Establishing an application laboratory in Jordan Note: This project has been cancelled, because the applicant has requested to prematurely terminate the project.Applicant is a manufacturer of food ingredients, especially for improving the taste of food. The food industry in the Middle East is increasing, so the market for the applicant as well. One of the services that are offered to the customers is taste sessions for their products after adding specific ingredients. As this service is now offered in the Netherlands, this is costly for the customers. Also, the partners expect that the taste is more in line with the reality when it is performed in the region of the customers. So they decided to establish a taste laboratory in Amman.The applicant is Fromatech Ingredients B.V. from Sittard, the Netherlands and the local partner is Al-Behar Industries Co. Ltd. from Amman.The partners will set up a joint venture company for the project.The project will introduce a very innovative activity to the region and will support further development of the food processing industry in the region. The partners have knowledge and network to make the project succeed.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)First of all, it is of the utmost importance to include high food safety standards in the day-to-day operations of the project. Besides, healthy and safe working conditions will be established for workers and guests.Environmental standards will be included in the food safety certifications that will be obtained.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe partners will create safe working conditions and will pay well above minimum wages. Health insurance and pensions will be paid for.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThe services that the project will offer are not only new to the country, but also to the entire region.•	Chain effectsImpact on local suppliersLocal suppliers will play a minor role in the project. The taste components will be supplied by the applicant. The customers of taste sessions will bring their own basic ingredients to the laboratory as that will be most practical for the product development. Some fresh ingredients will be bought at local shops.Impact on local customers or consumersThe customers will be food producing companies in different sizes from the region. They will profit from the services of the project by improving their product development.•	Impact on the sectorThe future joint venture will seek cooperation with the Department of Nutrition and Food Technology (Faculty of Agriculture) of the University of Amman. The partners can provide new knowledge for the faculty and on the other hand the Faculty can provide specific knowledge about the technology of Arabic types of food: the Faculty has a good reputation on this point.•	EnvironmentAt the start of the project, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be done. Some of the taste substances are chemically hazardous. Those chemicals will be stored in stores that will comply with EU regulations. Expired substances will be disposed of according to environment safe procedures.•	Position of womenA considerable percentage of the future employees in medium-level jobs will be female. To establish a (application) taste laboratory for the customers of both partners in the wider Middle East region, providing taste sessions and training for the customers. The departments of the laboratory will cover the main food sectors in which the prod