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Agriculture in Israel

Where R&D Meets Nation Needs

Ministry of -State of Israel

Agriculture and Rural Development

Itzhak Ben-DavidDeputy Director General (Foreign Trade), Athens, April 5, 2017

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Facts About Israel: Geography

Area: 22,000 km2

GDP Agriculture

12.6 Billion NIS - 1.4%

Employment in Agriculture

about 40,000 - 1.2%

Agro-food Exports

2.4 Billion NIS - 3.7%

Agro-food Import

5.3 Billion NIS - 7.3%

Population: 8,309,400

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Climate: Precipitation (mm/year)

Mediterranean

Israel’s small land area is divided into 4 distinct climate zones

Saharan

Mediterranean

Desert

Extreme Desert

Shortage of natural water

resources

Scarcity of precipitation

Two thirds of Israel area is

defined as semi-arid or arid

Shortage of “On farm labor”

Complex geopolitical

environment

Distance from the export and

import markets

Support of Agriculture in Israel

Research, Economy and Strategy Division - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Low level of support for farmers,

(compared to other developed countries)

Decline of level of support over time

Mainly , distortive market price support measures

Producer Support Estimates by Country% of gross farm receipts

Source: OECD, PSE/CSE Database, 2015

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Research, Economy and Strategy Division - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

%2014 2013

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The agricultural sector has benefited from high levels of

investment in research and development, and high-performing

extension services

Israel is a world leader in many aspects of agricultural

technology, particularly those associated with farming in arid

conditions

Agriculture relies not so much on a “natural” comparative

advantage in farming, but on an “induced” comparative

advantage built on technological progress and innovation

Israel has implemented an advanced water pricing policy and

has encouraged innovation in water-related technologies

Israeli Agriculture R&D and Investment

(from OECD report on Israeli Agriculture)

Solutions: Israel as a Global Agro-Tech Center

Global leader in agro-technology (especially arid areas) and water

First in the world in the use of recycled water

Multidisciplinary R&D with proven abilities in developing

know-how

Highest ranking in agricultural yields

A global leader in hi-tech and information &

communication technologies (ICT) for tomorrow’s agriculture

Israel agriculture is a worldwide “beta site”

Knowledge and experience in introducing, together with mega-

companies, new products and technologies into agricultural practice

all over the world

Energy

WaterFood

Combining these will place Israel as a

Global Agro-Tech Center

AgCompanies

Improved efficiency due to R&D:

Number of people fed by one farmer

10

In 2015 160

In 1955 15

Irrigation and Water Resources

Management Technologies

R&D - Potential extension of Water Resources

Irrigation technologies, purification and recycling, desalination

Marginal water - saline and brackish

water

Waste water treatment technologies

and recycling

Desalination technologies

Water saving: improved irrigation

practices, precision agriculture, leak

prevention, drip irrigation, public

education

Over-Irrigation

Regular -Irrigation

Water management

Water desalination

Irrigation

Urban water solutions

• Israeli systems account for 50% of the world's

low-pressure irrigation systems, reducing

agricultural water consumption by 30%.

• Israeli companies have installed more than 350

desalination plants in nearly 40 countries.

• Among world’s lowest-cost producers of

desalinated water: ~ $0.55/m3 vs $1.00/m3

world average.

• 86% of Israel’s wastewater is reclaimed for

agriculture – the highest percentage in the

world

• Global opportunity – only 12% of the world

irrigation is through drip irrigation

Sector highlights

SECTOR BRIEFING

WATER TECHNOLOGIES

Source: Israel Export Institute, The Israel Water Authority

Water for Agriculture1970-2013

Source: Water Authority 2013, MOAG 2013

10

77

11

35

99

8 72

9 54

4

51

9

55

1

49

1

40

3

47

6

41

4

43

0

46

1

26

0

34

1

35

4

38

7

39

9 39

5

41

4 41

5

42

9

49

2

15

1 22

2

14

9 24

2

23

4

24

8 23

1 21

8

21

0 21

3

22

7

25

2

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

19

70

19

80

19

90

20

00

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

Wa

ter

Use

(m

illio

ns

m2

)

Fresh Water Treated Waste Water

Saline and Floods % Marginal Water Use

evif@naftemporiki.gr

Agriculture Irrigation Water

Europe/USAGreeceItalyAustraliaSpainIsrael

5%5%8%15%17%87%

Bas Spector, 2011 (Knesset Reports). Onesios K. M., 2009. Yedidia I. et al., 2011.

Israel produces 530MCM of treated water every year

More than 80% of the water is used for irrigation

Placing Israel 1st in the world in water recycling

Education!The key for

sustainability

future

R&D - The effect of micro-pollutants in recycled water on human health and the environment

The environmental impact of surfactants, pharmaceuticals, hormones and cosmetics

Clear Legal Framework

Integrated Resources

Water Management

Water Economy

Water Saving Society

Technology

Small scale microcosms

ControlGreenhouse

wastewaterKitchen

water

Laundry

water

Precision Agriculture

Thermal imaging for water status mapping

Over-irrigated

Regular irrigation

Agricultural engineering institute, ARO

Thermal imaging exposes differences in water status of

plants which cannot be detected by our eyes.

Thermal Camera

Regular Camera

20 meters crane above a vineyard

Nectarines excessively irrigated

Vineyards over irrigationVineyards regular irrigation

Vineyards regular irrigation

Vineyards – Yiftah, Israel

Innovation/Sophistication in Postharvest

Practices in Israel

New technology New storage technology Sophisticated produce

FAO estimates that each year approximately

one-third of all food produced for human

consumption in the world is either lost or wasted

Grain Storage Aim

To prevent quantity and quality loss

of stored grain

Such levels are regarded as a notable

international achievement

As a result of efficient monitoring, intensive

R&D of innovative methodologies and

technologies, grain losses in Israel do not

reach levels higher than 0.5%.

Dairy Farming

The Israeli dairy herd: some facts• 124,000 dairy cows

• 90% are herd book registered (monthly recorded)

• Breed: Israeli Holstein; 100% AI

• 100% mechanically milked; Milk equipment is mostly locally made (SAE Afikim; SCR).

• 2 types of farms:

–Big farms, 300-900 cows, (Kibbutz farms); 3X

–Smaller family farms, 40-200 cows (Moshavfarms); 2-3X

• Annual production: 12,000 liter/cow.

• 3,75% Fat

• 3,37% Protein

Key Factors for the Success of the

Israeli dairy sector

Genetics

Management

Nutrition

Evolution of the dairy sector of Israel

Number of dairy Farms Average production (1000 liters)

The Israeli “high-tech cow”

5 Tags

• Milk yields

• Fat, protein and

lactose percentages

• Body weight

• Feed intake

• Activity

• Lying time

• Rumination time

Feeding Centers

Feeding Center: Advantages• Few and efficient machinery.

• Cooperation between centers.

• Extensive use of byproducts and others additives.

• Computation and exact control.

• Size advantages while buying foodstuff.

• High variety of energy and protein sources.

• Different treatments of whole grains.

• Long range storage (cottonseeds, silage, hay).

• TMR

• Low depreciation and waste (proper storage equipment).

• Distance between stores to avoid fire.

Constructions adapted to

hot climates

Cooling systems & forced ventilation

Dairy Farming Cooperation Opportunities

Israel’s dairy technologies exports include

frozen semen, embryos for transplant,

heifers, advanced milking and computerized

feeding systems, consulting, and joint

international project development

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