Lebanon exports organic products to Dubai
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BioCoop Lubnan – Lebanon's
first cooperative for organic agriculture – has exported the first shipment of organic products to a well known food chain in Dubai and is already preparing a second order for the same client.
Supported by World Vision Lebanon's Sustainable Agri-Business Initiative in Lebanon (SABIL), a two-year-program funded by USAID, BioCoop Lubnan is gradually counting the successes of its international exposures since last December, starting with an exhibit in Dubai, followed by this export order.
'This export is a success for local Lebanese products and farmers,' said Dr. Kamil Wanna, SABIL grant manager. 'Currently, there is a very high demand for organic products worldwide and we are here to support BioCoop Lubnan in meeting those demands, as much as possible.'
Issam Ghobril, BioCoop Lubnan's manager, was also enthusiastic about the development. 'I'm very happy the export order has been repeated and they are asking us for more products,' Ghobril said.
'Despite the recent war on Lebanon, BioCoop Lubnan is still struggling to make it through the hardships of our local economical status, by looking into various export opportunities,' said Wanna. World Vision Lebanon and BioCoop Lubnan are currently working in partnership with other local organizations – such as the Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute (LARI), the Litani River Authority (LRA) and the faculty of agricultural sciences of Kaslik University - to boost up the country's organic agriculture, he said.
The first export, in December 22, consisted of a ton of apples, pumpkins, dried almonds, green beans, citrus, green pepper and kiwi.
'Other potential exports are also pending, probably also to the Gulf region and to Italy,' said Wanna.
The SABIL program aims to enhance the economic status of farmers whose incomes have plummeted due to a lack of support in their own country and intense competition from neighboring countries. The summer war has further depressed farmers' incomes, many of whom lost their crops or couldn't get them to market. International export is one way World Vision Lebanon hopes to expand the sales opportunities for Campagnia produce.
SABIL is a two-year organic agriculture project in Lebanon which reactivated and continues to support BioCoop Lubnan, the first Lebanese cooperative for organic agriculture. BioCoop was founded in 2001 by a group of concerned agriculture engineers who were striving to introduce organic farming in Lebanon through strengthening the organic agriculture infrastructure by providing extension, demonstration and training services to BioCoop farmers.
About 160 farmers are currently enrolled in BioCoop Lubnan. World Vision Lebanon has developed extension, demonstration and training centres (EDTC) in Bsharre district in the north, in Zahle in the Bekaa Valley, and in East Sidon, Nabatiyeh and Marjeyoun in the south. The centres consist of open fields, greenhouses, nurseries and units to test for improved varieties of compost.
Supported by World Vision Lebanon's Sustainable Agri-Business Initiative in Lebanon (SABIL), a two-year-program funded by USAID, BioCoop Lubnan is gradually counting the successes of its international exposures since last December, starting with an exhibit in Dubai, followed by this export order.
'This export is a success for local Lebanese products and farmers,' said Dr. Kamil Wanna, SABIL grant manager. 'Currently, there is a very high demand for organic products worldwide and we are here to support BioCoop Lubnan in meeting those demands, as much as possible.'
Issam Ghobril, BioCoop Lubnan's manager, was also enthusiastic about the development. 'I'm very happy the export order has been repeated and they are asking us for more products,' Ghobril said.
'Despite the recent war on Lebanon, BioCoop Lubnan is still struggling to make it through the hardships of our local economical status, by looking into various export opportunities,' said Wanna. World Vision Lebanon and BioCoop Lubnan are currently working in partnership with other local organizations – such as the Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute (LARI), the Litani River Authority (LRA) and the faculty of agricultural sciences of Kaslik University - to boost up the country's organic agriculture, he said.
The first export, in December 22, consisted of a ton of apples, pumpkins, dried almonds, green beans, citrus, green pepper and kiwi.
'Other potential exports are also pending, probably also to the Gulf region and to Italy,' said Wanna.
The SABIL program aims to enhance the economic status of farmers whose incomes have plummeted due to a lack of support in their own country and intense competition from neighboring countries. The summer war has further depressed farmers' incomes, many of whom lost their crops or couldn't get them to market. International export is one way World Vision Lebanon hopes to expand the sales opportunities for Campagnia produce.
SABIL is a two-year organic agriculture project in Lebanon which reactivated and continues to support BioCoop Lubnan, the first Lebanese cooperative for organic agriculture. BioCoop was founded in 2001 by a group of concerned agriculture engineers who were striving to introduce organic farming in Lebanon through strengthening the organic agriculture infrastructure by providing extension, demonstration and training services to BioCoop farmers.
About 160 farmers are currently enrolled in BioCoop Lubnan. World Vision Lebanon has developed extension, demonstration and training centres (EDTC) in Bsharre district in the north, in Zahle in the Bekaa Valley, and in East Sidon, Nabatiyeh and Marjeyoun in the south. The centres consist of open fields, greenhouses, nurseries and units to test for improved varieties of compost.
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