Production of high-quality Medjool date paste The date production in the Jordan Valley is increasing. A large portion of the harvest is third grade quality which cannot be sold as whole fruit. This is usually processed into paste and syrup in other countries. As date farming was until recently relatively small in the Palestinian Territories, the processing does not exist except for small-scale household activity, which only takes part of the produced quantities. The partners therefore have taken up the challenge to establish a date paste and date syrup processing line. The project is located in Ojah, near Jericho. The processing line will be installed in the already existing fruit/vegetable processing/grading facility of the local partner of the project. The projected cold storage facilities will also be built on the site. The applicant is SH Biaugeaud AS, an engineering company from Merignac, France. The local partner of the project is Palestine Gardens Company. The partners will establish a joint venture company for the project.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The partners will introduce good secondary employment conditions in the joint venture by giving permanent workers contracts that will specify work times, wages, payment terms and leave arrangements. The wages for seasonal workers will be at 20% above minimum wage level, the payment of permanent workers at 40% above minimum.The production will be HACCP certified and the company will be ISO 14001 certified.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsPermanent workers will be paid at least at living wage level; seasonal workers will be paid at 120% above minimum wages. As fringe benefits the employees will receive free meals and health insurance.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeAt this moment, there is no professional date paste and date syrup production in the Palestinian Territories.•	Chain effectsImpact on local suppliersSome of the third grade dates will be purchased from farmers or colleagues. The additional income for the farmers for third class dates will be 150 euro per tonne. The joint venture will get supplies from packaging producers and transport companies.Impact on local customers or consumersThe project will make available date paste and date syrup from locally produced dates for both processors and households.•	Impact on the sectorThe partners intend to seek cooperation with educational institutions and farmers associations for cooperation on knowledge, quality standards and production technology.•	EnvironmentThe third grade dates, that are now regarded as waste will be processed into valuable food ingredients. The water for the processing will be recycled and reused.•	Position of womenA large number of women will get employment on basic-level of whom some on seasonal contracts. Also a few women will be employed on medium-level.•	Impact on food safetyThe project will convert low class dates that are now treated as waste into nutritious ingredients for the food industry.•	Impact on waterLittle impact, as the processing water will be recycled. The aim of the project is to establish a date processing facility with a production capacity of 1,000 tons of date paste and 1,500 tons of date syrup annually and a deep freezing store for the raw material to be available throughout the year with a capaci