The Agricultural Research Center (ARC) has launched the first phase of field activities for the European FUSION Project, focusing on the tomato and pepper value chains. The coordination meeting brought together representatives from ARC, the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority – EAEA, and Participatory Development Solutions – ElMahrousa PDS, marking a key step toward implementing innovative solutions to reduce food loss in Egypt.
During the meeting, the partners established clear roles and responsibilities and adopted a standardized survey tool to collect field-level data, identify pre- and post-harvest challenges, and gain a detailed understanding of food loss, handling practices, and storage issues.
The survey targets were defined as follows:
Tomatoes: 12–15 surveys covering both open-field and greenhouse systems
Peppers: 10–15 surveys, including local varieties and international types such as California Wonder and Lamuyo
Field activities will cover 25 to 30 representative production zones, including:
Delta: Kafr El-Sheikh, Qalyubia, Dakahlia, and Beheira
Middle Egypt: Fayoum, Beni Suef, and Giza
Upper Egypt: Minya, Luxor, and Aswan
To document the process, the team will produce short videos capturing the five key post-harvest stages, while working closely with local farmers, exporters, and authorities to ensure accurate data collection and validation of best practices.
These efforts represent a crucial first step toward data-driven, sustainable solutions aimed at reducing food loss and improving efficiency in the tomato and pepper value chains in Egypt, ultimately contributing to food security and sustainability across the region.
