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It's hard for me to have tangible opinion on something as complicated as the Middle-east but surely part of the causes are exogenous, at what level and mechanis
by kkfx 4y ago
It's hard for me to have tangible opinion on something as complicated as the Middle-east but surely part of the causes are exogenous, at what level and mechanism I can't tell. Surely another relevant part was and still is food: Swiss needs import, but for being well, in mere self-sufficiency they can survive, Lebanon can't, it import I think nearly all foods they needs and that's a big issue. Surely energy production is another: Swiss have much hydro and was able to develop a certain level of nuclear, Lebanon have nothing of them. Again a big tie that allow foreign countries to interfere much.
I do not prize Swiss at a whole, I'm talking just in terms of defense and Democracy...
- dotancohen 4y agoVery interesting, thank you. I did not realize that Lebanon must import so much food. They have a very fertile country, possibly the most fertile percentagewise in the Middle East, I wonder why they must import so much food.
- kkfx 4y agoI don't know the details, but for instance, from a quick search https://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/lebanon-imports-85-its-food-usd-20-billion-annually https://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/lebanon-imports-85-its-foo... or https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/lebanon/2022/03/11/lebanon-expects-food-security-problems-within-a-month-or-two/ https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/lebanon/2022/03/11/leba... https://asiatimes.com/2022/01/russia-ukraine-war-could-cause-hunger-in-mideast/ https://asiatimes.com/2022/01/russia-ukraine-war-could-cause... I suppose they have big water issues due to constant droughts and bad irrigation systems, perhaps hyper-dense population and constant war-alike status also impact much but... And do not undervalue the energy part, pumps for instance can run on p.v. but most tractors, farm equipment run on diesel, witch is not produced locally and cost money. Food supply chain/transformation industry need energy, sometimes in important quantities to keep foods cold or to lyophilize them etc. Energy does not make foods alone, but it's an important piece of the game.
- dotancohen 4y agoThank you. In fact, I did not consider the energy part. I am aware that much Lebanese agriculture, at least in the south, is still very manual.