PRESS RELEASES 2007

USAID Launches New Workshop on Organic Management

March 14, 2007

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Lebanon Mission Director Raouf Youssef launched the opening of a new workshop on Organic Management on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at the Universite Saint Esprit de Kaslik (USEK), in the presence of Dr. Nagi Wakim, Vice President of USEK, Mr. Said Aoun, President of the Agriculture Engineers branch of the Order of Engineers and Mr. Bruce Menser, National Director for World Vision Lebanon.

Organized by World Vision, the workshop will be held at USEK on March 14, 15, 29 and 30, 2007. Sessions will cover the situation of organic farming in Lebanon, organic soil fertility management, soil analysis, disease management, insect and mite pest management, organic systems trial of vegetables and grain crops, case studies of organic farms and other related topics.  Professionals and stakeholders in the agribusiness sector will attend the workshop, in addition to students from USEK.

Two American experts will conduct the workshop: Dr. Cynthia Fake, Horticulture and Small Farms Advisor from the University of California Davis and Mr. Brian Caldwell, Engineer from Cornell University.

The workshop is made possible with funding from the United States Agency for International Development – USAID, under its Expanded Economic Opportunities portfolio.

After the workshop’s opening session, Mr. Youssef toured USEK’s Research Center in Agro-food, which was fully equipped with USAID funding at $88,000. The center comprises equipment for milk, fruits and traditional beverage production, as well as a laboratory for food control.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has worked in Lebanon since 1951, funding development projects to benefit Lebanese citizens. USAID’s program promotes economic opportunities, job creation, good governance and environmental policies and practices in rural Lebanon. USAID provides $40 million assistance a year and works in partnership with U.S. and Lebanese organizations throughout the country. USAID strengthens the relationship between the people of Lebanon and the people of the United States, and promotes a shared vision of democracy and socio-economic development. 

For more information about USAID’s projects in Lebanon, visit USAID’s website http://lebanon.usaid.gov.