The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Nizar Hani, participated in the Zero Waste Forum conference, which is organized by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in cooperation with the Zero Waste Foundation, under the patronage and presence of the First Lady of the Turkish Republic, Emine Erdogan, and with the broad participation of ministers, officials, experts, and representatives of international organizations from various countries of the world.
The conference formed an international platform for exchanging experiences on sustainable management of natural resources, reducing waste, promoting the circular economy, and supporting agricultural and environmental policies aimed at achieving sustainable development goals, enhancing food security, and protecting ecosystems.
On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Hani held a meeting with the Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ibrahim Yumakli, in the presence of the Lebanese Ambassador to Turkey, Mounir Anouti, and the Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, Sawsan Abu Fakhr Al-Din, along with a number of general directors and relevant officials from the Turkish side.
At the beginning of the meeting, Hani expressed his thanks to the Republic of Turkey for its continued support for Lebanon and for standing by its side in the face of the repercussions of the recent war, and the severe damage it caused to the agricultural sector, rural communities, and agricultural infrastructure in a number of regions.
He reviewed the extent of the losses incurred by farmers, especially in the most affected areas, pointing to the urgent need to strengthen the agricultural sector’s ability to recover and withstand. In this context, he requested in-kind support that includes agricultural fertilizers, fodder, modern irrigation systems, and agricultural equipment and machinery, which contributes to supporting farmers, sustaining production, and improving food security.
The meeting discussed the prospects for developing agricultural cooperation between Lebanon and Turkey, as it was agreed to begin preparing a bilateral agricultural cooperation agreement that includes areas of common interest, most notably forest protection, sustainable management, and fire prevention, and benefiting from advanced Turkish expertise, in addition to enhancing cooperation in the fisheries sector, marine fish farming, and developing fish farming projects, in a way that supports food security, develops the rural economy, and provides job opportunities for local communities.
The two sides stressed the importance of expanding the agricultural partnership, enhancing technical and scientific cooperation, and exchanging experiences and modern technologies, in a way that serves sustainable agricultural development and enhances the sector’s ability to face increasing environmental and economic challenges.
Minister Hani’s participation in this international forum comes within the framework of the Ministry of Agriculture’s efforts to enhance regional and international cooperation, attract support and partnerships to advance the Lebanese agricultural sector, and adopt global best practices in the areas of sustainability and rational management of natural resources.
