On October 27, the Georges N. Frem Foundation (GNFF) and the Ministry of Agriculture came together to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a partnership built on shared purpose and long-term commitment. The signing, held at the Ministry’s headquarters, marked a new chapter in advancing Lebanon’s agricultural sector and supporting the farmers who sustain it.
This partnership was built on a shared belief that Lebanon’s farmers deserve stronger systems of support. It aims to address their needs by helping them upgrade their skills, adopt better practices, and gain legal recognition to access real opportunities. Through shared resources and expertise, GNFF and the Ministry are working to create a more connected, empowered, and resilient farming community throughout the coming years.
Building on a Legacy of Impact
For over 25 years, GNFF has been working through its IRSHAD Program, which played a leading role in reviving Lebanon’s apple sector and continues to empower farmers across the country. Rooted in technical guidance, innovation, and community support, IRSHAD has become a key instrument to GNFF’s mission of strengthening Lebanese agriculture.
The newly signed MoU builds on this legacy, aligning GNFF’s experience with the Ministry’s national agricultural strategy to create real, on-ground impact. It sets a clear framework for collaboration centered on technical implementation, community empowerment, and applied research, with initiatives designed to deliver tangible value to farmers and the wider sector. This agreement includes:
- Workshops: These will combine technical training and field visits, giving farmers continuous access to modern practices, hands-on learning, and practical solutions that directly enhance productivity and sustainability.
- Access to demonstration plots: These plots will turn theory into practice, serving as real-life sites for training, experimentation, and applied research to strengthen local expertise.
- Joint awareness campaigns: These initiatives will spread essential information on agricultural and community topics, ensuring that knowledge extends beyond workshops and reaches farmers across all regions.
- Collaborative workshops under the Seed of Change platform: Co-led by GNFF and the Ministry, these sessions will unite experts to exchange insights, deliver technical guidance, and address the evolving needs of Lebanon’s farmers.
- Farmer registration efforts: Led by Ministry technicians, this initiative will help build a more connected, data-driven agricultural network, ensuring that no farmer is left behind in Lebanon’s path toward growth and resilience.
The Ministry’s involvement in these efforts will ensure strengthened reach, expertise, and on-ground presence. Together, GNFF and the Ministry are exchanging knowledge, resources, and experience to build more coordinated and effective efforts towards supporting farmers.
More Than Ink on Paper
This agreement is more than ink on paper; it marks the beginning of real, on-the-ground collaboration, progress, and renewed hope for Lebanon’s agricultural sector over the coming year. It reflects what becomes possible when institutions align their efforts toward a shared goal.
The project has already moved into action, with both parties completing the first mission on Saturday, November 15, setting the groundwork for the activities and fieldwork planned in the months ahead.
With the support of the government and its ministries, organizations have a greater chance at amplifying their impact, gaining better access to expertise, resources, and data, along with the freedom to operate more effectively on the ground.
In a country where agriculture is a major driver for economic recovery, such partnerships allow programs like IRSHAD to maximize the support they offer across Lebanon and its high-potential sectors.
