Lebanon and Turkey Chart Course for Agricultural Cooperation Following War Devastation

Lebanon's Agriculture Minister Dr. Nizar Hani traveled to Turkey to participate in the Zero Waste Forum, an international conference hosted by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in collaboration with the Zero Waste Foundation. The event took place under the patronage of Turkey's First Lady, Emine Erdogan, and drew ministers, officials, technical experts, and representatives from international organizations across the globe.

The forum served as a venue for nations to share approaches to sustainable natural resource management, waste reduction, circular economy development, and agricultural and environmental policies aligned with sustainable development objectives. Participants focused on strengthening food security and ecosystem preservation.

During the conference, Minister Hani sat down with Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli to discuss bilateral relations. The Lebanese Ambassador to Turkey, Mounir Anouti, and Sawsan Abu Fakhr Al-Din, an advisor to Lebanon's agriculture ministry, attended alongside Turkish officials and general directors.

Hani opened the discussion by acknowledging Turkey's ongoing assistance to Lebanon, particularly following the recent military conflict. He outlined the substantial toll the war inflicted on the agricultural sector, rural areas, and farming infrastructure across multiple Lebanese regions. He detailed the financial losses affecting farmers and emphasized the critical need to rebuild agricultural resilience and capacity.

The minister outlined Lebanon's specific needs, requesting in-kind assistance comprising fertilizers, animal feed, modern irrigation technology, and farm machinery and equipment. These resources, he argued, would bolster farmer livelihoods, sustain agricultural output, and strengthen national food security.

The two ministers explored opportunities for expanded agricultural cooperation. They agreed to initiate work on a comprehensive bilateral agricultural agreement covering shared priorities, particularly forest preservation, sustainable land management, fire mitigation strategies, and leveraging Turkish technical expertise. The agreement would also encompass expanded collaboration in fisheries, marine aquaculture, and fish farming initiatives—sectors the ministers believe could reinforce food security, stimulate rural economies, and generate employment in farming communities.

Both sides emphasized their commitment to broadening the agricultural partnership through enhanced technical and scientific collaboration, knowledge exchange, and technology transfer. Such cooperation, they noted, would support long-term sustainable agricultural advancement and strengthen the sector's capacity to navigate mounting environmental and economic pressures.

Hani's attendance at the international forum reflects the Lebanese Agriculture Ministry's broader strategy to deepen regional and international partnerships, secure development support, and adopt international standards for sustainability and responsible resource stewardship.