The ministry of agriculture on September 6 kicked off its “Choose the best and consume more” campaign for promoting the Lebanese virgin olive oil. This comes within the framework of “Strengthening and enhancing quality olive oil chain in Lebanon” project (L’Olio Del Libano 111) funded by the Italian government through the Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation (AICS) and implemented by the International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (BARI-CIHEAM). The launch was made during a ceremony at UNESCO Palace in the presence of the caretaker agriculture minister, Abbas Mortada. Mortada disclosed, on the occasion, that his ministry has worked as a team to develop a strategic plan aimed to revive agriculture in the country. He stressed that the initiative needs support from countries like Italy, hoping this will not be the last. He indicated that the number of beneficiaries owners of olive plantations reached 110,000 out of 169,000 in Lebanon, underlining the economic vitality of the olive sector which operates around 500 presses, 100 packaging units and 60 packaging units for table olives. (Al Diyar, September 8, 2020)