Beirut – professional journalistic style
The Beirut Engineers Syndicate – Branch Seven, organized an official ceremony during which three strategic agricultural initiatives were launched aimed at developing the practice of agricultural engineering, enhancing the role of the agricultural engineer, and protecting the farmer and the consumer. The new initiatives include: the agricultural platform, the agricultural recipe system, and the national program for training on the responsible use of agricultural pesticides in the various branches of the union.
The celebration was held under the patronage and presence of the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Nizar Hani, along with MP Najat Saliba, the Head of the Engineers Syndicate in Beirut, Engineer Fadi Hanna, the Head of the Engineers Syndicate in Tripoli, Engineer Shawqi Fatfat, the Director General of Agriculture, Louis Lahoud, and the Head of the Seventh Branch of Consulting Agricultural Engineers, Dr. Victoria Dawalibi. Members of the Syndicate Council, representatives of the liberal professions in the Lebanese parties, a number of general directors, deans, researchers, and a crowd of engineers and those interested in agricultural affairs also attended. The ceremony witnessed participation via the “Zoom” application by the President of the Arab Federation of Engineers, Engineer Abbas Abdel Reda, the Secretary-General of the Union and the Head of the Engineers Syndicate in Jordan, Engineer Ali Abu Nuqtah, the Head of the Engineers Syndicate in Egypt, Dr. Ali Khalifa, and the Head of the Engineers Syndicate in Syria, Engineer Mustafa Al-Mustafa.
Opening speech and vision of the seventh branch
The celebration began with the national anthem, followed by a speech by Dr. Victoria Dawalibi, who reviewed the branch’s journey and the importance of the launch initiatives, stressing that “protecting citizen health must be at the heart of any work related to the agricultural sector” given the seriousness of diseases resulting from misuse of agricultural products. She praised Captain Fadi Hanna’s approach based on serving the public interest, praising the fruitful cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture led by Minister Nizar Hani.
Dawalibi explained that the “Agricultural Recipe” project dates back to 2003, stressing that people’s health takes precedence over the interests of companies, and stressing the need to complete legislation and implement the law to ensure proper implementation. She concluded by emphasizing that these initiatives represent an integrated path to restore Lebanese agriculture to its position based on science and partnership.
Ministry of Agriculture: Partnership and strategic partnerships
For his part, Director General of Agriculture Louis Lahoud greeted the agricultural engineers on their holiday, stressing his belief in the true partnership between the public and private sectors and the involvement of the engineer in decision-making. He revealed that the Ministry banned 38 agricultural pesticides because they did not comply with specifications, stressing that farmers were directed to apply the agricultural prescription under penalty of referring violators to the judiciary, in coordination with the Agricultural Wealth and Agricultural Pharmacy Directorates.
In his speech, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Nizar Hani, praised the cooperation with Branch Seven, revealing that the “2025-2035 Agricultural Plan” had been prepared through a broad consultative process that included 24 specialized committees. Hani announced that “from now on, the license for the center for selling agricultural medicines will be exclusively in the name of an agricultural engineer,” confirming the start of gradual testing of the agricultural recipe with the aim of achieving full traceability of the product from the farm to the consumer. He pointed out the Ministry’s launch of the “Agricultural Partners Network,” which includes 67 projects worth $200 million, in addition to confronting climate challenges and seasonal damage.
Engineers Syndicate: Legislative demands and health warnings
In turn, the head of the Engineers Syndicate in Beirut, Engineer Fadi Hanna, considered that the agricultural prescription represents an urgent national and health necessity, noting that the union includes about 123,000 engineers and spends about 110 million dollars on the medical file in light of the high rates of cancer. Hanna demanded that the Agricultural Prescription Law not be allowed to be buried in the House of Representatives, stressing the need for its approval to remove the ongoing responsibility from the shoulders of engineers. He also pointed out that more than a third of Lebanese agriculture was damaged by the Israeli attacks, calling for preserving what remains to support rebuilding.
Parliamentary support for the sector
In turn, MP Najat Saliba affirmed her awareness of the suffering of farmers and the challenges resulting from agricultural pests and climate change, stressing her rejection of the indiscriminate use of pesticides. Saliba announced that she stands with engineers and farmers through Parliament to organize this file and support food safety.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on consolidating the partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Engineers Syndicate, enhancing the role of the agricultural engineer in protecting the environment and food safety, developing Lebanese agricultural production, and supporting the elements of farmers’ resilience.
