Lebanon’s olive sector, involving 110,000 of the country’s 169,000 farmers, supports over 500 olive presses and 160 oil facilities, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Efforts to improve production quality are underway through ministry-led training workshops aimed at helping farmers boost skills and meet global standards. The goal is to make Lebanese olive oil more competitive internationally.
The U.S.—Lebanon’s largest olive oil importer—accounted for $7.3 million in exports, followed by Canada and Qatar. That number could grow if producers meet U.S. quality requirements.
However, the sector faces major hurdles. “About 50% of olive trees are aging, farms are small, and agricultural methods are still traditional,” the ministry said.
While the ministry has a plan to strengthen the sector, experts say swift action is needed to raise quality and output for export success.