One of AREC’s main objectives is to facilitate relevant, innovative, applied and adaptive research, which can be easily translated into improved practices. Over the past 55 years, key agricultural developments have been introduced to Lebanon and surrounding areas as the result of innovative research conducted at AREC. By adopting a strategy of regular engagement with local communities, the transit time between research developed at AREC and the adoption of new methods is remarkably short.

Current research at AREC focuses on the development and strengthening of sustainable food systems adapted to the drylands. Take a look at some of the research projects currently or recently implemented at AREC. Strung together, these research projects constitute the essential components of a sustainable food system.

A. Sustainable Soil & Water Management

• Conservation farming: managing soil erosion and soil organic matter for reducing fuel consumption, reducing soil water losses, increasing soil carbon sequestration and reducing soil erosion
• Integrated Nutrients Management: organic-mineral fertilization based on soil tests
• Long term rotations with legume crops to improve soil fertility
• Deficit and supplemental irrigation: limiting water wastage and retaining economic efficiency

B. Crop Selection, Conservation and Improvement

• New drought tolerant and value added crops: safflower, saffron, forage crops
• Crop agrobiodiversity conservation: Traditional wheat varieties

C. Integrated Pest Management

• Biological insect pest control (safflower)
• Sustainable Orobanche management
• Breeding tomatoes for disease resistance

D. Sustainable Animal Production: Poultry Sector

• Preventive care: threat detection and early warning, evaluation and promotion of new vaccines
• Holistic natural curative approaches: essential oils and medicinal plants for disease control

E. Sustainable Animal Production: Small Ruminant Sector

• Improvement of semi-intensive and extensive sheep production
• Mitigating the impact of drought on sheep in semi-nomadic systems

F. Sustainable Animal Production: Dairy cows sector

• Using crop residues in feed formulation, reuse of dairy waste

G. Food processing

• Improvement of traditional dairy products: halloum and kishk

H. Food safety

• Antibiotic residues in milk

I. Linking producers to consumers

• Facilitating market access, agribusiness and entrepreneurship for poverty alleviation
• Healthy Basket, farmers markets, local food systems and urban agriculture

J. Weather Station

• The weather station at AREC has long been a pioneer in the area. The weather data collected over the years has contributed to a better understanding of the climatic conditions in the Beqaa valley and the area as a whole. Many research studies and scientific experiments were based upon data collected through AREC’s weather station