Hydroponic Agriculture in Lebanon: A Window for Food Security and Rural Development

Abstract

The following dissertation discusses the dire consequences of food insecurity in Lebanon while developing an agricultural solution based on the technical advancements of hydroponic systems. Lebanon is the perfect place for such development. The environmental, political, social, and economic conditions are often translated to limited farming and agricultural opportunities, but with hydroponic techniques, the planting, sustainability, and maintainability of agricultural crops can be introduced. Hydroponics supports the development of rural areas where their local economies are currently dominated by agriculture. Hydroponics has a substantial positive impact on rural areas in terms of decreasing rural migration, enhancing the farmer’s business models, boosting agritourism, improving local economies and infrastructure, and lastly, developing the farmers’ skills for more efficient agriculture practices. Hydroponic farming has been successful in several MENA countries, such as Jordan and Algeria, and since Lebanon has a similar context it could be adopted as well. The process of hydroponic farming will support the development and growth of the Lebanese farming and agricultural sector, pushing Lebanon out of its current status of being food insecure.