Syria and mainly Lebanon have been opened to the world and several international organizations have been active in these countries. i.e ICARDA (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas), based in Syria, as well as ACSAD (Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry lands), FAO, UNDP and UNIDO.

Foreign agricultural universities have been active for decades, mainly in Lebanon (American and French.)

Besides, research institutes are also helping in disease detection and protection. Recently, the official Lebanese research institute is giving more attention to acting as an experimental center, which is badly needed in Lebanon, rather than operating as a basic research institute (which is not really needed in a country like Lebanon with limited financial resources.)