Can Lebanon Export Cannabis for Medicinal Purposes?

The sale and consumption of cannabis are becoming more broadly accepted worldwide as research into its medicinal uses accelerates. Revenue in the global medical cannabis market is projected to reach 12.92 billion US dollars (USD) in 2023, and is expected to grow by 13.16% annually, resulting in a market volume of USD 23.97 billion by 2028. Moreover, Colombia, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Morocco, Thailand, Ukraine, the United States, and European Union countries have created regulatory frameworks for cannabis derivatives manufacturing and export and import licenses. As we previously argued, the goal of exporting cannabis from Lebanon for pharmaceutical processing and medicinal purposes should be welcome, despite many misunderstandings about Lebanon’s informal cannabis sector, as well as what would be required to establish a formal sector and ensure buy-in along the cannabis cultivation and export value chain. Among these challenges are cannabis importing country requirements and Lebanon’s ability to meet them

Effectiveness of Innovation Platforms in Enhancing the Viability of the Wheat Seed Sector in Terbol Station, Lebanon

The objective of this research was to assess the effectiveness of the innovation platform (IP) (Terbol Station) on the wheat seed sector in Lebanon. Data were collected from 16 seed producers after identifying and mapping the key stakeholders in the seed sector. Descriptive statistics was used to categorize and evaluate the efficacy of the innovation platform by identifying six groups: seed availability and access, knowledge and training, seed production and market impact, incentives, joint planning, and the situation of the seed sector in Lebanon. Incentives and joint planning were found to be the primary groups of the IP that the farmers emphasized their importance. The correlation between different groups was found to be statistically significant. Farmers noted that the wheat seed sector is non-profitable and, therefore, needs financial support and joint planning of the value chain. The study recommends the intervention of the government and the Ministries of Agriculture and Economy & Trade by customizing governance strategies and policies. In addition, the adaptation of regulatory measures of the wheat seed sector and agricultural guidance can provide essential information, recommendations, and expertise to optimize the production, distribution, and utilization of seeds in Lebanon

Processus d'émergence des territoires ruraux dans les pays méditerranéens.

Ce rapport de recherche propose une analyse croisée des processus d'émergence des territoires ruraux dans les pays du pourtour méditerranéen. La contribution d'équipes de recherche de 10 pays permet une analyse originale qui mobilise des approches nationales et des études de terrain issues de l'ensemble de ces pays. Les questions des formes de gouvernance, de décentralisation ou encore les trajectoires de développement sont mises en perspective.Développement territorial, Méditerranée, Maghreb, Territoire, Gouvernance, Décentralisation, Ressource territoriale.

Enjeux de reconversion rurale dans la Béqaa (Liban)

L’objet de cette contribution est, d’une part, d’analyser le faisceau de facteurs complexes et relevant de diverses échelles qui conditionnent le développement de cultures illicites au Liban et d’autre part, d’examiner les diverses contraintes qui pèsent sur la mise en œuvre de politiques de développement rural susceptibles d’offrir de véritables alternatives aux populations locales. Le cas retenu de la plaine de la Beqaa est à cet égard certainement révélateur de phénomènes que l’on peut ret..

Hashish in Morocco and Lebanon: A comparative study

In the 1960s and the 1970s, Morocco and Lebanon became major producers of hashish for export to markets in West and Central Europe, Africa and the Middle East. By using a comparative approach, this paper aims to evaluate changes in production in the traditional areas of cannabis cultivation in the Rif (Morocco) and the Beqaa (Lebanon) and to better understand the role that these countries play in current trends in the global cultivation and consumption of cannabis.MethodsThe comparative approach takes in account the historical and institutionnal context, and the perception of cannabis in those two country. We rely on primary field research done in the Rif (from 2002) and in the Beqaa (from 1995) in the form of interviews and observations with farmers and intermediaries. Acreage and production estimates of hashish for both countries have been triangulated from different sources.ResultsMaghreb and Middle East have a long history of consumption, production and marketing of cannabis. Over the past 12 centuries, migration, trade and different spiritual practices and trends have led to the expansion of cannabis markets. This long period is marked by stages and rifts caused by foreign interference, a worldwide prohibition of cannabis at the beginning of the 20th century and increased global demand in the 1960s and the 1970s. Morocco and Lebanon are among the most important producers of hashish to be exported for trade for the last fifty years. The global prohibition of cannabis and the global sustained demand have created opportunities for poor farmers in the Rif and the Beqaa regions to survive and get wealthy. It is difficult to understand the reasons why areas producing cannabis are steadily increasing. If the Rif and the Beqaa share some features (such are marginalized areas of production, repressive legislation, huge international demand, range of comparable tasks and Mediterranean climate suitable for growing cannabis, etc.) then a comparison between the two countries makes it more easy to notice differences in contexts, in local and international markets (Stability in Morocco, instability in Lebanon; traditional market in Morocco, absence of local market in Lebanon, etc.) In Morocco, the stability and specialized skills among Moroccan growers of hashish have enhanced a competitive economy with various production areas, products and qualities, but also prices and strategies due to competition between Moroccan and European producers. Moreover, Morocco produces cannabis for its significant local market

Étude de causalité entre la consommation d’électricité et la croissance économique au Liban

International audienceThis article studies the causal relationship between electricity consumption and economic growth in Lebanon over the period 1971-2012. This relationship is examined using cointegration and Granger causality tests. The results of the estimates indicate that economic growth and electricity consumption in Lebanon are not cointegrated and that there is no causal relationship between variables according to Granger’s tests. However, a unidirectional causality is detected in the post-war period (1990-2012), ranging from electricity consumption to economic growth. The results of this research prove strongly, and with an econometric approach, that electricity consumption was the fundamental source of economic growth after the civil war in Lebanon, which explains the appearance of this causal relationship. In addition, the most relevant implication of this study is that mitigation of current power generation shortages should be a national priority, given its potential positive effect on the Lebanese economy.Cet article étudie le lien causal entre la consommation d’électricité et la croissance au Liban durant la période 1971-2012. Cette relation est examinée à l'aide des tests de cointégration et de causalité de Granger. Les résultats des estimations indiquent que la croissance économique et la consommation d’électricité au Liban ne sont pas cointégrés et qu'il n’existe pas une relation causale entre les variables au sens de Granger. Cependant, une causalité unidirectionnelle a été détectée dans la période après-guerre (1990-2012), allant de la consommation d’électricité vers la croissance économique. Les résultats de cette recherche prouvent fortement, avec une approche économétrique, la perspective qui considère que la consommation d’électricité a été la source fondamentale de la croissance économique après la guerre ce qui explique l’apparition de ce lien causal. En outre, l'implication la plus pertinente de cette étude est que l'atténuation des pénuries actuelles de capacité de production électrique devrait être une priorité nationale, compte tenu de son effet positif potentiel sur l'économie libanaise

Validation of a leaf area prediction model proposed for rose

Leaf area (LA) is a valuable key for evaluating plant growth, therefore accurate, simple, and nondestructive methods for LA determination are important for physiological and agronomic studies. A LA prediction model based on leaf length (L) and width (W) and developed under greenhouse on 14 cultivars of rose (Rosa hybr.*) was validated on a different cultivar of R. hybrida 'Red France' and on a wild rose species (Rosa sempervirens L.) grown under open-field conditions with two light environments: ambient and 50% shade. Comparisons between measured vs. calculated LA using the following model: LA (cm²) = 0.56 + 0.717 LW, showed a high degree of correlation (R² > 0.95) and provided quantitative evidence of the validity of the LA prediction model. Calculated LA values were very close to the measured values, giving an underestimation of 3.5%, 4.2%, 1.1%, and an overestimation of 1.3% in the prediction for R. hybrida ambient light, R. hybrida 50% shade, R. sempervirens ambient light, R. sempervirens 50% shade, respectively. This model can provide accurate estimations of rose LA independently of the genetic materials and the growing conditions and can be adopted in many experimental comparisons without the use of any expensive instruments

Validation of a leaf area prediction model proposed for rose

Leaf area (LA) is a valuable key for evaluating plant growth, therefore accurate, simple, and nondestructive methods for LA determination are important for physiological and agronomic studies. A LA prediction model based on leaf length (L) and width (W) and developed under greenhouse on 14 cultivars of rose ( Rosa hybr.*) was validated on a different cultivar of R. hybrida ‘Red France’ and on a wild rose species ( Rosa sempervirens L.) grown under open-field conditions with two light environments: ambient and 50% shade. Comparisons between measured vs. calculated LA using the following model: LA (cm2) = 0.56 + 0.717 LW, showed a high degree of correlation (R2 > 0.95) and provided quantitative evidence of the validity of the LA prediction model. Calculated LA values were very close to the measured values, giving an underestimation of 3.5%, 4.2%, 1.1%, and an overestimation of 1.3% in the prediction for R. hybrida ambient light, R. hybrida 50% shade, R. sempervirens ambient light, R. sempervirens 50% shade, respectively. This model can provide accurate estimations of rose LA independently of the genetic materials and the growing conditions and can be adopted in many experimental comparisons without the use of any expensive instruments

Panorama of the apple sector in Lebanon: structure and constraints

International audienc