Growing and processing raisin tomato in Tigray Note: This project has been cancelled, because no information on the progress of the project has been received by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.Establishment of a raisin tomato plantation and a raisin tomato drying facility. The annual dried tomatoes market worldwide is estimated to be about 150 million euro, with a production of 44,000 tons. Major part of this production are the traditional dried tomatoes, produced by adding salt or sulphur to dehydrate the cut tomatoes. Over the last 15 years, a new method of drying tomatoes was developed in the USA: the oven dry dried tomatoes. For this process, the tomatoes still need to be cut and passed through ovens at 170°C.The Ethiopian company Romtom Agri plc holds the exclusivity rights for the production in Ethiopia and the sales of self-dehydrating raisin tomatoes. It has the advantage that in order to produce the dried tomato with 18% moisture content, there is no need to cut the tomato, no additives are needed and it only needs an oven at 40°C. The company has started the first commercial production site in Ethiopia together with the Israeli applicant company Cohen Brothers Ltd. The latter will take care of the marketing and sales of the dried raisin tomatoes. The project invested in a raisin tomato plantation near Mehoni in the Tigray Region. This is a remote area 150 km south of Mekele, where hardly any foreign investments are taking place. The project will create employment for 186 people and will contract two outgrowers. The company will be certified GlobalGAP, ISO 9001, BRC and Kosher in order to assure sustainable and food safe production as well as corporate social policies. Within two years after the project, the company will be doubled in size.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The joint venture will develop its own CSR policy, conduct a EIA and implement all recommendations and obtain ISO 9001, BRC, GlobalGAP, IFA and Kosher certifications. The joint venture will follow the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI) base code, guaranteeing the basic working conditions. A healthy and safe working place is guaranteed. It is an equal opportunities employer. Discrimination on whatever ground is not be tolerated. Chain responsibility is assured also towards the outgrowers. It will not enter in corruption. Environmental management is strict. The rights of the local population are respected, the obtained land has never been used for agriculture.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe company will employ 186 full-time employees of which 16 at high- and medium-level. This will grow to 365 people of which 29 at high- and medium-level. Wages are at least be 25% above the local minimum, following the ETI base code. In addition, the personnel will receive transport to the farm, housing allowances, reimbursement of medical expenditures, free medical check-up, small size loans if needed, subsidized lunch, work clothes, access to training and education, literacy education for employees and their family members, access to a HIV/AIDS prevention and family planning programme. If possible in the region, a small store will be opened to sell subsidized basic items like teff, beans, tomatoes paste and soap.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThe following parts of the knowledge transfer are new for the country:-	Dry and semi dry fruit and vegetable production and processing.-	Self-dehydrating tomatoes and the processes behind it. The agronomists and the St Mary’s College at Mekele will receive the knowledge.-	A drier processing factory which optimally uses natural sunlight heat by capturing it in the innovative roof construction.-	Natural drying process.-	Outgrower training in raisin tomato growing.-	Zero-chemical packaging.The local farmers can benefit from the obtained knowledge in improving their own agricultural production.•	Chain effectsThe project will start to work with two outgrowers on 0.1 ha, both would need 2-3 workers to assist them. In the two years after the project the size of their fields will be increased to 6 ha in total, needing nearly 100 people for planting, weed control and harvesting. On the long run the number of outgrowers will be increased. For that purpose, the project will organise two farmer fields days for 25 farmers in order to train them already in the use of modern agricultural technologies and start building a relationship. The arrangements with the outgrowers will be defined in the outgrower contracts.The introduction of modern agro technologies in the Region will open up the option for local subsistence farmers to enter in cash crop production, for instance of spices and herbs. Introducing the innovative drying technology will also give ideas for others to start drying of fruits, herbs or other vegetables.The project will generate employment for local subcontractors as transport companies, suppliers of fertilisers and agrochemicals, packaging materials, food, fuel, accounting services, etc.•	EnvironmentThe project will have a neutral impact on the environment. In order to minimise risks and negative effects, an environmental impact assessment will be conducted and its recommendations implemented. In order to minimise water consumption a modern, computerised drip fertigation system will be used. It will install a monitoring system, which reports daily to the local agronomists and weekly to the experts in Israel. The joint venture will be GlobalGAP certified, assuring a responsible use of fertilisers and agrochemicals. By using a net greenhouse, 95% of the insects will be prevented to enter the crop area, drastically reducing the need for pesticides and almost eliminating the risks associated with virus infestations. In case spraying is needed, the company will use self-moving spraying machines using small droplets, covering both sides of the leaves. This will reduce the usage of fungicides, while increasing efficiency of the fumigation and decreases the exposure of the employees to chemicals. By using mulching technology it reduces the need for herbicides and the transpiration of water.Overall, dried raisin tomatoes is an environmentally friendly alternative to classic dried tomatoes by not adding salt, sulphur or other chemicals and by reducing the energy for the drying process.•	Position of womenAt least 65% of the workforce will be women. Ten out of the 16 management positions will be for women, for instance the local agronomist, manager of the drier facility but also in the administrative positions. Establishment of a raisin tomato plantation and a raisin tomato drying facility.