In Lebanon, after years of intensive agriculture and the use of chemicals, there is a growing need and interest in safer and environmentally friendly alternatives. Emerging from years of academic research, biopesticides have been approved by Lebanese authorities, but are still not officially registered due to the lack of regulatory procedures.
Introduction
Pesticides have long been portrayed as an essential element in conventional agriculture to meet the growing demand for food. They produce higher yields, deter pests, and prevent diseases, allowing agricultural production at an industrial scale. Nevertheless, their short and long-term impacts remain significant on ecosystems and health.
After Rachel Carson’s call to action in Silent Spring, efforts were put to shift from the extensive use of synthetic pesticides to natural alternatives. Global environmental movements against agrochemical industries followed. As such, biopesticides derived from animals, plants, minerals, or micro-organisms, gained success for being an eco-friendly product that brings equal benefits to chemical pesticides.
Demand for biopesticides has been growing since the late 20th century as farmers and consumers started prioritizing organic agriculture and nature-based solutions. However today, the global market share of biopesticides remains low.
While biopesticides have been used for a surprisingly long time, their extensive use is still restricted to specific areas as the governance of this sector depends on many geo-political factors. In the European Union, the “Regulation on the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products” targets the reduced use and risk of chemical pesticides by 50 percent in 2030.
In Lebanon, after years of intensive farming and heavy use of agrochemicals, there is increasing interest in safer and environmentally friendly alternatives. Biopesticides, introduced around fifteen years ago through academic research, received approval from Lebanese authorities but remain unregistered due to lack of regulations.
Status in Lebanon
The biopesticides status in Lebanon remains unclear due to lack of documentation and accessible information. Lebanon’s regulatory framework does not clearly differentiate between biopesticides and chemical pesticides, making it impossible to track any market dynamics. Moreover, even though Decree No. 1\307 regulates the registration and use of biopesticides, it still lacks an application decree. This complicates the licensing and marketing of locally produced biopesticides. On another hand, before 2019, the Ministry of Agriculture distributed free fungal and bacterial biopesticides to farmers as part of its Important Pest Management (IPM) strategy. But after the economic crisis that began in 2019 and its subsequent challenges, the strategy was was paused.
Many local success stories are living proof that alternative options always exist.
Today, one major stream that dominates Lebanon’s biopesticides market is imports from international companies. These biopesticides are bought by the Consortium for the Control of Organic Products (CCPB) for certified organic farmers who export their crops. In the meantime, those biopesticides remain inaccessible to small scale farmers, due to their high cost.
Facing these challenges, many local success stories are living proof that alternative options always exist. Research on biopesticides in Lebanon started in early 2012 with “le biope”, the first official biopesticide in the country pioneered by arcenciel, a Lebanese based non-profit, and the Faculty of Sciences at Saint Joseph University. Made from local strains of bacteria, this biopesticide succeeded in controlling pests a wide range of crops and forest trees.
Additionally, the Biopesticides Start-up at Deir Taanayel is by far the largest facility in Lebanon with its semi-industrial production capacity. The American University of Beirut is also working on entomopathogenic biopesticides from locally sourced fungi through the Pathology Lab at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science. Several smaller niche producers also exist.
On a smaller scale, many farmers and coalitions are championing the development of biopesticide recipes, using natural products such as whey, garlic, pepper, neem, horsetail, and nettle, and building on traditional knowledge. Exchange of materials, knowledge, and expertise is widely succeeding within the farming community.
Challenges
Farmers often lack awareness of biopesticide benefits, including cost-effectiveness, reduced harm to health, and their importance in organic agriculture. Therefore, they face difficulties in the transition from agrochemicals to biopesticides at the expense of public and environmental health. Most report this shift as high-risk especially for large farmers dependent on their yields for livelihood. The risks include a decrease in yield, and hence also financial returns. The farms that shift may also lose entire crops if the soil is not treated properly before planting new seeds. Also, if these farms are located in close proximity to conventionally farmed land, these newly shifted organic lands may be harmed by the neighboring pests.
Additionally, biopesticides might result in less attractive yields, potentially limiting their sales in big markets. Furthermore, organically grown fruits and vegetables are losing much of their intangible value when being sold in the same markets as conventional products. When organic products are marketed in some conventional markets, the disparity between the price of the organic product and the conventional product makes the competition favor the conventional product. Although consumers do have demand for organic products, the demand for conventional products is higher due to the more affordable pricing.
On a smaller scale, many farmers and coalitions are championing the development of biopesticide recipes, using natural products such as whey, garlic, pepper, neem, horsetail, and nettle, and building on traditional knowledge. Exchange of materials, knowledge, and expertise is widely succeeding within the farming community.
Challenges are also faced in terms of doses and costs. Biopesticides require higher doses and more frequent applications to match the effectiveness of agrochemicals. Certified biopesticides are also more expensive than chemical ones. As such, farmers tend to prefer readily available and widely tested products rather than piloting new ones.
Opportunities
Facing these challenges, additional efforts are still needed to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers. Creating local markets can build trust between the two entities. Two examples of these markets are Souk El Tayeb, a social enterprise working to promote and preserve culinary traditions, rural heritage, and the natural environment, and Badaro Urban Farmers, a group that describes itself as individuals promoting environmentally-friendly and community-building actions.
Municipalities' role is major in adapting these markets to their local context, through cooperating with farmers in their areas and providing a space to build such a market with all logistical needs. Such initiatives raise consumer awareness about organic products, leading to their increased demand, promoting sustainable agriculture, and reducing the market for conventional agricultural products.
On another front, farmers can be reinforced when provided with extension services, technical coaching, and follow-up throughout several seasons. Equipping farmers with knowledge of holistic agricultural practices can help them make their farms organic. Financial support from livelihood grants is essential to secure their means of living and compensate for any losses arising from the transition. Also, tax exemptions on biopesticides can greatly lower costs, enhancing market competitiveness.
Most importantly, farmers have reported that experiencing tangible benefits of switching from the use of chemicals to biopesticides is a key driver for their own transition to biopesticides. A 50% cost reduction in biopesticide formulation encourages farmers to share recipes and techniques with their peers.
Farmers have reported that experiencing tangible benefits of switching from the use of chemicals to biopesticides is a key driver for their own transition to biopesticides.
Conclusion and Recommendations
In summary, many challenges linked to awareness, cost, effectiveness, and marketing are in the way of mainstreaming biopesticides in Lebanon. However, existing financial, technical, and social opportunities are already being explored. Many imperative levers remain to facilitate further the shift towards responsible agriculture:
- Initiating regulatory reforms to activate decree 1\307 for the registration of biopesticides.
- Lobbying for a governance structure to locally formulate, use, and market biopesticides.
- Providing financial support to farmers and subsidizing costs of biopesticide production and import.
- Promoting organic products through marketing campaigns to raise public awareness among consumers.
- Supporting farmers in switching to biopesticides to optimize their farms by ensuring adequate training and follow-up.
- Conducting scientific research to enact evidence-based policies and design awareness raising tools.
- Integrating principles of agroecology and sustainable farming in the curriculum of universities and technical-vocational education programs.