Badaro Urban Farmers Market

Context

Lebanon faces many challenges, and the local population's capacity for initiative is an important factor in the country's resilience. Indeed, the Lebanese have been able to respond to and absorb a variety of crises: -political, with stagnation in public action and significant corruption; -economic, with the pandemic and the explosion at the port of Beirut in August 2020;
-and social, with recurring popular demonstrations and notable human issues such as the question of Palestinian and Syrian refugees.

Politically, Lebanon is a country that functions through what is known as confessional politics. This system, which aims to represent all confessions and give them power in proportion to their demographic weight, has for decades created many challenges and contributed to a gradual separation of Lebanese identity. Fortunately, a number of initiatives are emerging that seek to rebuild this social bond that has been undermined by an outdated political system.

Project

The Badaro Urban Farmers is a civic initiative, launched in 2017 by a group of local residents to mobilise the community around positive projects and create social connections. Inspired by Cyril Dion's film 'Demain', a small team of Lebanese and foreigners wanted to 'libanise' the spirit of the film and make the lessons learned their own.

The farmer's market was not the first suggestion: sorting household waste, collecting coffee grounds for myculture, urban bee-keeping… many ideas were put forward, but these different initiatives crystallised around the farmer's market, organised by people with no agricultural background.

As well as being a place to sell produce, the farmers' market is also intended to be a meeting place for producers and consumers, to promote social links and responsible practices, and to facilitate access to fresh produce despite the devaluation of the Lebanese pound and the country's difficulties in feeding its population. Despite the lack of organic certification, whose specifications are too complex for some small producers, a real relationship of trust has been established between the market organisers and the producers, who are involved in permaculture, urban agriculture or innovative sectors such as red fruits.

Results

Despite these crises, the market continues to operate every Sunday from 9am to 2pm at the Saint Sauveur school in Beirut: stalls, entertainment and activities of all kinds to bring the Lebanese closer together and meet the demand for fresh, affordable produce from a large proportion of consumers.

On average, 25-30 producers gather every Sunday, with 4-5 fresh produce producers being the most popular category.

In fact, the biggest obstacle for the Badaro Urban Farmers is the economic and energy challenge, which prevents some producers from coming to the market to sell their produce, due to the drop in profitability caused by inflation. Before the crisis, some producers came from as far away as 100 km, but with petrol prices so high, Badaro Urban Farmers has to rely mainly on local players within a 30 km radius.

Pour favoriser une approche commune, le Badaro Urban Farmer a rédigé une charte qui rassemble les organisateurs et vendeurs autour des mêmes principes et valeurs. Les petits producteurs locaux sont sélectionnés et des contrôles sont effectués en amont de leur venue sur le marché pour garantir des produits frais, sains et éco-responsables. En plus des produits frais (fruits et légumes) il est possible d’y retrouver des produits cosmétiques (savons), de l’huile d’olive ou encore du chocolat mais aussi les nombreux produits transformés de la « mouneh » libanaise, ou encore des pâtisseries ou du Kéfir.

Depuis quelques mois, le Badaro Urban Farmers a rejoint la Coalition Mondiale des Marchés Fermiers, la World Farmers Market Coalition - une initiative partie d’Italie soutenue par la FAO - et ils participeront pour la première fois à l’Assemblée générale prévue pour mai  2023.

To promote a common approach, Badaro Urban Farmer has developed a convention that unites organisers and vendors around the same principles and values. Small local producers are selected and inspected before they come to the market to guarantee fresh, healthy and ecologically responsible products. As well as fresh produce (fruit and vegetables), you can find cosmetics (soaps), olive oil and chocolate, as well as the many processed products of Lebanese mouneh, pastries and kefir.

A few months ago, the Badaro Urban Farmers joined the World Farmers Market Coalition - an initiative originating in Italy and supported by the FAO - and will participate for the first time in the General Assembly scheduled for May 2023.

Little Extra

The development of initiatives such as Badaro Urban Farmers helps to stimulate the farmers' market culture in Lebanon, while ensuring a decent income for producers and fresh produce for consumers, all in a thoughtful setting for families with fun activities. Local associations also have the opportunity to use a platform to showcase their activities and, in some cases, sell products, while screenings and debates are organised to encourage social reflection.

This initiative sheet was written by Lana Khouildi, an LFC volunteer in March 2023.

Last modification : 29 Dec 2023.