The TerraTonic team from the Lebanese University won the first phase of the Lebanese Industrial Research Achievement (LIRA) program supported by the Ministry of Industry, which aims to find industrial partners by integrating industrial companies with research programs.

Out of 107 projects submitted from several universities in Lebanon, the TerraTonic project of science graduates Rayan Kashmar and Heba Hellani in collaboration with Dr. Akram Hijazi was selected as one of the top ten projects that will receive support, funding, and training.

The TerraTonic project aims to create an organic agricultural pesticide by developing beneficial bacteria, and the effectiveness of the pesticide was confirmed after several laboratory and field experiments.

The locally produced pesticide will help minimize farmers' troubles and reduce the importation of chemical pesticides that are harmful to the soil and crops.