Billions of tons of food are wasted every year due to systemic and structural challenges to the food supply chain such as poor storage and transport techniques, as well as stringent export requirements, leading to production and postharvest loss, degradation or discarding. The COVID-19 pandemic also had acute and lasting impacts on food systems. Border closures and import restrictions in many countries meant an under-availability of food and basic ingredients and this imbalance led to sharpened focus on agricultural markets and trade. The implications for food security highlighted the importance of lasting food quality and the need for a more comprehensive food systems approach. The project was launched in response to interest from several countries across four regions with the aim of reducing food loss in the supply chain, particularly in the pre-shipment phase, expediting the clearance of perishable goods. Through the project, hundreds of policy makers, experts, and other stakeholders across the world have been trained on better quality production and trade; best practices to measure, prevent and reduce food loss and waste; and the linkages with the overall food system. The project provided access to new assessment and analytical materials, training guides and action plans for building back better in the wake of COVID-19 and beyond, with 90 per cent of participants in the project’s Central Asia capacity building activities stressing that the trainings resulted in improved quality of produce and greater SME competitiveness. It was also highlighted that this improved local producers’ access to domestic and international markets, expanded their business, increased revenues and, most of all, created formal employment opportunities for vulnerable groups – women and youth. Some small-scale production and processing companies even doubled their production volumes. The project attracted strong and dedicated partners and built synergies with ongoing work as well as ECE’s regular intergovernmental work. Former workshop participants have become trainers and workshops are held at local levels with their own funding.  The international best practices disseminated through the project will contribute to lasting impact beyond the project’s life cycle.