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The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture of Tripoli and North Lebanon, organized a pivotal consultative meeting dedicated to the development of the olive and olive oil sector in the North and Akkar governorates. The meeting saw broad participation from representatives across all segments of this vital sector's value chain, including the Ministry's Director-General, Eng. Louis Lahoud; the Chamber's President, Toufic Daboussi; the Head of Agriculture Service in the North, Eng. Sonia Al-Abyad; the Head of Agro-Industries Service, Eng. Mariam Eid; and the Director of Quality Laboratories at the Chamber, Dr. Khaled Al-Omari. Experts from the Ministry, along with representatives from farmers, producers, exporters, mill owners, agricultural cooperatives, and economic and sectoral bodies, were also in attendance.
The meeting commenced with the national anthem, followed by a welcoming address from Toufic Daboussi. He emphasized that hosting this event stems from the strategic partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, aiming to translate dialogue with the private sector into actionable programs. Daboussi noted that this initiative would contribute to boosting agricultural production and achieving sustainable economic development, highlighting the olive and olive oil sector as a cornerstone of Lebanon's agricultural economy due to its economic, heritage, and nutritional value. He called for unified efforts among official institutions, the private sector, and productive entities to devise practical plans that enhance the production, manufacturing, and marketing chain, thereby bolstering the competitiveness of Lebanese products in both local and international markets.
Eng. Louis Lahoud conveyed the greetings of Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani and expressed his gratitude to the President of the Tripoli and North Lebanon Chamber for hosting the meeting, and to the Chamber for its continuous role in supporting the agricultural sector and fostering cooperation with the Ministry. Lahoud stressed that, under Minister Hani's directives, the Ministry of Agriculture views the olive sector as a strategic one, embodying Lebanon's agricultural identity and serving as a crucial pillar for food security and rural development. He clarified that developing this sector requires a comprehensive vision encompassing all stages of the value chain, from agricultural production and sound orchard management, through pressing, storage, and packaging operations, to marketing, export, and opening new markets.
Lahoud further revealed that the National Sectoral Committee for Olive Oil has completed a set of practical recommendations forming a roadmap for the sector's advancement. These recommendations include enhancing production quality, implementing Lebanese and international standards, protecting Lebanese olive oil from adulteration, and reinforcing its national identity to solidify its position in global markets. He also underscored the importance of developing specialized laboratories and boosting their technical capacities for testing agricultural products and ensuring food safety, which will enhance consumer and importer confidence in Lebanese products and unlock new export opportunities. Lahoud emphasized that the success of these endeavors necessitates a genuine partnership among the Ministry, the private sector, cooperatives, and scientific and economic bodies.
The meeting featured a technical segment presented by Dr. Khaled Al-Omari, Director of Quality Laboratories at the Tripoli and North Lebanon Chamber. He discussed the importance of adhering to scientific standards for olive oil production, implementing standard specifications, adopting traceability systems, and intensifying oversight to combat adulteration. This aims to preserve the reputation of Lebanese olive oil and enhance its presence in local and international markets. Al-Omari also reviewed the role played by the Chamber's laboratories in conducting laboratory tests, supporting quality control operations, and developing the food safety system.
In the second segment, Eng. Mariam Eid, Head of the Agro-Industries Service at the Ministry of Agriculture, presented the key outcomes of the National Olive Oil Committee. Her presentation focused on marketing and promotion plans, opening new export markets, strengthening the role of the private sector, and enhancing cooperation between the Ministry and other relevant entities. Eid invited participants to enrich these outcomes with their proposals and observations to ensure the formulation of a comprehensive national plan that reflects the needs of all sector components.
The meeting concluded with an extensive discussion among Ministry representatives and participants, addressing the main challenges facing the olive sector and potential solutions to increase productivity, improve quality, and boost the competitiveness of Lebanese products. The Ministry of Agriculture affirmed that this meeting is the first in a series of consultative sessions to be organized successively in the governorates of the South, Nabatieh, Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, and Mount Lebanon. These meetings aim to engage all stakeholders in developing a unified national vision for the sector's upliftment.
The series will culminate in the National Olive Oil Conference, coinciding with International Olive Tree Day on November 26th. During this conference, the Ministry of Agriculture, in cooperation with the International Olive Council, will announce a package of executive measures to support olive farmers and olive oil producers, enhance production quality, and expand marketing and export opportunities. This effort seeks to establish Lebanese olive oil's position as a high-quality national product capable of effectively competing in regional and global markets.
Source: Daily Beirut