The BASATINE Program, funded by Agence Française de Développement, played a pivotal role in PowerX Summit 2025, Lebanon’s first national entrepreneurship and innovation summit. Over three impactful days, BASATINE convened sector leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, and public officials to spotlight the future of agriculture in Lebanon, with a strong focus on data-driven insight, digital innovation, and collaborative action.
DAY 1: Strategic Insights from Lebanon’s Agri-Food Landscape
The BASATINE Program kicked off its presence at the summit with a data-driven presentation by Food Systems Advisor, Bashar Berro, who shared findings from a comprehensive national market study examining Lebanon’s agri-food value chains.
The research revealed a stark imbalance between local production and consumption needs, particularly in cereals and legumes, where import dependency remains high. It also identified regional productivity disparities based on farming practices, underlining the critical need for modernization.
Among the strategic takeaways:
- Crop Prioritization: High-potential crops were identified for both local value and export viability, based on production-to-market ratios.
- Post-Harvest Gaps: Lebanon’s infrastructure lags behind international standards, particularly in grading, storage, and transport.
- Water Efficiency: With limited water resources, the study emphasized cultivating crops with low-to-medium water requirements (200–600 mm annually).
- Sustainability Pathways: Recommendations included reducing chemical use, enhancing soil health, and promoting renewable energy across the sector.
The session equipped stakeholders with an actionable roadmap to boost productivity, minimize losses, and shift toward a resilient, sustainable food system.
DAY 2: Shaping the Future of Digital Agriculture
The second day focused on Lebanon’s digital agriculture transformation. A diverse panel of experts—from startups to ministries—outlined the sector’s technological future and presented successful case studies like the Izraa App, which connects farmers directly to consumers and provides personalized agri-consulting using farm-specific data.
Following the panel, Berytech facilitated a hands-on workshop under the BASATINE Program umbrella. Participants, including farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, and tech providers, engaged in working groups exploring four critical themes:
- Solution Design: Proposed tech-enabled tools ranged from mobile apps to digital marketplaces and IoT systems tailored for agri-food operations.
- Implementation Barriers: Key challenges included weak infrastructure, low digital literacy, financial risks, and regulatory uncertainty.
- Value Creation: Stakeholders noted the potential for increased productivity, market access, traceability, and environmental impact.
- Sustainability: Public-private partnerships, business model innovation, and capacity-building were highlighted as crucial to long-term adoption.
The workshop generated practical ideas and built momentum for ecosystem-wide cooperation around digital agriculture solutions.
DAY 3: Launching Izraa – A Milestone for Digital Agriculture
The summit culminated with the official launch of Izraa, a groundbreaking agri-tech platform developed in Lebanon to empower small and medium-sized farmers. The platform offers real-time expert advice, crop-specific guidance, and a transparent digital marketplace—all accessible via a mobile app.
Salim Zwein, Co-Founder and CEO, shared Izraa’s origin story—from a grassroots online community to a scalable solution backed by robust technology and a dedicated team. He underscored its unique value in combining innovation with local farming practices.
In a show of national support, H.E. Mr. Nizar Hani, Lebanese Minister of Agriculture, delivered a powerful address. He stated:
“Izraa is an initiative that aligns with our national priorities—supporting small farmers, improving market access, and fostering innovation within agriculture.”
He continued with a call to action:
“The Ministry is committed to backing solutions like Izraa that do not replace the farmer, but rather elevate their capacity to grow, sell, and thrive. This is the future of agriculture in Lebanon.”
The event concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Agriculture and Izraa, formalizing a new public-private partnership aimed at scaling digital farming tools and enhancing national food security.
Looking Forward
The BASATINE Program’s presence at PowerX Summit 2025 showcased the transformative potential of innovation in Lebanon’s agriculture sector. From unveiling data-driven insights to co-creating digital strategies and celebrating public-private collaboration, BASATINE reaffirmed its role as a catalyst for resilient, inclusive, and tech-enabled agri-food systems in Lebanon.
About the BASATINE Program
This BASATINE programme is supported by l’Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and a consortium made of six NGOs: CARE International in Lebanon, Mercy Corps, Berytech Foundation, Georges N. Frem Foundation, Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training and Al Majmoua.
