| Strengthening Women's Resilience in a Time of Crisis in Bekaa, Lebanon | Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2019-2020 | This project will help build capacity among 750 Lebanese and Syrian women in several value chains, including freekeh, honey production, production and processing of fruits, vegetables, and potatoes, handcrafts, and rural tourism. |
| Quantitative Estimation of Dietary Energy and Added Sugar Intakes: A Validation Study amongst Lebanese Adults | International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) | Dr. Lara Nasreddine | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2019-2020 | This project quantitatively estimates the dietary energy and added sugar intake among Lebanese adults. |
| The Digital Transformation of the Agricultural Sector in the Middle East (Mashreq Agriculture Initiative) | World Bank Group | Dr. Rabi Mohtar | Department of Agriculture | 2019-2020 | The initiative consists of a knowledge sharing process between three Mashreq countries (Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon) aiming to revitalize the agricultural sector, boost digital agriculture innovation, and raise the profile of agriculture among non-agricultural sectors. Materials and information posted below are intended to support this knowledge sharing process. |
| Mapping Water Use, Phenology and Productivity in Agricultural Landscapes by Fusing Multi-Sensor Data Products | US Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Dr. Hadi Jaafar | Department of Agriculture | 2019-2020 | The project aims to prototype methods for routine production of high spatiotemporal resolution evapotranspiration (ET), vegetation index (VI) and derived phenology and yield products using a multi-sensor data fusion approach. This approach fuses moderate resolution, near-daily retrievals of ET and surface reflectance (SR) from sensors like MODIS and VIIRS with periodic finer scale data from Landsat, Sentinel-2, ECOSTRESS and other Landsat-like sensors to generate multi-year timeseries of gridded products at daily time steps and 30m spatial resolution. |
| An Interdisciplinary Model Towards Integrative Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Qatar and Lebanon: The Case of Breast Cancer and Diabetes Patients | Qatar University | Dr. Farah Naja | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2019-2020 | This project develops an interdisciplinary model to guide the safe and effective integration of complementary and alternative medicine into breast cancer and diabetes care in Qatar and Lebanon. |
| Food Assistance for Training Livelihoods Activities in Lebanon 2 | World Food Programme (WFP) | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2019-2020 | The project, implemented in Bekaa, Northeast Baalbek, and the North, promotes the local food system by addressing the main gaps in the targeted value chains (dairy, fruits and vegetables), supporting small-scale farmers/producers, enhancing product quality, integrating innovation in authentic food production, encouraging sustainable agricultural practices, and facilitating market linkages. |
| Reducing the Direct Economic Downturn Impact on Vulnerable Communities in Bekaa and South Lebanon | Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2020–2021 | Beneficiaries are empowered to develop their subsistence through a number of assets including: technical guidance and support, paid activities and access to the market which expands their networks and allows them access to new economic opportunities. |
| Strengthen The Capacity of Lebanese and Syrian Refuge Community Farmers to Advance Economic Empowerment and Enhance Resilience of Refugee and Host Communities in Lebanon Through the Impacts of COVID-19 | W. K. Kellogg Foundation | Dr. Rabi Mohtar | Department of Agriculture | 2020–2021 | The aims is to advance economic empowerment and enhance resilience to the impacts of COVID-19 in Syrian refugee and their Lebanese host communities through core support to ESDU's Ardi Ardak Initiative. The project uses an inclusive circular model focused on sustainable production through capacity building of small-scale producers in using sustainable, eco-friendly, climate-smart best practices. It supports local producers by linking them with the market and by purchasing 'mouneh' products, local seeds and seedlings from Ardi Ardak network of small-scale producer. It supports vulnerable consumers and promotes consumption of local produce by distributing these 'mouneh' products, seeds, and seedlings to refugee and vulnerable host communities. The project also fosters household self-sufficiency by providing technical guidance on sustainable agriculture and agro-food processing. |
| Enhancing Diversity in Mediterranean Cereal Farming Systems (CerealMed) | LB NATL Council For Scientific Research (CNRS) | Dr. Isam Bashour | Department of Agriculture | 2020-2021 | CerealMed will focus on the valorization of diverse wheat germoplasm, including landraces, local genotypes, domesticated wheat relatives, along with the identification of lentil and chickpea genotypes to be used for soil fertility restoration through crop rotation, and consociation. CerealMed will capitalize on the immense knowledge, genomic resources and phenotypic data produced for these crops by the research institutions of the Mediterranean countries involved in the project. The main scope of CerealMed is to fill the research gaps for implementing a strategy of biodiversity-based wheat farming adapted to environments across Mediterranean countries to support the sustainable production of staple foods in the scenario of the present and future climate changes. |
| CAMEALEON Research on the Impact of Multi-Purpose Cash in Combination with Services on WASH and Shelter Outcome for Syrian Refugees in Lebanon | The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) | Dr. Jad Chaaban | Department of Agriculture | 2020-2021 | The increasingly precarious living conditions of refugees have had direct consequences across aspects of their lives—shelter, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions—regarded as critically affected, where assistance and provisions of humanitarian response is imperative. Internationally and in Lebanon, there has been a noticeable increase in directing aid towards both the WASH and shelter sectors in emergencies. Yet, despite the rise in interventions, the literature and assessments evaluating the effectiveness and outcomes of both WASH and shelter services, and cash-based interventions in humanitarian and development settings are limited and require further attention. |
| Role of Phosphorus in Glycemia | Rania El Khoury | Dr. Omar Obeid | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2020-2021 | The project determines the impact of phosphorus of postprandial glycemia. The project will involve some molecular as well as whole-body experimentation. Upon completion of the study protocol, it will be presented to the Institutional Review Board of the American University of Beirut for review and to obtain approval before any research activity. All subjects will be given all necessary information and those who showed interest will be asked to sign an informed consent form before any data collection. Considering the current COVID-19 outbreak, and as per the IRB guidelines and recommendations, special precautionary measures will be implemented for infection prevention and control: screening for COVID-19 exposure, social distancing precautions (at least 2 meters), hands and equipment sanitization, and wearing face masks. |
| Perceptions and Objective Understanding of Front of Package Nutrition Labels amongst University Students in Lebanon: A Mixed-Methods Study - RPPH 20-98 | World Health Organization (WHO) (EG) | Dr. Lara Nasreddine | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2020-2021 | The project aims to help consumers make healthier choices by providing easy-to-understand nutrition information |
| Prevalence of Malnutrition in Lebanese Hospitals, Recognition and Impact on the Right to Health | Dietitians in Nutrition Support (DNS) | Dr. Nahla Hwalla | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2020-2021 | The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malnutrition in Lebanese hospitals by using the newly proposed GLIM tool, and to explore its different criteria and their relationship with length of stay, an easily measurable outcome parameter that is directly related to hospital costs. |
| Develop Pre and Post - Harvest Activities Manual | Rene Mouawad Foundation (RMF) | Dr. Walid El Kayal | Department of Agriculture | 2020-2021 | This manual is designed and developed to explain the value chain from harvest to end market. A full guide will be provided for the following steps: (a) Harvesting: time, tools, and quality assurance; (b) Sorting: to eliminate fruits that do not meet the quality parameters; (c) Packing: to fit with the purposes; containment, protection, and branding; (d)Transport: transport efficiencies, freight optimization, and pallet patterns; (e)Ripening: the ripening process must be controlled especially for export; ethylene blocker and/or modified atmosphere packing (MAP) might be used; and (f) End market: Premium fruit presentation /Assured quality outturn. |
| Development of new master program in GLOBal Supply chain Management for Southern Mediterranean | Erasmus+ | PI: Dr. Bacel Maddah - CoPI: Dr. Maya Nabhani | FAFS Dean's Office | 2020-2021 | The GLOB-SM graduate program promises a unique contribution to food security, maritime industry, and humanitarian relief programs in the Middle East. Through the implementation of innovative strategies and tools, GLOB-SM will support the modernization, accessibility, and internationalization of institutions of higher education by developing a high-demand, technology intense, need-based curriculum that is new to Lebanon, Jordan, and the whole Middle East. The only program of its kind in the MENA Region, GLOB-SM will provide an international standard of high-quality education that contributes to enhanced local and regional competencies in supply chain management and the employability of graduates. |
| Value Chains for Improved Socioeconomic Well-being of Syrian Refugees and Lebanese Host Communities | Concern Worldwide | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2020-2021 | This project is implemented by Concern Worldwide, in partnership between ESDU and the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI). Funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), this project will be implemented over a two-year period. In the first phase, ESDU will be responsible for providing ToT (training of trainers) workshops for the facilitators selected by Concern Worldwide that will be delivering capacity building on the following topics: sustainable production of cattle and small ruminants, hydroponic feed production and business development. Furthermore, ESDU is responsible of conducting a market assessment for the previously mentioned value chains. |
| Talanoa Water Dialogue for Transformational Adaptation to Water Scarcity Under Climate Change (TALANOA WATER) | Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) | Dr. Hadi Jaafar | Department of Agriculture | 2020-2021 | The objective of TALANOA-WATER is to inform and catalyze the adoption of robust transformational adaptation strategies to water scarcity under climate change that contribute to the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) objectives of social equity, economic efficiency, and environmental sustainability. |
| Mediterranean Water Management Solutions for a Sustainable Agriculture Supplied by an Online Collaborative Platform (MAGO) | Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) | Dr. Ammar Olabi - Dr. Sandra Yanni - Dr. Walid El Kayal | Department of Agriculture | 2020-2021 | Food security and water management in the Mediterranean Region are challenged by reduced water availability due to climate change, directly affecting agricultural production, and the increasing population, stressing the demand for water and food. While compelling technologies exist to improve the performance and resilience of water systems, progress has been slow in practice. One major difficulty is the disconnection between research results with real market needs and end-user demand. The MAGO project will make this connection by addressing some key barriers to innovation diffusion and adoption (e.g., social, and political issues, need for affordable solutions, capacity building, and new business models). MAGO will demonstrate novel solutions to enhance integrated water resources management for sustainable agriculture in the Mediterranean Region. These solutions will boost water use efficiency in agriculture, the use of alternative water resources, and climate change adaptation. They will be demonstrated in Tunisia, Spain, France, and Lebanon. |
| Leveraging Digital Technologies in Mashreq | World Bank Group | Dr. Rabi Mohtar | Department of Agriculture | 2020-2021 | The digital transformation of Mashreq economies presents a unique opportunity, especially at this critical juncture, to address the region’s most pressing challenges. Many emerging countries—such as Estonia in Eastern Europe and Chile in Latin America—have embraced the digital path and are driving rapid digitalization across their economic activities, industrial sectors, and trade relationships. This expansion of the digital economy is fueled by the exponential growth in billions of online transactions carried out daily by businesses, individuals, and governments. These transactions enhance efficiency, accelerate the inclusion of underserved economic and social groups, and improve governance and transparency, among other benefits. As a result, a new and distinct form of economic growth is emerging—one that is reshaping both the present and the future of global economic activity. |
| Retrofitting of Public Buildings Through Green Technologies and Processes (RE-FIT) | Arcenciel | Dr. Mohamad Abiad | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2020-2021 | The project aims to contribute to climate change mitigation and to a circular economy in Lebanon, through low-carbon and energy resource-efficient solutions and processes (e.g. recycling practices). |
| SUstainable Ruminants Feed with OLive pomace and polYphenols enriched charred olive stone (SURFOLY) | Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2021-2022 | SURFOLY is based on a circular economy approach to produce two innovative animal feeds for lactating and fattening small ruminants (sheep and goats) in the Mediterranean area. The new feed contains olive oil by-products (pomace, stone, and polyphenols from wastewaters) utilized in an innovative way to improve performance and product quality and reduce the overall environmental impact on the life cycle of the crop-livestock system. |
| Functionalized Tomato Products (Fun TomP) | Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) | Dr. Mohamad Abiad | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2021-2022 | The objective of FunTomP is to reformulate traditional Mediterranean tomato products considering the current consumer trend of "functional foods", using leaf proteins (by-products of sugar beet processing) and olive powder by using novel and eco-friendly processing technologies that will impact the nutrients minimally. Tomato will be transformed into different functional foods (juices, sauces, leather, bars, and powder mixes) offering extra health benefits to satisfy the consumer demand while keeping a sustainable product and process cycle with the valorization of agricultural waste. |
| Sex-gender Differences in COVID-19 Diagnosis, Hospitalization, and Mortality | Health Care Cost Institute - COVID-19 Research Accelerator Program | Dr. Samer Kharroubi | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2021-2022 | The grant program’s mission is to ensure that researchers have the resources they need to leverage the COVID-19 Research Database to study the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19. The database is the result of a cross-sector partnership of leading health organizations that resulted in the availability of a secure repository of HIPAA-compliant, de-identified, and limited patient-level data sets. With more than 250 million unique patients and 85 billion records, this database is the largest secure repository of real-world data made freely available to public health and policy researchers studying the pandemic. |
| Food System Grant Facility | Berytech | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2021-2022 | Due to the lack of foreign currency which leads to a decrease in reliance on importing food products, it is necessary to support local production of food products. A resilient food system in Lebanon relies on supporting farmers with credit facilitation, strengthening the linkages between the different segments of the agri-food production, and developing the capacities of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working in agri-food production in business investment to ensure better production that may satisfy a large part of the local market. The objective of this project is to enhance the competitiveness, efficiency, and resilience of cooperatives and SMEs working across different streams of food, thereby supporting improved food security to withstand shocks and stresses. |
| Cultural Corridors of Peace II - CPMN-026-21 | York Archaeological Trust for Excavation and Research Limited | Dr. Rami Zurayk | Department of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management | 2021-2022 | Cultural Corridors of Peace supports the Bedouin communities in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley to document, archive, and safeguard their living memory and intangible cultural heritage. The purpose of this project is to help these communities tackle prejudices and discrimination against them, and to raise awareness of their socio-cultural identity and the ecological and economic value of their traditional practices and their cultural heritage which are threatened by current socio-economic circumstances and restrictions of movement across the Syro-Lebanese border. The project is also expected to ensure that the Bedouin community of the Beqaa have the means to stay connected with other Bedouin communities living in various parts of the Middle East, such as Jordan and Palestine. The project is led by the Institute for Heritage and Sustainable Human Development (part of York Archaeological Trust), in collaboration with LDEM at AUB, and funded by the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund, in partnership with the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport. |
| Mediterranean Dialogue for Waste Management Governance (Med4Waste) | ENI CBC MED Programme | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2021-2022 | The project aims at facilitating new governance models for integrated and efficient urban waste management policies across the Mediterranean, with particular emphasis on organic waste and circular economy. The project will be implemented in six countries: Spain, Greece, Tunisia, Lebanon, Jordan, and Italy. Med4Waste is led by the Fundació Universitària Balmes (Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya) and funded by the EU through the ENI CBC Med Program. |
| Addressing Climate Change through Circular Economy | World Food Programme (WFP) | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2021-2022 | This project encourages circularity in the livestock sector, decreasing the impact of livestock on climate change. It promotes sustainable feed production and promotes innovative practices enhancing the resilience of vulnerable livestock keepers against climate change and economic stress. |
| Identifying the Best Procedures and Methods for Determining Hemoglobin (Hb) Concentration in a Population Survey | JSI Research & Training Institute | Dr. Omar Obeid | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2021-2022 | The project identifies the best procedures and methods for determining hemoglobin (Hb) concentration in a population survey. |
| Quality Check Process - Urinary Iodine Analysis | UN Children's Fund Fund (UNICEF) | Dr. Omar Obeid | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2021-2022 | The project includes a quality check for urinary iodine analysis. |
| Strengthening Knowledge, Evidence Use and Leadership in the Global South on Forced Displacement: Focus on the Middle East | International Development Research Center (IDRC) | PI: Dr. Lina Choueiri - Co-PI: Dr. Samer Kharroubi | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2024-2025 | This project is part of a five-year IDRC initiative on forced displacement through support to research chairs in established universities in four regions (the Middle East, East Africa, Central and South America, and South and Southeast Asia). The aim is to empower universities to define research agendas and lead on practical, gender-transformative solutions which promote social, economic, political, and health rights of forcibly displaced persons and host communities in the Global South, while ensuring that Southern voices inform local, regional, and global policy discussions on forced displacement. There will be emphasis on promoting exchanges between the eight research chairs. |
| Collaborating for Rural Sustainability (CORUSUS) Partnership AUB | Central European University | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2021-2022 | Rural environments are complex social-ecological systems and are explicitly linked with several Sustainable Development Goals addressing poverty, food security, and sustainable natural resource use. CORUSUS will strengthen teaching, learning and research by cultivating cooperation to address the sustainability of rural livelihoods in South Africa, Kyrgyzstan, and Lebanon, whilst bolstering the sharing of knowledge and experience between faculty and students of partner institutions. |
| Agricultural, Forestry, Horticultural, Aquacultural and Apicultural Services to Address the Agricultural Pollution in the Litani River Basin | Landell Mills International Ltd / EU | Dr. Walid El Kayal | Department of Agriculture | 2021-2022 | The project aims to implement agricultural interventions in the Litani River Basin (LRB) to address the pollution caused by the dominant agricultural practices. The uncontrolled quality and quantities of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, and the bad utilization of animal fertilizers on agricultural lands result in both water and soil pollution. The contract scope consists of disseminating best agricultural practices, introducing alternative irrigation and production techniques (including agro-food processing), and on-the-job and plot-demonstration training modules. Strategies for involving youth in these activities will be devised to preserve the agricultural identity of the region and impact positively on social cohesion. Farmers and cooperatives will be supported to maintain their yields and identify ways for scaling up and improving their production or reaching new markets. |
| Urine Samples Analysis | UN Children's Fund Fund (UNICEF) | Dr. Omar Obeid | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2021-2022 | This project involves the analysis of urine samples as part of a UNICEF-supported initiative |
| Boosting Nexus Framework Implementation in the Mediterranean (BONEX) | Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) | Dr. Walid El Kayal | Department of Agriculture | 2021-2022 | BONEX aims to catalyze actions for Nexus between Water, Energy, Food, and Ecosystems (WEFE) related solutions by improving policies and governance and their implementation in practice. For that purpose, the project aims to produce a novel, robust, transdisciplinary, and diagnostic WEFE Bridging Framework to serve the production of context-specific Nexus Bridging Plans (NBPs) tailored to different technologies and socioeconomic contexts across the Mediterranean Region. The framework and innovative Nexus solution approaches will be iteratively developed and tested in 7 carefully selected Demonstration Projects (DP) covering a diversity of Mediterranean Region situations and challenges. |
| Nutrition in Emergencies Training Course | UN Children's Fund Fund (UNICEF) | Dr. Omar Obeid | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2022-2023 | As humanitarian emergencies rise across the Middle East and Africa, the demand for skilled professionals in government agencies, UN organizations, and NGOs continues to grow. The Nutrition in Emergencies (NIE) Training Course (2-credit) offers a dynamic, hands-on learning experience, culminating in a two days of field work including a full day simulation exercise to prepare participants for real-world emergency response. Designed and delivered by international experts in the field, the course provides up-to-date knowledge in nutrition, health, and food security while introducing participants to the humanitarian system and the Nutrition Cluster. |
| Accelerating Progress of Tobacco Taxes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries | Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC) | Dr. Ali Chalak | Department of Agriculture | 2022-2023 | Advancing the implementation of tobacco taxes in low- and middle-income countries is crucial for promoting public health and generating government revenue. Accelerating this progress can significantly reduce tobacco consumption and related health issues, benefiting both individuals and society as a whole. |
| CORUSUS Partnership AUB 2022/23 | Central European University | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2022-2023 | The CORUSUS project, extending over three years, aims at strengthening teaching, learning, and research by cultivating cooperation to address the sustainability of rural livelihoods in South Africa, Kyrgyzstan, and Lebanon, whilst bolstering the sharing of knowledge and experience between faculty and students of partner institutions. During the project's first year, ESDU participated in ongoing communication with the partners for the planning of the project, conducted research activities revolving around the challenges faced by small-scale livestock keepers in Lebanon, and participated in the rural visit to Kyrgyzstan. This first year laid down the base to identify similarities and differences between the partner countries. |
| Transformational and Robust AdaptatioN to water Scarcity and ClimatE chaNge under Deep uncertainty (TRANSCEND) | Horizon Europe - European Commission | Dr. Hadi Jaafar | Department of Agriculture | 2022-2023 | TRANSCEND identifies ways of managing water when its availability is low, and the uncertainty of cascading effects is high. Worldwide, water resources management is increasingly challenged by water scarcity and climate change, which can trigger and aggravate other ecological (e.g. pests) and socioeconomic threats (e.g. commodity price fluctuations) via feedback loops and cascading impacts across systems. The frequency, magnitude, and especially the cascading effects of scarcity and climate change on water management are often hard to estimate because there are many variables and effects that hinder planning. Conventional decision-making methods and policies are less useful to deal with such (deep) uncertainty. |
| Service Provision for Supporting Sustainable Livelihoods in Agri-Food | The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2022-2023 | Providing services to support sustainable livelihoods in the agri-food sector is essential for ensuring food security and economic stability. These services help farmers adopt sustainable practices, improve productivity, and access markets, ultimately contributing to the overall well-being of communities. |
| Assessing the Acceptability of Fortified Lebanese Pita Bread | World Food Programme (WFP) | Dr. Omar Obeid | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2022-2023 | This study determines the acceptability of fortified pita bread. White wheat flour (80% extraction rate) will be fortified with the standard World Food Programme (WFP) premix (vitamin and minerals) before making pita bread. Both acceptability and sensory properties of bread will be tested and compared with no fortified pita bread. |
| HEmoglobin MEasurement (HEME) – Second Phase of Laboratory Validation Studies | JSI Research & Training Institute | Dr. Omar Obeid | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2022-2023 | This study proposes two cohorts with the following aims: Aim 1 is to evaluate the stability of various blood parameters, including CBC, serum folate, B12, ferritin, transferrin receptor, Retinol Binding Protein (RBP), Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), and C-Reactive Protein (CRP), in venous blood specimens stored for 48 hours in a vaccine carrier box. This will address both non-nutritional (acute and chronic inflammation) and nutritional causes of anemia. Aim 2 is to optimize capillary blood sample collection using an automated vacuum-assisted fingertip blood micro-collection device (Haiim). |
| Applying Nuclear Techniques for the Determination of Body Fat and Anthropometric Cutoffs (ARASIA) | International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) | Dr. Lara Nasreddine | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2022-2023 | This project focuses on using nuclear techniques to accurately measure body fat and determine anthropometric cutoffs. These advanced methods provide precise data, which is essential for setting health standards and addressing obesity and related health issues. By improving the accuracy of body composition measurements, ARASIA aims to enhance public health strategies and interventions. |
| A Comparative Assessment of Energy Expenditure and Intake Amongst Lebanese Adolescents Using the Method of Doubly Labeled Water | International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) | Dr. Elie-Jacques Fares | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2022-2023 | This study conducts a comparative assessment of energy expenditure and intake among Lebanese adolescents using the doubly labeled water method. This advanced technique provides accurate measurements of how much energy adolescents consume and expend, offering valuable insights into their dietary habits and nutritional needs. The findings aim to inform better health and nutrition policies for this age group. |
| Supporting the Local Food System | DROSOS Foundation | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2023-2024 | Supporting the local food system involves promoting the production, distribution, and consumption of locally grown foods. This can enhance community health, boost the local economy, and reduce environmental impact. By prioritizing local food sources, we strengthen food security and sustainability within our communities. |
| Salaries and Training Accommodation for the Data Collectors of the Lebanon Integrated Micronutrient and Anthropometry Survey 2023 | GroundWork Sàrl | Dr. Omar Obeid | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2023-2024 | Funding allocated for the personnel (data collectors) involved in the "Lebanon Integrated Micronutrient, Anthropometric, and Child Development (LIMA) Survey 2023. |
| Analysis on Tobacco Supply and Demand in Light of the Financial Crisis | Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC) | Dr. Ali Chalak | Department of Agriculture | 2023-2024 | An analysis of tobacco supply and demand in light of the financial crisis examines how economic downturns affect tobacco production, distribution, and consumption patterns. It evaluates changes in consumer behavior, pricing, and industry stability during periods of financial instability. |
| Promoting a Healthier Environment by Addressing Solid Waste Management Issues Through Youth Engagement | ARK Group DMCC (ARK) | Dr. Ali Chalak | Department of Agriculture | 2023-2024 | Promoting a healthier environment by addressing solid waste management issues through youth engagement involves empowering young people to participate in waste reduction, recycling, and community cleanup initiatives. By educating and involving youth in sustainable practices, we can foster a generation committed to environmental stewardship and create lasting positive impacts on waste management. |
| Lebanon Integrated Micronutrient and Anthropometry Survey 2023 (LIMA) | Mercy-USA for Aid and Development (Mercy-USA) | Dr. Omar Obeid | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2023-2024 | This project aims to evaluate the nutritional status, particularly focusing on micronutrients, and non-communicable disease risk factors among residents of Lebanese territories. |
| Transforming Higher Education – Phase 2 | W. K. Kellogg Foundation | Dr. Ammar Olabi | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2023-2024 | The project seeks to enhance university educational systems in agriculture to prepare ethical leaders and agents of change prepared for the challenges facing agriculture, rural communities, and small producers, to enable them to positively impact agriculture, farm families, rural communities, and agricultural businesses. |
| Exploration and Implementation of Products with Alternative Proteins in the Mediterranean Region (ProxIMED) | Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) | Dr. Mohamad Abiad | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2022-2023 | ProxIMed, a collaborative initiative spanning 17 partners across 10 countries, is revolutionizing the Mediterranean food system. Addressing climate change, population growth, and food security, the project introduces sustainable proteins, including plant-based sources and novel foods. Using eco-friendly processing, ProxIMed aims to create tailored products for diverse regions, promoting a resilient Mediterranean lifestyle. |
| CORUSUS Partnership AUB2023/24 | Central European University | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2023-2024 | The CORUSUS project, extending over three years, aims at strengthening teaching, learning, and research by cultivating cooperation to address the sustainability of rural livelihoods in South Africa, Kyrgyzstan, and Lebanon, whilst bolstering the sharing of knowledge and experience between faculty and students of partner institutions. During the project's first year, ESDU participated in ongoing communication with the partners for the planning of the project, conducted research activities revolving around the challenges faced by small-scale livestock keepers in Lebanon, and participated in the rural visit to Kyrgyzstan. This first year laid down the base to identify similarities and differences between the partner countries. |
| Conducting portfolio-informing resilience analysis for the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Lebanon | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH / EU | Dr. Ali Chalak | Department of Agriculture | 2023-2024 | This project aims to conduct a comprehensive resilience analysis for the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Lebanon to support the country's capacity to cope with ongoing economic and political crises, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The primary objective is to inform BMZ's transitional development assistance to address the urgent food security needs of Lebanon's vulnerable populations. By mapping risks, analyzing capacities, and providing policy recommendations, the project seeks to enhance the resilience of Lebanese food systems and contribute to sustainable food security solutions. |
| GLOBAL CITY FOREST Digital Planning Tool – Needs and Gaps Assessment | International Union For Conservation of Nature (IUCN) | Dr. Yaser Abunnasr | Department of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management | 2023-2024 | Planning and policy for climate change adaptation are increasingly integrated into city management, but the adoption of Ecosystem-based Adaptations (EbAs) remains slow. The GLOBAL CITY FOREST project, aligned with COP26 recommendations, aims to upscale city forest EbAs to a strategic city-landscape scale, promoting urban heating assessment and increasing city forest cover. Utilizing Google Earth Engine, the project will conduct a cross-comparative study of at least 50 cities to understand trends in urban heating and vegetation distribution, ultimately developing an EbA Readiness Score / Global Heating Score to guide city planners and policymakers in equitable EbA investment. |
| Implement a Process with Sites to Perform the 24h Record and the 24h Recall as Part of the Protocol 2110INF on Infant Population in Saudi Arabia | Société des Produits Nestlé SA | Dr. Nahla Hwalla | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2023-2024 | As part of the Protocol 2110INF on the infant population in Saudi Arabia, a process will be implemented at various sites to conduct 24-hour dietary records and 24-hour dietary recalls. This process aims to accurately capture and analyze the nutritional intake of infants over a full day. |
| Innovative Small Green Projects Competition - AFSED | Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (EFSD) | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2024-2025 | The Small Green Innovative Projects- Lebanon Competition, launched by ESDU in collaboration with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), aims to support and advance innovative projects that significantly contribute to sustainable development in Lebanon. This competition seeks proposals from a wide range of institutions and organizations to develop cutting-edge solutions in key areas including sustainable food systems, green energy, water management and waste reduction. |
| NMR Relaxation Tools for Improving and Protecting Quality of Dairy Products (NMR- IMPROV) | Horizon Europe - European Commission | Dr. Mohamad Abiad | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2023-2024 | NMR-IMPROV proposes a radically new approach to investigating properties of dairy products by exploiting Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxation, including Fast Field Cycling and Time-Domain NMR methods. The core of the concept is to acknowledge that macroscopic properties of dairy products are largely determined by dynamics of individual molecular fractions (from macromolecules to water) present in the system. Revealing and understanding the dynamics and arrangement of molecular fractions consisting dairy products is essential for providing a foremost guideline for designing products of required rheological properties and texture, avoiding effects such as aggregation or phase separation, and assessing authenticity of the products. |
| Enhance the Quality Assurance and Control (QA/QC) process related to the iodization of salt in Lebanon | Iodine Global Network (IGN) | Dr. Omar Obeid | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2023-2024 | The Iodine Global Network (IGN) enhances salt iodization QA/QC in Lebanon by collaborating with the American University of Beirut (AUB), the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), and other partners to provide technical assistance for monitoring iodine levels in salt. This includes supporting efforts to build local capacity, harmonize standards with international requirements, and strengthen monitoring and assessment mechanisms across the salt supply chain to improve public health outcomes by preventing iodine deficiency disorders. |
| Accelerating Progress on Tobacco Taxes in Low-and-Middle Income Countries | Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC) | Dr. Ali Chalak | Department of Agriculture | 2023-2024 | Advancing the implementation of tobacco taxes in low- and middle-income countries is crucial for promoting public health and generating government revenue. Accelerating this progress can significantly reduce tobacco consumption and related health issues, benefiting both individuals and society as a whole. |
| Open Landscape Academy for the MENA Region | German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) | Ms. Beata Dreksler | Department of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management | 2023-2024 | Transnational community of people who work to make landscapes more resilient and inclusive for all |
| Vulnerability profile ranking rural areas based on investment opportinities and needs | International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) | Dr. Hadi Jaafar | Department of Agriculture | 2024-2025 | Utilizing remote sensing data and other sources, the project will guide future investment targeting and evaluate overlapping vulnerabilities such as poverty and inequality in rural areas. |
| Living Lab Scale Up | Ardi Ardak | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2024-2025 | In light of the current socio-economic crisis, the Environment and Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU) at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS) at AUB - in partnership with the Lebanese League for Women in Business (LLWB), the Food Heritage Foundation (FHF) and Ziko House, launched on February 28, 2020, the Ardi Ardak Initiative. Ardi Ardak works on offering small-scale producers access to knowledge, resources and marketing channels, offering urban consumers access to local healthy produce, and promoting sustainable eco-friendly agricultural practices and innovative food processing linking innovation to traditional authentic production.
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| Resource Empowerment and Sustainability for Overall Community Vitality and Environmental Resilience (RESOLVE) | Stiftung Auxilium | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2024-2025 | Regenerative Agriculture (RA) holds promising potential to revitalize Lebanon’s agricultural sector. To explore the opportunities and challenges, the RESOLVE project was launched in November 2024. RESOLVE – Resource Empowerment and Sustainability for Overall Community Vitality – aims to strengthen food security by mapping RA practices across Lebanon. By improving access to reliable data and practical knowledge, the project seeks to accelerate the adoption of RA methods and, in turn, enhance the resilience of rural communities. The project focuses on two key outcomes: 1) improved accessibility to data and information and 2) enhanced implementation of RA. In addition, RESOLVE will pilot a study on ecologically based rodent management (EBRM) to explore sustainable solutions for pest control, ultimately enhancing local agricultural productivity in varying environmental conditions. |
| Provision of Consultancy Services for Readiness Support | Green Climate Fund (GCF) | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2024-2025 | - |
| Nutrition in Emergencies | UN Children's Fund Fund (UNICEF) | Dr. Omar Obeid | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2024-2025 | As humanitarian emergencies rise across the Middle East and Africa, the demand for skilled professionals in government agencies, UN organizations, and NGOs continues to grow. The Nutrition in Emergencies (NIE) Training Course (2-credit) offers a dynamic, hands-on learning experience, culminating in a two days of field work including a full day simulation exercise to prepare participants for real-world emergency response. Designed and delivered by international experts in the field, the course provides up-to-date knowledge in nutrition, health, and food security while introducing participants to the humanitarian system and the Nutrition Cluster. |
| Neglected and Underutilized Species for waTer hArvesting and buiLding ClImate Change resilience (NUSTALGIC) | Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) | Dr. Ali Chalak | Department of Agriculture | 2024-2025 | Neglected and underutilized species (NUS), such as drought-tolerant cacti and traditional legumes and barley, offer alternative cash crops and provide significant environmental benefits. NUSTALGIC envisions a future where NUS are appreciated across the Mediterranean region for their contributions to natural and agro-biodiversity, and their value in enhancing drought tolerance, improving climate resilience, and increasing nutritional value. |
| Accelerating Progress on Tobacco Taxes in Low-and-Middle Income Countries-Phase II | Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC) | PI: Dr. Ali Abboud - CoPI: Dr. Ali Chalak | Department of Agriculture | 2024-2025 | Advancing the implementation of tobacco taxes in low- and middle-income countries is crucial for promoting public health and generating government revenue. Accelerating this progress can significantly reduce tobacco consumption and related health issues, benefiting both individuals and society as a whole. |
| Salt Iodization Programme in Lebanon | Iodine Global Network (IGN) | Dr. Omar Obeid | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2024-2025 | The program represents a proactive stance towards improving healthcare in Lebanon and a collaboration between Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Economy and Trade, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Health Organization (WHO), the American University of Beirut (AUB), and the Iodine Global Network (IGN). |
| The Operational Management and Maintenance of Sioufi Garden | United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2025-2026 | The project aims to rehabilitate works at Sioufi Garden, Lebanon to restore it as a vibrant and accessible green space for the community. |
| Mediterranean Waste Innovations for Sustainable Environments (MEDWISE) | Interreg NEXT MED | Dr. Shady Hamadeh | Department of Agriculture | 2025-2026 | MedWISE project aims to accelerate the transition to a circular resource-efficient economy within the region through proven-efficient solutions. The project will optimize organic resource management using two main strategies: enhancing cross-border testing of innovative technological resource efficiency solutions and increasing transnational knowledge sharing of technologies through a triple helix approach. Specifically, 3 types of innovations (industrial symbiosis, AI-powered sorting at the source, and decentralized composting) will be mapped and piloted, enhancing parallelisms between northern and southern contexts. The project counts with the participation of organizations from Italy, Spain, Turkey, Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan. |
| Assessment of Breast Milk Intake the Deuterium Dose-to-Mother (DTM) Method and Key Breastfeeding Predictors in Lebanon | International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) | Dr. Omar Obeid | Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences | 2025-2026 | This project aims to evaluate breast milk intake in infants using the Deuterium Dose-to-Mother (DTM) method and identify key factors influencing breastfeeding practices in Lebanon. |