QOOT, the primary Lebanese cluster for agri-food innovation, announced Thursday night the six winners of the third edition of its Agri-Food Innovation Award (AFIA), during a ceremony held at Sursock Museum.  Under the patronage of the economy and trade, agriculture and industry ministries, the goal of the award is to highlight creators and innovative products in the agri-food sector.  The winners were chosen in six categories: 1) Alcoholic beverages: Distilleries du Levant for their cider, Tiny Moon.  2) Snacks: Taqa Snacks for their olive tapenade biscuits. 3) Health and wellness products: Mediterranean Food Company for their instant Soupreem soup. 4) Non-alcoholic beverages: Cortas Canning and Refrigerating for their lavender water. 5) Grocery products: Delta Group for their ready-to-use lentil puree (mjaddara) mix. 6) Refrigerated and frozen products: Caprices du Palais for their carob, Oh My Gelato.  In addition to visibility and a $2,500 grant for each winner dedicated to the research and development of their product, the recipients receive a free one-year membership to the QOOT Cluster. This includes opportunities to network, collaborate and participate in various activities with leading players in the agri-food sector.  For the 2025 edition, the call for applications launched on Sept. 30 and remained open until Nov. 10. After this phase, 97 products from 67 Lebanese companies were selected.  Along with the jury’s scores, the selection process also included public voting, in which around 50,000 people participated, according to Marc Bou Zeidan, executive director of QOOT Cluster. (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: L'Orient Today