh and natural ingredients.

In addition to being a Clinical Dietitian and enabling Dietetic consultations to her patients in her Clinic, she is a Business and Communication Dietitian, with a weekly presence on Lebanese TV and Radio stations (for the past 11 years) sharing tips and recipes throughout her segments. And as a Nutrition columnist for several Lebanese magazines, she covers the latest trends in the nutrition and food industry. As part of her mission in education about healthy eating, she created a school campaign “Think.Eat.Succeed.”, visiting more than 50 schools, increasing students’ awareness about healthy eating and initiating them to cooking. Also created “The Wellness Program for employees” that she implemented in several corporations.

Sally El Armaly Yacoub Fattal
Agri-food Innovation Award

Sally El Armaly Yacoub

Head of Food & Beverage at Fattal Group

Sally El Armaly Yacoub is an accomplished Head of Division with extensive experience in the consumer goods industry. With a strong background in Marketing Management, Business Planning, Market Planning, Sales Management, and Market Analysis, she has effectively managed the distribution of FMCG brands while ensuring the preservation and enhancement of brand owners’ strategies and the profitability of the distributor. Sally holds a Mastère en Marketing from Ecole Supérieure des Affaires, which has equipped her with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in her field. Currently, she holds the position of Head of Food and Beverage at Fattal Group, where she has made significant contributions to the company’s success. Sally is an asset to any organization she works with, and her dedication and expertise have earned her a reputation as a highly effective leader in her field.