Lebanon and Italy renew a 400-year agricultural bond

Lebanon and Italy have signed a strategic memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation on the sidelines of the MacFruit International Fruit and Vegetable Fair in Rimini, in what officials from both sides described as a landmark step in a bilateral relationship with roots stretching back four centuries.

The signing took place during the official visit of Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Dr. Nizar Hani to Italy, and follows a meeting he held with his Italian counterpart, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Francesco Lollobrigida. The agreement was the result of a technical and institutional preparatory process led by the Italian Cooperation Office in Beirut, with specialized working groups from both ministries guiding the negotiations to completion.

A sector under pressure

In his remarks at the signing ceremony, Hani did not shy away from the difficult backdrop against which the deal was struck. Approximately 22.5 percent of Lebanon's agricultural land has been damaged as a result of Israeli attacks, he said, with severe repercussions on production, supply chains, and food security, deepening an already acute crisis for farmers across the country. Against that reality, he framed the memorandum as more than a diplomatic formality. "This agreement is a fundamental pillar to support recovery efforts and rebuild the agricultural sector," he said, "as well as to strengthen its resilience to subsequent crises, through a strategic partnership based on knowledge transfer, policy development, and the modernization of production structures."

Italy’s commitment

Lollobrigida, for her part, reaffirmed Italy's commitment to standing by Lebanon through what she called advanced cooperation programs aimed at reconstruction, sustainable development, and raising the competitiveness of Lebanese agricultural products on international markets.

The agreement arrives with considerable historical weight behind it. Lebanese-Italian agricultural ties trace back to the 17th century, when Prince Fakhr al-Din al-Ma'ni II laid the foundations for close collaboration with Tuscany, drawing on Italian expertise in olive cultivation, land use organization, and the modernization of farming methods, an exchange that left a lasting mark on Lebanese agricultural practice.

What the MOU covers

The MOU itself covers a broad range of priorities. It aims to improve the quality of Lebanese agricultural products through the development of geographical indication systems, which would protect the identity of local produce and enhance its value on global markets. It also seeks to update certification and phytosanitary systems in line with European standards, opening new export opportunities. Rural development and agritourism feature prominently as well, with a focus on sustainable infrastructure and improving the livelihoods of local farming communities. The fisheries and aquaculture sector is also addressed, with a commitment to developing it according to international best practices and ensuring the long-term sustainability of marine resources. Underpinning all of this is a framework for ongoing technical and institutional cooperation, joint programs for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and modernizing agricultural governance.

A long-term framework

Taken together, the memorandum establishes a long-term cooperation framework designed to build a more resilient and sustainable Lebanese agricultural sector at a moment when the need for such a partnership could hardly be more urgent.