In light of local, regional, and global changes, the agri-food sector in Lebanon is facing serious competition in domestic and foreign markets. Although the sector is considered to have potential for growth due to Lebanon's natural endowment (soil, climate, water), it has been left largely ignored with no serious strategy to confront the challenges of the future. This will have serious consequences on agriculture and industrial sectors, rural-urban balance, poverty, social equity, and economic growth.

Against this background, the Lebanese center for Policy Studies and Consultation and Research Institute embarked on a study whose objective is to examine the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, assess its performance, and examine its prospects at the local and regional levels.

At the local level, the study examined the competitiveness of the agri-food with the objective to determine its weaknesses and capitalize on its strengths. The analysis focused on the following: factor conditions or basic inputs of the sector, demand for agri-food, supporting and related industries that directly or indirectly affect the performance of the sector, the structure and strategy of firms and the intensity of competition, and government's policy towards the sector.

At the regional level, the study examined the competitiveness of the agri-food sector in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Syria. In addition, the study quantitatively evaluated the comparative advantage of Lebanon's agri-food products vis-à-vis Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey.

The study was funded by the United Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in New York and was carried out by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Beirut with the support of the Syndicate of Lebanese Agri-food Industries. The final study was presented to the UNDP as a report entitled "Strategic Options for the Agriculture and the Agri-food Industry in a Dynamic Global Environment."