As Lebanon faces compound challenges including a pandemic, economic, financial, and political failure, a looming food security crisis is rapidly approaching. Much of this crisis could be attributed to the lack of long-term planning and investment in the sustainability of its agricultural sector. Another challenge lies in the existing disconnect between decision-makers within the agricultural sector, and other interconnected sectors, including water, energy, health, and economy among others. This is exacerbated by the lack of integrative national platforms and methodologies that allow for quantifying the trade-offs associated with possible plans and interventions, which could play a role in facilitating a dialogue between multiple sectors and stakeholder groups. This study aims to: 1) identify and quantify the critical interconnections between water, energy, nutrition, and food systems in Lebanon; 2) develop a framework to quantify the trade-offs associated with adopting interventions within current water, energy, and agriculture portfolios and practices; 3) evaluate producers’ perceptions toward their willingness to implement proposed changes in crop production, renewable energy, and water reuse. Findings show that investing in locally producing Lebanon’s needs of broad beans, lentils, chickpeas, and peas, results in cost savings, increased nutritional value in the locally produced basket, and reduced reliance on foreign markets. In turn, this comes at additional water, energy, land and carbon footprints which needs to be accounted for. Given the uncertainty of future currency conversion rates, it becomes more critical to identify a strategic food basket that could be produced locally to reduce reliance on foreign markets. Conclusions from this study can play a role in informing policymaking and planning in Lebanon, as the country works to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The case study could be adapted and replicated in other countries in the MENA Region.

Food security under compound shocks: Can Lebanon produce its own Mediterranean food basket?

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.