diff --git a/modelbaker/dataobjects/project.py b/modelbaker/dataobjects/project.py
index eec6762..8b57133 100644
--- a/modelbaker/dataobjects/project.py
+++ b/modelbaker/dataobjects/project.py
@@ -269,6 +269,8 @@ def create(
 
         self.load_layouts(qgis_project)
 
+        self.store_project_variables(qgis_project)
+
         if path:
             qgis_project.write(path)
 
@@ -371,6 +373,11 @@ def load_mapthemes(self, qgis_project):
 
                 qgis_project.mapThemeCollection().insert(name, map_theme_record)
 
+    def store_project_variables(self, qgis_project):
+        QgsExpressionContextUtils.setProjectVariable(
+            qgis_project, "optimize_strategy", self.optimize_strategy.name
+        )
+
     def post_generate(self):
         for layer in self.layers:
             layer.post_generate(self)
diff --git a/modelbaker/ilitoppingmaker/iliprojecttopping.py b/modelbaker/ilitoppingmaker/iliprojecttopping.py
index b6f8bb4..7a86454 100644
--- a/modelbaker/ilitoppingmaker/iliprojecttopping.py
+++ b/modelbaker/ilitoppingmaker/iliprojecttopping.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 """
 
 
-from qgis.core import Qgis, QgsProject
+from qgis.core import Qgis, QgsExpressionContextUtils, QgsProject
 
 from ..libs.toppingmaker import ExportSettings, ProjectTopping
 from .ilidata import IliData
@@ -82,6 +82,9 @@ def makeit(self, project: QgsProject = None):
             return False
         # Creates and sets the project_topping considering the passed QgsProject and the existing ExportSettings.
         self.parse_project(project, self.export_settings)
+
+        self.append_iliproperties(project)
+
         # Generate topping files (layertree and depending files like style etc) considering existing ProjectTopping and Target.
         projecttopping_id = self.generate_files(self.target)
 
@@ -102,3 +105,12 @@ def makeit(self, project: QgsProject = None):
             )
 
         return ilidata_path
+
+    def append_iliproperties(self, project):
+        # append ilispecific properties like the optimize_strategy to the properties object
+        optimize_strategy = QgsExpressionContextUtils.projectScope(project).variable(
+            "optimize_strategy"
+        )
+
+        if optimize_strategy:
+            self.properties["ili_optimize_strategy"] = optimize_strategy
diff --git a/scripts/package_pip_packages.sh b/scripts/package_pip_packages.sh
index f6fcc9b..e349846 100755
--- a/scripts/package_pip_packages.sh
+++ b/scripts/package_pip_packages.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ LIBS_DIR="modelbaker/libs"
 
 DEPRECATION=("deprecation" "2.1.0")
 PGSERVICEPARSER=("pgserviceparser" "1.1.0")
-TOPPINGMAKER=("toppingmaker" "1.2.5")
+TOPPINGMAKER=("toppingmaker" "1.3.0")
 
 PACKAGES=(
   DEPRECATION[@]