August 6, 2014

In a meeting to discuss ICARDA’s expanded research activities in Lebanon, the Center’s Director General, Dr. Mahmoud Solh, recently met the Lebanese Prime Minister, H. E. Mr. Tamam Salam, in Beirut, Lebanon. This meeting was held in the presence of H.E. Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Akram Chehayeb; Dr. Michel Afram (President and Director General of the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) and board member of ICARDA) and Dr. Hassan Machlab, Lebanon Country Manager, ICARDA.  

Lebanon is playing a key role in ICARDA’s on-going decentralization. Research facilities and activities are expanding at Terbol station in the Bekaa Valley, and partnerships are being strengthened with national partners, including the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) and the American University of Beirut. The meeting was requested to facilitate ICARDA’s work in Lebanon. H.E. the Prime Minister expressed his full backing and he passed instructions to the concerned authorities to support ICARDA.  

The meeting also provided an opportunity for Dr. Solh to brief the Prime Minister on the status of the Arab Food Security Project, an initiative that promotes integrated technology packages across countries in North Africa and West Asia, combining improved varieties, crop and resource management, and institutional-building.  

Lebanon has expressed interest in joining the project and an official letter is being drafted by the country’s Minister of Agriculture, H. E. Mr. Akram Chehayeb, who was also very supportive.

Website: http://www.icarda.org

Published: August 7, 2014