Environmental activists and growers warn that the loss of traditional seed-saving practices threatens Lebanon's agricultural heritage and food security.
Lebanon's farming communities face a widening crisis as local seed varieties disappear from fields across the country and the Levant region. Farmers and environmental activists say the abandonment of traditional seed-saving practices in favour of imported seeds is eroding agricultural independence and destroying varieties that have been passed down through generations.
The shift away from local seeds carries practical consequences for Lebanese agriculture. Traditional varieties like Salmoni wheat require less water than modern commercial strains and grow without chemical inputs, making them better suited to the country's climate and reducing production costs for farmers who adopt them. These heirloom crops are also more nutritionally dense than many imported alternatives.
The loss of seed-saving knowledge represents more than an economic setback. Farmers describe the practice as a cornerstone of their connection to the land and a marker of cultural identity. Each variety carries decades or centuries of accumulated knowledge about what grows best in specific Lebanese microclimates and soil types.
Among those keeping the tradition alive is Hana Chaar, a 75-year-old farmer from Akkar. Chaar continues to save and plant local seeds, maintaining practices that have shaped agriculture in the region for generations. His work stands as a counterpoint to the broader trend of abandoning heirloom varieties.
Activists and farmers argue that reliance on imported seeds creates a dependence on foreign suppliers and leaves Lebanese agriculture vulnerable to price fluctuations and supply disruptions. The move away from local varieties also narrows the genetic diversity of crops grown in the country, reducing resilience to pests, disease and changing climate patterns.
The environmental case for preserving local seeds rests on their proven ability to thrive with minimal inputs. Varieties developed over centuries to suit Lebanese conditions perform better than commercial crops bred for industrial agriculture elsewhere. This compatibility with local growing conditions reduces the need for irrigation, fertilisers and pesticides.
Environmental groups and farming advocates are working to document and preserve remaining seed varieties before they disappear entirely. The effort includes recording which crops grow best in which regions and ensuring that farmers have access to seeds that match their local conditions. Some organisations are establishing seed banks and networks to distribute traditional varieties.
The stakes extend beyond individual farms to national food security. When local seed knowledge is lost, Lebanon loses the capacity to feed itself from its own agricultural base. The reliance on imports creates a structural vulnerability that activists say the country can ill afford given its economic instability.
Preserving Lebanon's seed heritage requires both immediate action to collect and bank remaining varieties and longer-term efforts to support farmers who maintain the practice. Whether farming communities can reverse the trend of seed extinction while economic pressures push toward cheaper imported alternatives remains uncertain.
