On this interview with Atef Idriss, CEO of MENA Meals Security Associates (MEFOSA), the Govt Journal addresses points associated to meals safety in Lebanon given the present ongoing battle. Furthermore, a number of subjects are explored: shortages in provide, the impact on the provision chain, the standard of the produce, the worth change in obtainable produce, and the supply of merchandise basically. As such, On October 9.2024, Mr Idriss offers some insights relating to this matter, tapping into some core points within the agriculture and industrial sectors in Lebanon.
Govt: What are you able to inform us concerning the present struggles of producers, equivalent to farmers, and suppliers within the meals chain? How is Lebanon’s meals safety scenario within the context of the continued battle towards the nation and likewise the border conflicts of the 12 months October 2023?
Idriss: Meals safety is a sophisticated situation as a result of it must outline not solely availability but in addition high quality and associated points about nutritious content material. Once you take the broader definition of meals safety, the extent of disruption [by the war and preceding conflict] hit not solely the provision chain but in addition the worth chain. The worth chain is disrupted if you can not feed an toddler the appropriate toddler system, or if you can not present the appropriate fortified meals to an aged particular person.
However after all, we understand that [the problem of food security] has been rising. Finally, now we have reached a stage the place even availability is typically amiss. Persons are displaced. They will’t discover what they need from the place they used to purchase. However Lebanon has a free economic system. Our imports have been sustained regardless of all of the unrest. The infrastructure is availing. And the provision chains, even the commercial provide chains, have been maintained. And due to the financial situations, many new firms, and new producers entered the market. And so they’re maintaining with the appropriate assist and supply.
Govt: Did you observe that the stores had bottlenecks?
Idriss: Sure, We couldn’t discover a number of of the objects that had been imported and even that had been produced commonly. At one level, we couldn’t even discover our bread. The retail outlet [in this building in Hamra] has doubled or tripled its every day gross sales due to the those that flocked to Ras Beirut.
Govt: Is that this scarcity solely as a result of the grocery store operators didn’t anticipate this excessive demand? So would they be capable of provide sufficient for the demand in some unspecified time in the future?
Idriss: Consumption modifications at occasions of battle. So typically you have to higher confirm your consumer wants and the power to avail. That’s not simply carried out. [For example] many individuals are consuming far more bread, staple meals, and canned meals due to the situations [they have to live under]. The retailers are attempting to raised confirm what is required.
Govt: Will this scarcity be lined by extra imports or will the native provide be sufficient?
Idriss: Producers can provide [for the changing demand] however they require uncooked materials, and likewise different issues equivalent to packaging. If the required [inputs] can be found, the changes are often happening. However the provide chain acts with a delay. So it’s superb that provides are coming in from donor nations. These assist the necessities of the Lebanese individuals and provide rations which can be built-in and well-needed.
Govt: Do you see the costs being affected?
Idriss: A few of the costs are certainly affected. The impact could also be associated to longer provide chains or extra pricey provide chains due to the battle. [Other impacts arise] as a result of [agro-food manufacturers] are usually not capable of run effectively due to shorter working occasions and manufacturing cycles within the trade. Or longer delays within the port. The syndicate of importers has lately been participating the Ministry of Financial system and the Ministry of Finance to hurry up testing in order that extra provides are delivered in time.
Govt: From a producer or farmer’s standpoint, will they be capable of fulfill this demand or will we be relying closely on imports?
Idriss: The agriculture within the nation ought to be capable of tackle market wants. However great shortages are ensuing from what you’re witnessing within the south [of Lebanon] the place the hostilities are reducing manufacturing out of the agricultural provide chain. On prime of that, [the Israeli aggressors] are utilizing completely different corrosive chemical compounds which can be very unhealthy for agriculture, for the land and even for the farmers and rural inhabitants.
Govt: If the battle ends tomorrow, how lengthy will it take the trade to get well from all elements, worth, high quality, and safety?
Idriss: The agricultural exporters are dealing with every kind of issues even from the occasions earlier than the battle. Lots of our markets have been misplaced due to completely different points. The Gulf states have been demanding far more high quality focus and higher compliance with worldwide requirements. We opened markets equivalent to Iraq however then roads have been bombed once more. Our exports to the EU have been additionally challenged due to the lack of a number of the labs to ship on the specifics of sanitary and phytosanitary necessities and points often known as technical obstacles to commerce (TBT).
Such necessities must be addressed, many involving [standards] and laboratory testing. We’ve claimed this on the Ministry of Agriculture repeatedly even earlier than the present hostilities began. We simply got here yesterday from Tripoli and alhamdulillah a minimum of the Chamber of Commerce of Tripoli laboratory continues to be working. A number of exams that haven’t been performed in Beirut labs are being transferred to the lab in Tripoli and this facilitated most of the necessities.
Govt: From what you say, the systemic issues and structural issues of our agri-food worth and provide chain are nonetheless the identical however now the battle factor provides one other dimension to that. Appropriate?
Idriss: Sure. The creation of the Kfarshima Lab was essential to assist the producers, the agricultural producers higher include the testing and higher tackle their testing. In our go to to Tripoli yesterday, the lab on the Chamber of Commerce has doubled and tripled its companies.
They’re offering different new companies for testing GMOs. They’re offering new companies for testing pesticide residues. So there are advances at completely different ranges, not solely in certifying imports but in addition in growing a tradition conducive to manufacturing and to assembly the calls for of the market which can be altering because of battle or because of issues associated to the port of Beirut [explosion of 2020 and the destruction of grain storage silos at the port]. There’s a large facility within the Bekaa the place they’re storing 50,000 tons of wheat.
Govt: So they’re now saved within the Bekaa? And this may nonetheless occur even when the battle continues?
Idriss: Taking possession of the grains from the farmers on time is essential. Storing it in dry, good locations can be essential.
But when the battle will have an effect on the storage capability or the storage safety, the completely different present companions [involved in grain storage in the Bekaa] are usually not addressing strategic shares. [However],there are a number of methods to retailer the pulses or the wheat with the farmers themselves. And there are alternative ways the place you may make land silos on the farm degree. However the essential factor is to take possession of the wheat and to get the farmer paid.
Govt: We’re in the course of October. Up to now, we face meals safety challenges, however the Lebanese are adjusting. However what if the battle continues?
Idriss: If the battle lingers on one other two months or 4 months, disruptions won’t solely proceed. Disruptions will exacerbate as a result of it’s not solely the supply of uncooked supplies or elements but in addition the supply of packaging materials.
If the ports are open, then you can provide imported merchandise. But when the ports shut, the provision chain will not be conducive anymore.
Govt: Are there any ongoing initiatives by MEFOSA relating to any of the problems that you just talked about?
Idriss: Sure. We have now a number of initiatives significantly as a result of situations, presently, we’re supporting all of the displaced individuals and higher addressing the hygiene of the meals provide chain and significantly of the makeshift catering amenities. A few of the people who find themselves servicing there want assist, want a greater understanding of what it takes and the way it takes to prepare dinner every day meals. There are issues with hygiene within the shelters. So we’re supporting these localities with our applied sciences and our workforce goes down serving to them confirm the hygiene of the water and the standard of the water.
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