Biosketch

Dr. Rami Zurayk is a distinguished Lebanese agronomist, scholar, and activist specializing in ecosystem management, food security, and sustainable agriculture. He earned his PhD in plant science from Oxford University and is currently a professor at the American University of Beirut (AUB), where he also directs the Interfaculty Graduate Environmental Science Program. Dr. Zurayk has made significant contributions to the field of agriculture and food systems, co-founding the Association of Lebanese Organic Agriculture and launching “Healthy Basket,” Lebanon’s first community-supported agriculture program. His research explores the intersection of landscapes, livelihoods, food politics, and local food systems. As an active voice in Arab civil society, he co-founded the Arab Food Sovereignty Network, which brings together over 30 NGOs across 13 Arab countries. His publications include “Food, Farming and Freedom: Sowing the Arab Spring” and “War Diary: Lebanon 2006”, and he writes a weekly column for Al Akhbar. Dr. Zurayk’s academic and activist efforts have earned him recognition on various advisory committees, including the High-level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition and the EAT-Lancet Commission on Sustainable Diets.