FAO and Italy rehabilitate the national biological laboratory in Syria to combat water hyacinth

Farmers along the Orontes River in rural Hama will no longer have to fear the devastating impacts of water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic plant that has posed a significant threat to agricultural activities and water management for years. Thanks to a collaborative effort by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Italy, the National Biological Laboratory in Hama is now fully operating to achieve a science-based, sustainable response to control the heavy spread of water hyacinth.

This intervention is part of FAO’s efforts to implement its Integrated Management Plan for controlling water hyacinth, using both biological and mechanical methods. The biological approach involves breeding a natural enemy of the plant—a weevil that feeds on its leaves and stems: “This weevil significantly reduces the plant’s growth rate, reproductive capacity, and ability to block water flow,” explained Shadi Sulaiman, Senior Entomologist at the National Biological Laboratory: “With the recent rehabilitation of the laboratory, we now have the capacity to breed more than 40 000 weevils per year and release these bio-agents at scale,” he adds.

At the same time to execute the mechanical control measures being implemented, through the Italy-funded project, the World Food Programme (WFP) supported the intervention by providing a Water Hyacinth Harvester to help remove the invasive water Hyacinth from Muhardah Dam Lake.

Readiness to combat threats

The 14-year conflict severely impacted the National Biological Laboratory, creating major operational challenges. The frequent power outages made it difficult to maintain the stable temperatures required for weevil breeding, while the damaged equipment and deteriorated greenhouse facilities further obstructed the laboratory’s ability to function effectively. The FAO-Italy initiative addressed these issues through a comprehensive rehabilitation plan that included the installation of solar-powered systems to ensure a reliable electricity supply, and the restoration of the mass rearing house facilities, including temperature control, lighting, ventilation and water management systems.

In addition, the Organization provided a comprehensive technical capacity building to train technical staff in efficient bio-agent production and release, beside conducting an awareness campaign on the environmental risks of Water Hyacinth, which emphasized the role of biological control methods as sustainable and eco-friendly solutions.

"The FAO-Italy partnership has had a significant impact on the agricultural sector in Syria," said Toni Ettel, FAO Acting Representative in the Syrian Arab Republic. "The rehabilitation of the National Biological Laboratory has equipped the sector with sustainable tools to control Water Hyacinth. This achievement will help restore water flow to agricultural lands, boost crop production, and support the livelihoods of vulnerable farmers."

In a country still recovering from years of conflict, combating water hyacinth is more than an environmental measure, it is a vital step towards achieving food security, economic resilience, and sustainable development for rural communities.