Examining Israel's Agricultural Community

The highly developed agricultural industry is typified by an intensive production process that strives to make use of the region's limited water supply. The unique climate of Israel has necessitated close collaboration between scientists, farmers, and localized agricultural concerns in order to maximize the growth and sustainability of crops in an area with limited natural resources. This remarkable cooperation between public and private sectors has resulted in the implementation of advanced ag-bio technologies throughout the region. Today, Israel enjoys a prosperous growing industry, despite the fact that over half of its land is arid or semi-arid desert.

While it is true that the total number of farmers have fallen recently along with agriculture's portion of the GDP, Israeli agribusiness supplies many local needs. The industry also plays a significant role in satisfying food needs across the world through exporting surplus crops and seeds. Recently, Israeli agriculture exported 6.3% of the GDP and totaled $1.3bn of total Israeli exports, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. Of this, $620 million was exported fresh produce and $430 million was processed foodstuffs. Israel mainly exported to the European Union, although the fruits of Israeli agriculture are presently enjoyed throughout the world.

Israeli agriculture is the story of water; it is also the story of modernity. Arid and desert-like climates dominate the region and a preponderance of the topography is hilly. Because of these limiting factors, only 20% of Israel's land is fit for cultivation (4,100 km2 out of 21,000 km2). The harsh climate and limited resources have forced Israeli agricultural interests to cooperate and work closely with one another. This multi-agency spirit of unity has, in turn, fostered tremendous technological advances for Israeli growers. Local fields serve as laboratories where new technologies and growing techniques are implemented. The results are then observed by farmers, scientists and agricultural companies. Additionally, advances in irrigation and greenhouse technologies allow increased growing in harsh climates. These advances also allow Israeli agriculture to prosper throughout the winter season and produce crops year round. These climatological limitations have directly lead to the development of new farming technologies that meet all internationally held food safety regulations and concerns. The results have been astonishing. Half a century ago, a full time agricultural worker could produce enough food to feed 17 people. Today, a single worker employed full time in the Israeli agriculture industry can provide enough food for over 90 individuals.

Climate and water scarcity aren't the only contributing factors for increased cooperation in Israeli agriculture. The inherent communal structure of many local farms undoubtedly lead to collaborative growing techniques and increased information sharing. Community is a valued part of Israel's farming industry and is found in both the kibbutz and moshav arrangements. These group farming cooperatives originated late last century and currently comprise over 80% of Israeli agriculture. The kibbutz and moshav are similar community-based farming units, but do have minor structural differences that are worth noting here. The kibbutz is a collective endeavor wherein the members share in cultural, social and economic activities and also own the primary means of production as a group. Income is generated by collectively operating industrial enterprises. The moshav is also a collective agricultural endeavor but individuals are able to own private farms. These private farms are held by individuals who organize them into a farming collective. The storied traditions of these communal institutions have lead to increased levels of cooperation, sharing and advancement in Israeli agriculture.

Occasionally the organizational structure of an agricultural cooperative will change, moving from a collective to a corporate structure to better meet the needs of the individuals involved. The Israeli irrigation company Netafim recently underwent such a shift in organizational structure. Netafim started over 30 years ago as a kibbutz and recently the three founding Kibbutzim converted the organization to a corporate business model. Shortly thereafter Elliott Broidy purchased a controlling stake in the newly formed company through his private equity fund, Markstone Capital Group. Elliott Broidy, a longtime supporter of Israeli agriculture and economic development, established his $800 million fund to invest in traditional and agrarian sectors of Israeli infrastructure. Elliott Broidy has long been a supporter of Israeli economic and agrarian development and has said that investing in traditional economic sectors is important not only for Israeli farming, but for the world. Broidy's bold business practices have modernized several Israeli agricultural concerns. Elliott Broidy recently said that he is "optimistic about Israel's future and about investments in Israel. Israeli ingenuity in IT, manufacturing and other sectors is tremendous, and we see new things all the time.". The presence of new business plans and international capital in traditional cooperative settlements reveal how the old world traditions of Israeli agriculture are reinventing themselves in the modern era of science, technology and international business and making the future of Israeli farming very promising.

What follows is an in depth survey of the organizations researchers, methods and advances at work in the Israeli agricultural industry today and is meant to serve as a resource for students, teachers, researchers and businesses interested in the exciting field of Israeli agbio. When viewed as a whole, the story of Israeli agriculture is one of community and growth. Indeed, the remarkable gains and advances that typify the Israeli farming industry arise directly from the cooperative and communal spirit of Israelis.

Agricultural Tourism in Israel

Agricultural tourism in Israel allows urban residents to experience the rural life they are missing as they live their lives in cities. Agricultural tourism is also a great aid to agricultural professionals wishing to learn more about modern farming and irrigation practices, as well as new agricultural technologies and techniques.

Israel has already demonstrated its prowess as a country in developing the latest technologies in agriculture. Due to Israel's arid climate, researchers and industry developers have developed irrigation systems and seed variants that are among the most advanced in the world. Israeli scientists have also developed greenhouse developments that have allowed for crops to grow in highly unfavorable conditions.

One of the most interesting things about agricultural tourism in Israel is that an individual can visit Holy Land sites to see how land was managed in biblical times. In certain agricultural sites near Jerusalem and Galilee, visitors can go to sites where the landscape has remained unchanged for thousands of years, and terraces and irrigation channels from long ago are still visible. Tourists can even participate in activities such as producing their own olive oil, or grinding wheat.

The Israeli countryside is peppered with citrus production farms, and visitors can delight in the sights and sounds of the plethora of fruits and vegetables that grow around Tel Aviv and Haifa. Through genetic engineering, Israeli researchers and scientists have developed novel ways to produce citrus fruits with less need for water, a clear advantage in a dry climate like Israel's. With genetic engineering, citrus fruits are produced that are more resistant to disease, and are specially developed to ripen at opportune times.

Israel's developments in the fruit industry include its introduction into Europe the avocado and the persimmon. Cucumbers and tomatoes are two products that Israel has also developed and improved with success, and any visitor on an agricultural tourism route will learn about Israel's contributions to these fields.

The National Water Carrier is to thank for modern Israeli agricultural success in irrigation. The National Water Carrier takes water from the more rain-filled north of Israel to the drier south. Drip irrigation (also known as precision irrigation) has improved the effectiveness of irrigation. Due to their longtime expertise in irrigational systems, Israel exports over $250 million of irrigation equipment and tools each year. The Israeli agricultural tourist industry allows for visitors to learn about the entire history of irrigation in the Middle East.

Just as they did thousands of years ago, barley, figs, pomegranates, olives, dates, wheat, and grapes continue to serve as key facets of the modern agricultural industry in Israel. In Israel, there are several routes and museums dedicated to historical and modern methods of farming and irrigation. Kibbutzim provide an agricultural tourist with luxury hotel accommodations. Moshavin provide for visitors ample bed and breakfasts for short or extended stays. An agricultural tourist may desire to visit the Ministry of Agriculture's Volcani Center, or the Hebrew University's Faculty of Agriculture to learn more about Israeli agriculture. Whether an agricultural tourist comes to Israel to learn more about new technologies, or to learn more about Israeli history, Israel's many accomplishments provide the visitor ample opportunities to learn and experience Israeli fields, orchards, valleys, and farms.