Israel's agriculture booklet

Israel’s Agriculture

In cooperation with:

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Israel’s Agriculture 29 Hamered St., Tel Aviv 68125, Israel, Tel: +972-3-514-2830, Fax: +972-3-514-2902, www.export.gov.il

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

Honored Guests from Overseas and Israel, Though small in size, Israel's agricultural sector is vibrant and highly advanced. Over the last two decades, it has undergone a substantial structural change, during which the number of farms and self-employed farmers has significantly decreased, while the farms themselves have become much larger and more efficient. Farmers in Israel today are better equipped with highly developed entrepreneurial skills and the managerial abilities required for coping with the changing, dynamic world of modern agriculture.

The success story of Israel's agriculture can be attributed in large measure to the Israeli farmers' responsiveness and willingness to introduce innovations, know-how and technological transfers. In doing so, the farmers cooperate closely with research and development experts, extension advisers and agro-technology companies. Israel's agricultural sector serves as an excellent laboratory for the development of new agro-technologies, which are then disseminated around the world for the benefit of all.

The structural change undergone by our agricultural sector has a broader scope: the adoption of a comprehensive approach to rural development, in which fresh food production – the backbone of rural life and livelihood everywhere – has leveraged a much larger set of economic activities, such as food processing and packaging, other industrial projects, various services and agro-tourism.

The name and essence of Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture was altered in the 1990s to the “Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development" while prioritizing environmentally-friendly agriculture, rural development and food production. The consequent policies pertaining to the rural population comprise professional assistance and beneficial incentives aimed at developing infrastructure and services.

Dear visitor from abroad, during your stay with us for a little while in our beautiful, exciting country, I would like you to know that my Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour, as well as the entire agro-technology sector of Israel, have all shouldered together to provide you with maximum exposure to the best that Israel has to offer in the field of agriculture and agro-technologies.

Sincerely yours,

Hon. Mrs. Orit Noked Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development

Acknowledgements We would like to thank Mr. Rafi Sternlicht for the statistical data, to the co-writers who were not mentioned, to the experts and colleagues who donated photos for this publication.

Chapter Subject

Writer

Title

Israel’s Agriculture at a Glance

Dr. Arie Regev

Director of Foreign Relations Department, Foreign Trade Center, MOAG

The Ministry and the Farmer

Dafna Yurista

Spokeswoman, MOAG

Agricultural Engineering

Dr. Samuel Gan-Mor

Head of the Institute of Agricultural Engineering, ARO

Greenhouses

Roni Amir

Head of Mechanization & Technology Division, Extension Service, MOAG

Post-Harvest Technologies

Prof. Elazar Fallik

Head of Institute of Technology & Storage of Agricultural Products, ARO

Water & Irrigation

Asher Azenkot

Head of Soil and Water Management Department, Extension Service, MOAG

Fertilizers & Fertigation

Asher Azenkot

Head of Soil and Water Management Department, Extension Service, MOAG

Plant Protection

Dr. Shmuel Gross

Head of Plant Protection Division, Extension Service, MOAG

Seeds

Dr. Eyal A. Vardi

CEO, OriGene Seeds LTD

Research & Development

Prof. Ada Rafaeli

Associate Director for Academic Affairs & International Cooperation, ARO

Dr. Arie Regev, Director Smadar Moisa, Deputy Director

Agricultural Extension Service

Omar Zaidan

Deputy Director R&D, Extension Service, MOAG

Agriculture in the Arid Zone

Alon Gadiel

Director of Central & Northern Arava R&D, MOAG

Foreign Relations Department Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MOAG)

Rural Development –Trends and Challenges

Eng. Ruti From-Arica

Head of Rural Planning Authority, MOAG

International Agricultural Cooperation

Ofer Sachs

Director, The Center for International Agricultural Development Cooperation

Biotechnology

Prof. Itamar Glazer

Head of Plant Sciences Institute, ARO

Plant Gene Bank

Dr. Lea Mazor

Head of Israel Plant Gene Bank, Institute of Plant Sciences, ARO

Vegetables

Shimshon Omer

Director of Vegetables & Field Crops Department, Extension Service, MOAG

Field Crops

Ofer Goren

Director of Field Crops Division, Extension Service, MOAG

Fruit

Dr. Joseph Greenberg

Head of Fruit Division, Extension Service, MOAG

For Further Information:

Citrus

Tal Amit

Plant Production and Marketing Board, Citrus Division

Organic Farming

Dr. Ornit Raz

CEO, Israel Bio-Organic Agriculture Association

Floriculture

Dr. Eliezer Spiegel

Head of Floriculture Division, Extension Service, MOAG

Dairy Cattle

Dr. Gaby Adin

Head of Cattle Husbandry Department, Extension Service, MOAG

Dr. Arie Regev Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development P.O.B. 30 Beit Dagan, 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9485561 Fax: 972-3-9485870 E-mail: regeva@moag.gov.il

Poultry

Navot Haklay

Head of Poultry Division, Extension Service, MOAG

Aquaculture

Yitzhak Simon

Head of Aquaculture Division, Extension Service, MOAG

Beekeeping

Haim Efrat

Head of Beekeeping Division, Extension Service, MOAG

Sheep and Goats

Dorit Kababya

Head of Sheep & Goats Department, Extension Service, MOAG

The Israel Export International Cooperation Institute

Yitzhak Kiriati

Director Agro-Technology, Water & Environment Department, IEICI

The Editorial Board

Yitzhak Kiriati, Director Department of Agro-Technology, Water & Environment Department The Israel Export International Cooperation Institute (IEICI)

Editorial in Chief Smadar Moisa

Mr. Yitzhak Kiriati The Israel Export International Cooperation Institute 29 Hamered St. Tel-Aviv 68125, Israel Tel: 972-3-5142868 Fax: 972-3-5142881 E-mail: kiriati@export.gov.il

Israel’s Agriculture at a Glance Contents Israel’s Agriculture at a Glance

8-9

The Ministry and the Farmer

10-11

Agricultural Engineering

12-13

Greenhouses

14-15

Post-Harvest Technologies in the 21st Century

16-17

Water and Irrigation

18-19

Fertilizers and Fertigation

20-21

Plant Protection

22-23

Seeds

24-25

Research and Development

26-27

Agricultural Extension Service

28-29

Agriculture in the Arid Zone

30-31

Rural Development –Trends and Challenges

32-33

International Agricultural Cooperation

34-35

Biotechnology

36-37

Plant Gene Bank

38-39

Vegetables

40-41

Field Crops

42-43

Fruit

44-45

Citrus

46-47

Organic Agriculture

48-49

Floriculture

50-51

Dairy Cattle

52-53

Poultry

54-55

Aquaculture

56-57

Beekeeping

58-59

Sheep and Goats

60-61

The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute

62-63

Acknowledgments

64

Introduction Israel’s agricultural sector is characterized by intensive production resulting from the need to overcome a scarcity of natural resources, par ticularly water. The high standard of development in the sector can be attributed to close cooperation and interaction between scientists, extension ser vices, farmers, and agro-industries.

These four elements have joined together to transform agriculture in Israel into an industry that is globally renowned for its efficiency and productivity, in a country where more than half of the land is classified as desert land.

Despite a steady decline in number of self‑employed farmers over last three decades and agriculture’s limited contribution to the GDP, agriculture plays a vital role as the major food supplier in the local market, and is also a significant factor in Israeli exports. Total agricultural produce in 2010 accounted for 1.9% of GDP. Some 64,000 people were directly employed in agriculture in 2010 (one third self-employed, the rest hired labor), representing 2.0% of the country’s total labor force.

In the early 1950s, one full-time agricultural worker supplied food for 17 people; by 2010 that figure had risen to 113.

Exports In 2010, agricultural exports (fresh and processed) amounted to $2.130 billion, or 4.2% of the country’s total exports. Fresh produce exports totaled $1.33 billion, mainly to the European Union, while processed food expor ts totaled $798 million. In addition, a total of $2.87 billion of agricultural inputs (production factors, technologies, services) were also exported in 2010.This figure is the product of an advanced agrotechnology sector that has made good use of the innovative and problem solving nature of Israeli agriculture.The hands-on experience of the agro-technology industry in local agriculture, which has served as a kind of national development laboratory for the industry, paved the way for a large array of practical and economic solutions for Israeli agriculture as well as for the agriculture of many countries worldwide.

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Climate and Topography Israel’s has a total land area of 21,000 km2, of which only 4,100 km2, or 20%, is arable land. Over half the country is characterized as arid or semi-arid, and much of Israel is hilly. A narrow coastal strip and several inland valleys provide most of the fertile areas, where irrigation is made possible by water supplied from aquifers and from the Sea of Galilee. Israel’s climate, together with extensive greenhouse production, enables cultivation of vegetables, fruit and cut flowers during the winter off-season, primarily for export to European markets.

Water constraints and a varied climate have stimulated the development of unique agrotechnologies of a high standard, compliant with the latest international production and food-safety regulations.

Farming Communities Over 80% of Israel’s agriculture is based on cooperative communities (the kibbutz and the Moshav), living on nationally owned land under a long-term renewable 49‑year lease.

Some of these communities date back to the early 20th century.The “kibbutz” (based on the Hebrew word for “group”) is a rural community generally comprising several hundred inhabitants involved in cooperative production ranging from 300 to 700 hectare each; the major economic activities are agricultural production, industry, agro-tourism and services. Kibbutz members jointly own the means of production and share in the social, cultural, and economic activities. Over the years, the share of agriculture in the economy of the Kibbutz has declined, and today most kibbutz income derives from non-agricultural activities. Furthermore, over the past two decades, the kibbutz has undergone socio-economic reforms, with most economic activity and household ownership now partially privatized.

The other major cooperative community, the Moshav, comprises 50 to 120 individual family farm units, which like the kibbutz, is defined as an “agricultural cooperative” and registered as such in the Register of National Cooperatives.The Moshav is based on the shared allocation of resources to family

farms, such as farmland, water quotas, and other production inputs. The residents in both major types of cooperatives (Kibbutz and Moshav) are provided with a package of municipal services.

A third type of farming community is the non-cooperative Moshava, a community of farmers who mostly live on privately owned land. Some Moshava farmers have organized themselves to share in common economic activities in order to provide the services needed for farm production, such as packinghouses, wineries, etc.

Non-cooperative farms in Israel also include Arab farmers located in rural Arab villages.

These farmers focus mainly on livestock (sheep and goats), vegetables, field crops and olives. Many of them employ modern agricultural technology, such as controlled greenhouses.

The overall number of rural farming communities in Israel rose from 769 in 1961 to 952 in 2010.

Rural Development Israel’s rural sector is firmly integrated into the national reality and has developed significantly over the past two decades.

Rural areas now provide a large variety of attractions due to their rich history, archeology, heritage and culture, combined with scenic landscapes and agricultural sites.

Rural areas offer a unique tourist experience and tailored packages combining sightseeing, relaxation, sea and desert adventures, and an introduction to some of the most innovative agriculture in the world. Such agro-tourism combines the best of both worlds, agriculture and tourism, and offers rural communities a larger range of sources of livelihood.

The proportion of the rural population out of the national total declined from 15.5% in the early 1960s to 8.4% in 2010, while the share of rural areas in the labor force stood at 8.5% in 2010. Only a minority of those employed in rural areas are directly engaged in farming and agriculture; the rest are employed in other economic activities.

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Environmentally friendly agricultural practices have received growing attention in recent years, such as less use of chemicals for pest control and greater use of alternative techniques and methods. Recycling of agricultural residues has been adopted to better preserve the agro-ecology. More legal instruments have been introduced such as the Packaging Waste Reduction Law and the Plastic Recycling in Agriculture Law.

The Ministry and the Farmer

This chapter focuses on the service for the Israeli farmer that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development provides. However, it must be emphasized that the broadest function of the Ministry is the planning and execution of the policy of the Government of Israel in the field of production and supply of fresh food for the entire population, with attention to the rules required in the field of public, animal and plant health and while protecting the environment.

In recent decades, the number of active farmers has decreased, but the scale of agricultural produce in Israel has remained the same and sometimes increased, while Israel is a leader in agricultural research. Israeli agriculture, which has gained a worldwide reputation, is also a prospering, profitable economic branch. About 15 thousand farmers operating agricultural production units in Israel benefit from the diverse range of services that the Ministry of Agriculture

and Rural Development provides them, the most important of which are enumerated below: Instructing and Vocational Training Services The Agricultural Extension Service deals with three main fields: Instructing - the purpose of instructing is to provide updated agricultural knowledge for farmers.

Training – the unit holds courses that provide farmers with concentrated professional knowledge as a basis for adopting new and advanced technologies.

Production of applied knowledge – Agricultural Extension Service professional personnel conduct hundreds of experiments, obser vations and studies each year (cooperating with regional R&D units, the Agricultural Research Administration, universities and the Technion Institute of Technology), with the aim of finding

10

solutions to problems that emerge in the field and applying them in the field. This way, the Agricultural Extension Service makes available to farmers the forefront of current information for use in the agricultural production process.

The fields of knowledge that the unit assists farmers in adopting include: efficient use of water (including recycling), use of recovered and salty water, adoption of technologies and automations for personnel saving, improvement of agricultural produce quality to meet international standards, variety diversification, reduction in the use of pesticides, advancement of agricultural subjects related to environmental protection (such as reforms in dairy farms, use of sledges in agriculture and prevention of fires of trimmed agricultural foliage), improving the image of agriculture in Israel and training a young generation to continue to work in their parents’ farms.

Soil Preservation – the Soil Preservation Department at the Ministry of Agriculture instructs farmers and helps them in actions whose purpose is to preserve the quality and fertility of soil, protect against floods and regulate drainage. Since 2008, the Ministry has been offering various facilities and assets that preserve soil and prevent its depletion to farmers who have switched to soil preservative farming, including the use of specialized automation tools.The scope of the support in 2010 was approximately NIS 13.25 million.

Information Center of the Strategy Division The information center of the Research, Economy and Strategy Division provides farmers in Israel current data on global markets of fresh agricultural produce and activity in competing countries. The center gathers information, analyzes factors that affect the various markets, identifies marketing oppor tunities and provides consultation and instructing services for the development of new initiatives in agricultural export.The unit regularly publishes periodical reports that include information on the markets in the main export branches – citrus, flowers, vegetables and subtropical fruits.The information serves growers’ and exporters’ organizations, as well as decision makers at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (including research and instructing elements). Tracking of the business environment allows for rapid responses to be tailored to the needs of farmers and strategic planning in the public and private sectors.

Veterinary Services The main function of the veterinary services at the Ministry of Agriculture is to protect the health of animals and the public against zoonoses (animal-borne diseases).

The offices of the veterinary services are deployed nationwide and deal with zoonoses.Their functions include: prevention of disease in animals, prevention of diseases common to animals and humans (including rabies) and their eradication.The veterinary services also deal in the control of import and export of animals and their products,

licensing, testing of drugs and vaccines and more.

Animal Welfare – in recent years, great attention has been given to animal welfare, covering both pets and working animals.

Public interest in the living conditions of animals has led to legislation being advanced in this field, followed by increased enforcement. Currently, regulations that define minimum conditions for keeping calves, transporting livestock and keeping of animals (off farms) have been passed.

The Plant Protection and Inspection Services The Plant Protection and Inspection Services are the arm for enforcing laws and regulations in the field of plant health. The unit is also authorized to issue international certificates that are required for trading agricultural produce – health certificates, export certificates for organic produce and certificates indicating the quality of fresh agricultural produce. The unit deals with the regulation of the quality of agricultural produce that is destined for export and provision of special treatments for produce in accordance with the requirements of the destination countries, and acts to prevent the arrival of plant diseases into Israel. In addition, the unit deals with the licensing of pesticides and regulation of their use, regulation of the production of reproductive agents and seeds, control of export of plant material and regulation of organic agriculture and more.

Environmentally Friendly Pest Control Pesticides and their use are an important aspect of agriculture. Unintelligent use of

11

these agents may cause damage to the environment, the user, plantations and food consumers. To ensure safe, efficient use of pesticides, many regulations have been passed, including the regulation dealing with the observance of instructions on the packaging label of agents.

The Ministr y offers money grants to farmers who are interested in switching from conventional pest control, based on chemical agents, to control that incorporates environmentally friendly measures. This move will allow farmers to continue coping intelligently with pests and lesions while reducing environmental damage. Combined pest control will ensure an environment and agricultural produce that are free of pesticide traces.

Encouragement of Capital Investment in Agriculture Based on the secondary objectives of the Ministr y of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Investment Directorate at the Ministry gives farmers grants in accordance with a program for encouraging capital investment in agriculture in 2011.

The program encourages production for the domestic market, the export potential of agricultural produce, technological developments, saving in numbers of working hands, environmental development, water saving, the use of marginal water, saving in pesticide use and the spread of settlements.

The program applies to any agricultural producer as defined in the Encouragement of Capital Investment in Agriculture Law, including any new settler in an agricultural community.

Agricultural Engineering

Israel’s agricultural engineering industry is well-known for its innovativeness, resulting in many useful technologies. Mention may be made of some such state-of-the-art irrigation technologies such as air-assisted sprayers, labor and energy saving systems, sophisticated sensors, greenhouse equipment, packaging systems and management software.

Some examples of recent developments are described below: Special sensors have been developed to record and monitor plant growth-rate and determine growing needs. The use of these sensors results in significant savings in water and fertilizers, while improving production and quality.

Equipment and machinery for vineyards, which enable management of large vineyards with minimal labor, have been developed and commercialized. These include systems for pruning, windowing, trimming, sweeping and spraying. Harvesting systems for crops such as flower bulbs, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, watermelons, dates, jojoba, peanuts, and chili peppers are designed and manufactured according to the special needs of Israeli agriculture. Special systems and methods for post-harvest operations such as separation of clods and stones from potatoes, weighing and sorting flower bulbs and corms according to size, hot-water

washing systems for fresh produce, accurate vibrating seizers, flower bunching systems, and length sorting are used to improve product quality and reduce labor.

A variety of sprayers designed for precise pesticide application and other specific purposes are developed and manufactured in Israel. New sprayers developed for narrow paths in greenhouses and others suitable for orchards are under development and implementation. Solar soil disinfestations are already widely practiced, using plastic films with special properties. Energy consumption in greenhouses has been reduced significantly by application of variable frequency drive (VFD) units to greenhouse fans and ventilation. Physical methods of removing insects from plants in vegetable greenhouses were developed and are used for the Kosher market, for organic crops and by ordinary growers. Technology was developed for making cooking oil pesticides economically feasible and they are already in use.

High-pressure nozzle systems that create a micron vapor are applied to cool down greenhouses and extend the growing season in hot climatic conditions, as well to improve the welfare of poultry and dairy cows.When excessively hot, the system can lower the

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heat to the desirable climate condition at the growing habitat without adversely affecting the radiation levels.

A new system for combined heating and dehumidification (CHD) was developed to artificially dry the air in closed greenhouses while maintaining the desired humidity and temperature. The energy efficiency of the system is very high and it reduces foliage damages due to bacterial infections.

Precision Agriculture (PA) is increasingly applied in Israel. PA uses cutting-edge

technologies, such as Global Positioning Sensors (GPS), Satellites or aerial images, and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to assess and understand in-field variability.

Development of sensors and technologies for selective application of fertilizers and pesticides take into account health-care considerations and environmental and economic factors. PA contributes to efficient crop production and optimized inputs, leading to reduced costs and environmental impact.

Four types of data are currently available: remotely-sensed images (especially for biomass mapping), yield maps (mainly of grain and tuber crops), elevation maps, and bulk soil electrical conductivity (EC) maps. Hyper-spectral and thermal remote sensing are being investigated for mapping minerals and water stress and for detection of irrigation system failures, in cotton, potatoes, wheat, grapes, olives and palm trees fields.

The worldwide use of a machine for extracting pomegranate seeds (arils), which is currently the only commercial machine available, enables full utilization of this unique fruit for a variety of products, including fresh seeds in Modified-Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), high-quality juice, and nutritional and pharmaceutical products.

A new system which collects and mows the trimmed branches of palm trees in the orchards was developed. In addition, with a modified bailer, it creates a clean efficient solution to this environmental issue while reusing the chopped packed material for floor pads in cowsheds.

A peanut digger was developed to create a row of detached plants with their roots

Precision livestock farming systems use information technology to improve livestock production efficiency, through greater control of the production process and a more targeted application of resources. A sensor for on-line assessment of milk quality during the milking process enables individual cow management through monitoring of fat, protein and lactose content, as well as detection of the presence of blood in the milk or somatic cells.

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and the peanuts in the middle, facing each other, and thus protecting the yield from sun burns and dew damages before final harvesting.

A counting and weight assessment system for ornamental fish already helps growers reduce the time and manual labor invested in handling their products. The process is performed using relatively simple and reliable counting apparatus where a digital camera and unique computer vision system maintain the required high accuracy.

A system for removal of insects from leafy vegetables and herbs utilizes suction and air blast to maximize the insect removal and for improved control.

Greenhouses

Production under protected conditions has become the principal way for Israeli growers to ensure a constant, year-round supply of high-quality products, while minimizing the use of chemicals. This method helps to overcome obstacles posed by adverse climatic conditions and a shor tage of water and land. Today the shor tage of manpower, especially of foreign workers, which may impact production outputs by as much as 20%, presents a threat to protected producers and a challenge to the community.

The philosophical approach adopted by Israeli protected producers is to take advantage of local climatic conditions and adjust the plants to the existing conditions and technologies with minimal or non-energy inputs.This approach requires high skills and excellent supporting systems (Israeli research & extension services and industries) and technologies related to production aspects, such as good breeding materials, irrigation & fertigation, plastic materials, agro-technology, and above all flexibility.

The total area covered with greenhouses, shade-houses and walk-in tunnels increased from 900 ha in the 1980s to about 13,000 ha in 2012, with 8,000 ha for vegetables and 5,000 ha for floriculture, and another 2,5002,900 ha for fruit trees (mainly covered with nets), representing an average annual growth of 4 to 6%. The average farm size is 4 - 8 ha for vegetable production and 8 ha for flower production.

In recent years the main field of expansion has been production under net houses – orchards, bananas, decorating leaves, vegetables and more are produced under different types of net houses and nets to improve quality, for water saving, plant protection, hail problems and insuring supply for local and export markets.

Greenhouses, which are capital-intensive both in construction and maintenance, are largely used for high added-value crops such as the seedling industry, flower cuttings, plantations and vegetables. Due to the high investment, growers are constantly seeking methods to streamline their operations and make them more cost-effective.

Israeli farmers successfully grow between 85 and 100 tons of sweet peppers per hectare of greenhouses per season, and today the yield at a net house reaches 8 tons, 90% of which is slated for export. An average of 400 tons of tomatoes are grown per hectare, four times the amount harvested in open fields, and about 280 tons of short cucumbers per hectare. In addition, plastic greenhouse structures have recently been introduced for housing livestock, poultry, and fish. The tropical aquarium fish greenhouses are the most cutting-edge, complete with climate control accessories and auto-robots.

In addition to flowers and vegetables, which have been grown in greenhouses in the last few decades, fruits such as grapes, pomegranates and citrus are now grown in plastic houses as well as in net houses for

14

hail protection, water saving and improved quality.

Plastic Covering The plastic used for greenhouse covers is mainly polyethylene, with three- or five-layer technology.This cover has unique anti-drip (constant renewal), anti-dust and thermicity features, among others.The plastic covering produced today is durable and resistant to vapor from sulfur, used as pesticides in greenhouses.

Today the demand for agricultural plastic in Israel stands at 14,000 tons, half of which is for protected cultivation structures. Most of this comes from local production, with half of the total production being exported to destinations all over the world.

A new Israeli standard for covering plastic materials (with regard to mechanical and optical characteristics), based on the European standards, was adopted during 2011.

Israeli-made plastic sheeting is used for covering structures as well as for lightspectrum control and manipulation to influence plant growth and insect behavior; filter ultra-violet (UV) rays; radiate infrared (IR) rays; and refract and distribute light to maximize its beneficial effect on the plants. Some covers include additives that prevent water from dripping onto the plants (anti-fog) and protect the covering against degradation.The addition of various colors also helps combat pests.

A new development is a sheet that attracts plant pests, which then stick to the plastic and die. Another type of cover repels pests by its color. This is particularly effective against Bemisia tabaci, the most harmful pest in agriculture.

Plastic mulch performs a variety of functions, including soil disinfestation by solar energy (solarization); covering the soil for heat collection; preventing growth of weeds; minimizing evaporation and escape of fertilizer; repelling or attracting insects; and manipulating soil temperature. Mulching the soil in the greenhouses significantly reduced the incidence of humid diseases such as late blight.Very thin mulch has been produced - to be used only in the early crop development stages - which decomposes after a specified period of exposure to the sun’s rays.

Plastic covers for various low tunnels are available for all stages of plant growth.

Research is being conducted to produce a thinner material, without compromising functionality.

Netting The main Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tool that is used in greenhouses and shade houses is the insect-proof net, mainly 50 mesh. These nets keep the insects out, without using any chemicals. Most vegetable and flower greenhouses are sealed with insect-proof nets.

Insects carry viruses that have a devastating effect on plants, and methods of controlling them are expensive. Many greenhouses, in addition to the plastic covering, have net walls that prevent the entry of insects and allow for heat dispersal. Other kinds of netting are used for shading. These nets are categorized according to the percentage of shading they produce. New nets were developed, for better shade protection and prevention of invasion of insects to the greenhouses, like spider net and bio net.

Advanced manufacturing methods have succeeded in producing netting that serves as a sophisticated thermal screen, reducing solar radiation during the day, and preventing heat loss at night.The new development is particularly beneficial in areas with extreme day and night temperature differences.

This netting is also used to cool poultry houses.

New research conducted by Israeli scientists demonstrates the advantages of colored shade nets on fruit trees such as apple, nectarine, peach, citrus and various

ornamental cut leaves. The new colored shade nets are found to promote earliness, improve quality, produce higher yields and provide other benefits.

Innovative material that has been developed enables the farmer to convert a net house into a greenhouse and vice versa (Eco Seal).

Consequently, the farmer can obtain the following benefits: extending the growing season, avoiding the need to establish separate types of constructions in order to assure year-round supply, reducing of the amounts of non-degradable waste like plastic, all at minimum per hectare cost.

Structure The advanced greenhouse construction currently used in Israel includes curtains, skylights, and shade netting, which move automatically in reaction to sunlight. Modern greenhouses are higher, being five meters at their lowest point and the span width reaching 9.6 m. This provides better light, work space, ventilation, while allowing for the installation of shade netting and thermal coverings. For trellising greenhouse plants such as tomatoes and cucumbers growers prefer an 8 m span due to the standing plastic cover.

Israeli standards require that a greenhouse be able to withstand winds of up to 100 km/h. However, greenhouses actually meet far stricter standards and are exported to countries which have harsher climatic conditions than Israel.

Climate control An innovative technology developed in Israel allows the cooling of greenhouses during the day and their heating at night, with a minimal investment of energy. This is accomplished by using misting/fogging (shower) systems that spray uniform droplets and are installed at one end of the greenhouse.

During the day, these droplets absorb excess heat from the greenhouse and store it until night, when the heat is released.This method is used especially for ornamental plants, which require a high degree of humidity.

The method has been tested successfully for vegetables as well.

Many advances have been made in recent years to minimize and avoid the need to heat the greenhouses – improved covering

15

materials, thermal screens, better and appropriate greenhouse structures, water sleeves and humidity absorbing systems were introduced, leading to huge energy saving and more environmentally friendly production.

The Computerized Greenhouse Computer hardware and software have been developed in Israel, allowing automatic control of the greenhouse water and fertilizer and continuity of climate systems.

Software developers maintain close contact with growers, in order to keep abreast of the latest developments in agricultural systems and to provide the most effective and advanced solutions, resulting in the automatic and sophisticated irrigation system in use today.

Regulation Israel also imposes strict regulation on plastic collection after use. The state subsidizes machinery for plastic collection and storage facilities for collecting plastic, aimed at recycling and reuse.

A new Israeli standard for covering and another for mulching plastic materials (with regard to mechanical and optical characteristics), based on the European standard EN 13206, with modifications, was prepared during 2011.

Post-Harvest Technologies in the 21st Century

The 20 th centur y brought dramatic achievements in postharvest technologies, which facilitated the supply of fresh produce throughout the year, worldwide. The basic requirement was to supply the markets with produce of excellent appearance and free of decay. In the 21st century, the focus has evolved to include the supply of fresh produce with good taste preserved and high nutritional quality, free of chemical pesticides.

In addition, more attention is now given to avoiding microbiological contamination of food and environmental contamination during production and storage.

To achieve these objectives, advanced scientific tools in physiology, chemistry, pathology, microbiology, entomology, molecular biology, proteomics, genomics and the senses (taste and aroma) are utilized by the Institute’s researchers.These disciplines are combined with traditional preservation technologies, and with the development of novel treatments for processing, storage and transportation of fresh, dried and processed foods.The main advantage of the Institute’s researchers is their thorough familiarity with the local produce and industry and the rapid exchange of knowledge and technologies

The primary objective of the Institute of Postharvest and Food Sciences in the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) is to increase food safety and quality in the local markets and to enable exports of produce that meet the highest standards.To achieve these goals, the Institute’s researchers initiate or respond to local innovative agricultural research projects funded by local and international agencies.

amongst the researchers. Specific fields of expertise were developed for herbs, cut flowers, root vegetables, bell peppers, citrus, table grapes, fresh-cut produce, and subtropical and deciduous fruit.

Special efforts are devoted to identifying and developing alternatives to chemical methods for the control of postharvest pathogens and pests. These alternatives include the reinforcement of host resistance, biological control and applications of physical treatments. Basic scientific research fields include the study of leaf senescence, chilling injury, host pathogen interactions and programmed cell death.

To address the issues of the 21st century, the Institute devotes significant efforts to studying the effect of postharvest treatments on taste and on the nutritional quality of the produce. In addition, several research programs are aimed at reducing risk associated with potential microbiological

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outbreaks of human pathogens that may reside on the produce. Researchers employ and develop novel methods to sanitize the produce and make use of safer compounds to preserve produce quality.There are also extensive endeavors to adopt technologies to facilitate the export of sensitive produce by sea in order to reduce environmental problems and costs associated with air transportation.

One of the hallmarks of the research carried out at the Institute is the interaction and collaboration with other ARO units, with the Agricultural Extension Service, growers, farmers’ organizations and agriculture-related companies in Israel, and with counterpart institutes and renowned researchers the world over.

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The institute is also involved in the advancement of Israeli and international graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and encourages international symposia and activities that contribute to the dissemination of the knowledge acquired in Israel to developing countries around the world.

Water and Irrigation value in fixed prices has tripled per land unit and increased five-fold per water unit.

Water Resources Although most of the water resources are located in the north and central part of the country, agriculture and settlements have largely expanded in the south and the south east. To meet increasing water needs, the National Water Carrier was built in the 1960’s. Comprising a large diameter pipeline carrying some 400 MCM of water annually for various uses (agriculture, domestic, and industry), it extends from the Sea of Galilee in the north down to the central and southern regions of the country. Initially, much of this water was used in agriculture. Later, due to growing water shortages, allocation of potable water for agriculture was reduced, and annual use is now half of what it was a decade ago.

Water is regarded as a national asset protected by law. Users receive an annual quota from the Water Authority. The entire water supply is measured, and the various customers are charged according to consumption and water quality. Use of recycled water costs about half that of potable water.

Insufficient water availability has long been a major constraint in Israeli agriculture, exacerbated by seven consecutive years of drought. Over an expanse of 500 km, Israel’s annual rainfall ranges from 800 mm in the upper north of the country to 25 mm on the desert edge in the south, while average annual evaporation ranges from 1,400 mm to 2,800 mm. The rainy season extends from October to April, with no rain during the hot summer.

agriculture has gradually been reduced as the use of reclaimed (sewage) water for crop irrigation has risen over last decade from 220 MCM to 410 MCM annually.

Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, agricultural output has increased twelve-fold, while water use in agriculture has increased only three-fold. The output Use of Land and Water in Agricultural Production 2011

Following overuse of water during the seven years of drought and beyond, Israel’s major groundwater reservoirs have declined sharply. This will be compensated for by artificial means; desalinated water from the Mediterranean, as well as increased exploitation of brackish water and other marginal sources of water for crop irrigation.

Fur thermore, use of potable water in

1949

1970

1998

2001

2004

2006*

2011

Total cultivated land (I ,000ha)

165

411

410

384

380

300

283

Cultivated land under irrigation

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172

194

188

225

152

165

Water consumption (MCM)

257

1,340

1,365

1,022

1,129

Fresh water (MCM)

918

563

566

519

509

Recycled and brackish water (MCM)

367

411

512

544

680

* Not including pasture.

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1,108

1,189

Urban users pay much higher water rates than farmers, including the cost of water reclamation. Farmers and domestic users pay differential prices for potable water.

This incremental price policy encourages water savings.

The water quota and price policy encourages the use of marginal water, such as brackish and reclaimed water. Brackish water is used for irrigation of salinity-tolerant crops such as cotton. For several crops, such as tomatoes and melons, brackish water improves produce quality, though yields are lower. The use of reclaimed water for irrigation of edible crops requires extensive treatment.

To this end, special technology - Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT) - is now applied in the densely populated Dan region. Following tertiary treatment, the water percolates through sand layers, which serve as a biological filter, into the aquifer. From there, the water is pumped at near potable quality and can be used for irrigation without restriction.

Irrigation Technology Irrigation has been researched intensively since the early 1950s. It became clear that water use is much more efficient when pressurized irrigation is used as opposed to surface irrigation.

An irrigation equipment industry was established, mainly on kibbutzim, which developed innovative technologies and accessories, such as drip irrigation (surface and subsurface), automatic valves and controllers, media and automatic filtration, low-discharge sprayers and mini-sprinklers, drippers, and sprinklers.

A fertigation system is routinely installed on most irrigated land. Fertilizer producers have developed highly soluble and liquid fertilizers compatible with this technology.

Most irrigation is controlled by automatic valves and computerized controllers.

Over 80% of irrigated areas in Israel are irrigated using micro-irrigation systems.

The remainder employ overhead systems, such as sprinkler or mechanized systems, either center pivot or linear systems.

The innovative irrigation industry has a worldwide reputation, and more than 80% of production is exported.

Irrigation Regime Israeli farmers appreciate the fact that water is a precious and limited resource and that it warrants careful conservation and handling, in the most efficient manner possible. Pressure irrigation systems enable better control and monitoring of irrigation, that can be translated into higher wateruse efficiency. A countrywide network of

agro-meteorological stations delivers realtime weather data to farmers, which are used to adjust the irrigation regime. Diverse soil moisture monitoring devices, including tensiometers, pressure chamber systems, and electrical resistance sensors, are utilized for more precise local adjustments.Vegetal indicators such as leaf water potential and fruit growth rate are used to achieve further precision in water application.The average annual water application per hectare has fallen from 8,000 m3/ha to 5,000 m3/ha over the past fifty years, while agriculture has spread to the more arid regions in the south and east.

Recycling of Drainage Water In soilless media culture, the typical leaching fraction applied in Israel to remove accumulated salt ranges from 30% to 50%.

As a result, one-third to one-half of the applied water fertilizer drains out, carrying average concentrations of 130Â mg/l nitrogen, 20 mg/l phosphorus, and 140 mg/l potassium as well as the natural salts.

In recent years, approximately 25% of greenhouses with soilless substrates have switched to recycled irrigation systems.

Recycling the water and nutrients by reusing water drainage either back to the same or nearby field appears to be the most efficient, environmental and economical solution: approximately 30% to 40% of water and fertilizer inputs are saved. Potential polluting of the aquifer by open irrigation systems is reduced. The switch to recycled irrigation systems had unexpectedly results, namely, increased yields.

Future Trends The growing population, as well as continuous drought conditions, will put further pressure on reducing potable water supplies to agriculture, which will therefore resort to various uses of marginal waters.

More field-level improvements; the concepts of ultra-low irrigation rate and plant monitoring will be further investigated for their contribution to higher water efficiency and nutrient utilization.

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Fertilizers and Fertigation

Israel is among the world’s largest producers of potassium chloride and one of the largest manufacturers of potassium nitrate, a highly soluble fertilizer that is suitable for a wide range of agricultural crops. It can be delivered through fertigation systems, or by foliar application.The fertilizer is sold in powdered or granulated form. Other highly soluble fertilizers manufactured in Israel include: MAP (Mono-Ammonium Phosphate) 12-61-0 soluble form, and12-52-0 nonsoluble form for base application. In addition MKP (Mono-Potassium Phosphate) is another high potential PK fertilizer that is composed of phosphorous and potassium.

Israel’s southern region, and in particular the Dead Sea area, is rich in minerals that provide potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium for agricultural use. Some of the minerals are exported as raw material to fertilizer manufacturers throughout the world, and some of it is processed in Israel as ready-to-use fertilizers for agriculture in the domestic and international markets.

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Despite a slight decrease in the total cultivated area in Israel, intensive agriculture, such as the production of vegetables and flowers in greenhouses, has increased more than threefold, from 5000 hectares to more than 15,000 hectares.

The shift to more intensive agriculture has not increased the total consumption of synthetic fertilizers as might have been expected. According to data published by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics there was a drastic reduction in consumption of synthetic fertilizers in the last decade: Nitrogen by 40% from 53,000 tons to 30,000 tons, Phosphorus(P2O5) by 50% from 12,000 to 6,200 tons and Potash (K2O) by 35% from 38,000 to 24,000 tons.

Among the reasons for this reduction in fertilizer use in Israel are: higher use of recycled waste e.g. compost, manure; increased use of treated effluent water; steep rise in the prices of fertilizers/energy; and lastly, more efficient fertilizer use by growers

as a result of training programs conducted by the Extension Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

All the various types of irrigation systems in Israel use pressurize technology, and of them 80% are irrigated by micro systems.

Fertigation technology is the means of applying either liquid or soluble fertilizer through the irrigation system. The fertigation system is par t of pressure irrigation technology, which applies fertilizer and water simultaneously.

The main advantages of fertigation over a regular irrigation system (without an incorporated fertilization unit) is as follows: remarkable increase in the efficiency of the fertilizer application; precise application of the nutrients according to crop requirements; convenient use of compound and readymix nutrient solutions; application of minor elements that are otherwise very difficult to apply accurately; easier control and monitoring of nutrient supply.

An essential prerequisite for the use of solid fertilizers in a fertigation system is absolute solubility in irrigation water. Effective fertigation requires an understanding of the plant nutrient curve, soil and fertilizer

chemistry, and water quality. Fertigation programs are developed on the basis of laboratory analyses of soil, leaf, or other plant tissues.There are many fertilizer programs for each crop. A fertigation system allows continuous adjustment of fertilizer supply according to the crop requirement during various stages of the plant’s growth: rooting, vegetative, flowering, fruit set, and maturation.

The fertilizer regimes are followed up by field trials, conducted by agronomists from the Extension Service.

In Israel, three main fertilizer manufacturers supply over 1000 formulas of compound liquid or solid fertilizes to meet the demand of the growers, stemming from R&D-based findings of research institutes (public and private) and the Extension Service.

High quality fertilizes such as Controlled Release Fer tilizer s (CRF) are also manufactured in our country. These are coated in polymers to ensure slow, prolonged release and delivery via diffusion. The cost of CRFs is still higher than that of common compound fertilizers. However, they have the potential to replace conventional fertilizers in pot plants and in greenhouse production due to their ability to reduce the enormous nutrient losses that are still characteristic of fertigation practices. Whenever reuse of fertigation water drainage is not performed, in many cases the lost nutrients may find their way to groundwater, pollute and corrupt it.

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Plant Protection

Background Israel has a high level, well developed agriculture covering a wide range of crops, such as: fruit trees, field crops, vegetables, spices, flowers and more. The level of research and development in all matters relating to agricultural issues ranks among the most advanced in the world. The agricultural produce at the crop level is also of very high quality. Naturally, the issue of plant protection has also gained a significant place in research and development, both in basic research and in applied research that is performed in the agricultural field alike.

In recent years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has established an overarching goal of using pest control that is friendly to the environment and man – Integrated Pest Management – with emphasis on reducing the use of pesticides and using pest control technologies that

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are friendly to the environment and man, without impairing crop levels or quality.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) The protection of all crops in the country is based on the guiding principle of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as required by both the domestic and export markets.

IPM focuses on reduction of chemical pest control and protection of the environment.

In more practical terms, this means spraying only when necessary, preferring environment ­friendly chemicals, and promoting the use of biological control in a variety of crops such as avocado, mango, strawberry, pepper, tomato and citrus. A parallel supporting activity consists of the wide adoption of pest monitoring and improved decisionmaking on pest management and control.

The technical policy is to expand the area under IPM regime annually.

Flow of Crop Protection Information The Crop Protection Depar tment in the Agricultural Extension Ser vice of the Ministr y of Agriculture and Rural Development cooperates with agricultural research organizations, the Plant Protection and Inspection Services (PPIS), which is the Ministry’s regulatory agency in this field, and the chemical industry. This close collaboration and networking ensures that the main problem areas, such as severe losses caused by newly invading pests, are dealt with in a well-coordinated way at the level of pesticide registration and recommendation, for the benefit of the end-uses - the growers.

Technological Developments in Crop Protection The quality requirements of the export markets and the goal of adopting nonchemical pest control practices obliged the crop protection technical establishment research, extension, and industry - to sustain an R&D approach and apply its new and sophisticated technologies in the field.

Following are examples of implementation of IPM integrated in Israeli agriculture: 1. Careful supervision and monitoring of pests in different crop fields 2. Growth of pepper in greenhouses covering approximately 2000 hectares, growing under a strict regimen of Integrated Pest Control against various pepper pests, with pest control and monitoring using natural enemies.

3. Agricultural crops that grow in greenhouses that are covered with insect

nets that prevents penetration of pests that may harm crops. (insert image of feeding stations) 4. Growing of strawberries covering an area of 2.5 hectares under a strict regimen of Integrated Pest Control with pest control and monitoring using natural enemies.

5. In the case of Ceratitris capitata, the Mediterranean fruit fly, it damages the greatest number of agricultural crops, such as citrus, deciduous fruit trees and more.There are a number of alterative technologies for chemical spraying operations.

6. Extermination of the olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) is performed using feeding stations covering an area of approximately 10 hectares.

These are the projects that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has been promoting in recent years. In addition, there are many other crops covered by Integrated Pest Management (IPM), with the intent or reducing the amount of chemical spraying operations in agricultural areas. These activities are done with the accompaniment and guidance of the plant protection field instructors of the Agricultural Extension Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Market Requirements Israeli farmers who export face rigorous consumer demands. As such, management practices have to comply with the exacting demands of major European and US supermarket chains, as well as with international standards such as the International Standards Organization (ISO), EurepGAP and Tesco Natural Choice (TNC).

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Seeds the new varieties are attractive, solid, and enjoy a long shelf-life. A substantial number of tomato greenhouses in Europe utilize seeds developed and produced in Israel.

Recently, after the tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCY) started spreading in many regions of the world, the Israeli seed industry was called upon to carry out extensive research on the subject, resulting in the release of a TYLCV-resistant tomato seed for greenhouse and open field production.

Seed scientists have also developed special varieties of peppers, shor t-­day onions, melons and wheat, enabling farmers to grow high quality produce. New varieties of watermelons and cucumbers produced in greenhouses have the advantages of high yields and high quality, even during the offseason.

Israel develops, produces and markets new varieties capable of meeting farmers’ and customers’ requirements, including long shelf-life, durability under storage, high yield, resistance to disease, healthy food, drought resistance and adaptation to a variety of climatic conditions. Israel is considered to be one of the leading countries in seed research. Each year, Israel exports over $150 million worth of seeds, mainly hybrid vegetable seeds, to markets that depend on improved yields and quality.

Developing New Varieties New seed varieties are developed mostly by Israel’s private-sector seed companies, and also by the agricultural research institutes.

Basic and applied research is conducted at various sites, including seed companies’ research stations, the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Weizmann Institute of Science, the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Bar-Ilan University.

Market demands also influence research and development. One example is the introduction of a seedless mini-watermelon that is well suited to the needs of the modern family, as well as bite-size minicucumbers and bite-size sweet-peppers.

Another example is interspecific hybrid cotton, which combines the advantages of two cotton species, Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense, and is characterized by longer and stronger fibers.These hybrid cotton varieties have improved lint quality, and need 40% less irrigation when grown in marginal fields.

Agricultural research has contributed to the development of high added ­value products, such as cherry tomatoes, Lycopene-rich tomatoes, greenhouse tomatoes, a new generation of long shelf life Galia-type melons, seedless peppers, greenhouse peppers, super taste mini-watermelons and hybrid pumpkin and squash.

The Israeli seed industry is highly regarded for its development of hybrid seeds for fresh produce, particularly tomatoes, melons, watermelons, short day onions and peppers.

A tomato hybrid renowned for its long shelflife has also been developed. The fruits of

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The Process of New Variety Development Plant breeding is a very dynamic sector with supporting research that is comprehensive and highly developed.The product cycle is about three to five years, after which new products replace it on the market. It takes an average of three to five years to develop and commercialize a new variety.Therefore, development of the next generation of seeds must begin even before the present one is introduced.

Biotechnological methods that shorten this lengthy process by about 20% are used. New varieties are tested using molecular markers that can identify desirable or undesirable traits in the earliest development stages, so that experiments can be pursued or discontinued accordingly. The search for new cultivars and the development of new varieties involve the application of sophisticated cross-breeding and genetic engineering methods.

Highly resistant and vigorous varieties are currently being developed, which minimize the need for pesticides and fertilizers and allow them to grow naturally.

Following the transition to organically-grown, chemical-free products, Israel has developed environment-friendly management of vegetable and fruit production.

Israel and the Global Seed Industry In recent years, the largest Israeli seed companies have become part of the global seed industry. The world›s largest seed companies are highly invested in the Israeli industry and in the local seed companies.

As a result, R&D investments in Israel for plant breeding and plant biotechnology have grown.

By genetic engineer ing, desir able characteristics not originally present in the plants can be introduced. Plants produced in this manner are known as transgenic or genetically modified, and are implanted with foreign genes, endowing them with new traits. These methods enable the development of plants resistant to various pathogens, such as viruses and insects, or plants with high levels of vitamins.

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Research and Development

Modern agriculture is largely dependent on advanced Research and Development (R&D), which remains one of the main cornerstones of Israeli agriculture. Obliged to live with limited arable land and water resources, Israel has developed a range of innovative agriculture, irrigation and water management technologies in order to optimize use of scarce water resources, harsh soil, a minimal labor force and climatic windows of opportunity.

Investment in agriculture and rural development remains a high priority. One direct result is that Israel has become a world leader in agricultural innovation, sharing its expertise with some of the poorest regions on earth to create sustainable self-sufficiency in food and water supplies.

National priorities for research are determined each year by a National Steering

Committee for Agricultural R&D, headed by the Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. In each research field, a steering sub-committee of experts prioritizes and monitors the progress and achievements of the research activities.

The Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) is the main Government research institution for agriculture in Israel and has been at the forefront of agricultural research since its founding 90 years ago.

The ARO accounts for almost 75% of agricultural research countrywide, and is the main driving force behind Israel’s agricultural achievements. The ARO has an extensive research base, boasting some 200 scientists with a Ph.D. and 340 engineers and technicians. In addition, 250 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from different academic institutions conduct their

26

research studies at the ARO.These academic institutions include the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences at the Hebrew University, the Weizmann Institute of Science, the Technion in Haifa, Haifa University, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Bar Ilan University and Tel Aviv University. The ARO consists of six research institutes located on the main campus, the Volcani Center and two regional research centers; Neve Ya’ar in the north and Gilat in the south.The six institutes cover all the agricultural disciplines: plant sciences; animal sciences; plant protection; soil, water and environmental sciences; postharvest and food sciences, and agricultural engineering.

Israel’s Gene Bank for Agricultural Crops, established in 1979, is also located on the ARO Volcani Center campus, charged with preserving the biodiversity of Israeli plants and maintaining a genetic source for future

breeding of potential plants with important and desirable traits for agriculture.

The secret of Israel’s present agricultural success is trilateral cooperation among and close interaction between Governmentsponsored researchers, extension services and farmers. The Agricultural Extension Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SHAHAM) assists and coordinates farming activities through guidance, development and professional advancement of all the agricultural sectors in accordance with the Ministry’s goals and objectives. The Service’s professional units also advise the Ministry on policy.

This trilateral cooperation successfully coordinates the development and application of sophisticated methods in all branches of agriculture, including technological advancements, new irrigation techniques and innovative agro-mechanical equipment, leading to the widespread introduction of innovative, expor t-oriented farming methods.

The Israeli Government and other public entities make contributions to the ARO and to the Chief Scientist’s Fund, whose establishment has resulted in a significant increase in investments in agricultural R&D. Other contributions come from international entities such as bi-national research funds set up jointly with the United States and the EU, farmers’ organizations at national and regional levels, and private

business sector investments. The latter investments are directed at products in which investors can assure their ownership of the intellectual property rights. Most of this research is conducted by companies that produce inputs for agriculture such as pesticides, fertilizers, seeds, plastics, irrigation equipment, greenhouses and related products.The agricultural input industry also applies the results of the aforementioned public research. In the ARO, autonomous unit Kidum R&D is charged with managing the ARO’s business-related activities. The unit deals with all aspects of technology transfer: promoting contacts between the ARO’s researchers and its potential clients, offering business opportunities, and matching up available projects, products and expertise to potential client needs. Private sector investment has increased in recent years, and its share in national research efforts has grown, for the benefit of Israeli agriculture, and expanded exports of inputs.

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Agricultural Extension Service

Background and Concept The overall objective of the Agricultural Extension Service (hereafter - Extension Service) is the transfer of agricultural knowledge to farmers, based on scientific achievement as well as applied knowhow, for implementation in the target farms.

The Extension Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development played a vital role in the early years of agricultural development in Israel. It provided training to inexperienced farmers, most of them new immigrants, enabling them to develop advanced agriculture using the limited resources at their disposal.

Over the years, agriculture was developed through a rapid transfer of practical information from research to the field and the farmer. Work teams were set up around the country, providing a skilled and competent nationwide training system.

This training system has become a central factor in the professional advancement of agriculture in competitive market conditions.

The Extension Service is guided only by professional considerations and determines agro-technological norms.

The Extension Service promotes quality production and increases the ability to exploit the comparative advantage of the country’s different regions, both for the export and local markets.

As a result, the Extension Service as well as research and development have become an integral par t of Israel’s agricultural infrastructure. The Extension Service serves public and private interests. It is funded by the government.

The Extension Service is a public good, yet provides assistance to the private sector as well as to public decision makers. Since the inception of Israel’s International Agricultural Cooperation program nearly six decades ago, the Extension Service has taken an active and key role in providing training to developing experts and farmers in countries worldwide through Israel’s Agency for International Cooperation (MASHAV) and the Center for International Agriculture Development Cooperation (CINADCO).

Structure and Organization About one third of the 150 personnel of the service are senior experts based at

28

the ministry headquarters. They, together with the rest of the staff, provide advisory services all over the country, through 5 regional offices.

The Extension Service personnel have a large array of fields of expertise in horticulture, livestock production and complimentary professions such as irrigation, fertilization, crop protection and more.

The ser vice is composed of various professional departments and the experts provide their services both individually and through team work.

The Role and Methods of the Extension Service The Extension Service utilizes various methods to transfer knowledge: • Individual consultation sessions for farmers • Training courses • Farm tours • Open days, demonstration days • Publication, recorded documentation, CDs, videos and presentations

The triangle of research, extension and farmers in the agricultural sector of the State of Israel, maintains an open and efficient communication channel, and consequently the path from R&D through knowledge transfer to implementation is prompt and effective. Moreover, our agro-technology industry, globally renowned as innovative, has used the agriculture in Israel as a national laboratory that provides adaptable solutions for Israeli farmers as well as for farmers all over the world.

Extension personnel collect relevant data from the field and the farmer, sometimes assisted by equipment such as digital cameras, computer controlled devices, special softwares and the Internet. Thereafter oral and written recommendations are provided.

The Service takes into account the interests of both the grower and the public - the latter has to consume the products that must comply with food safety and food security targets, and still be available at reasonable prices.

Therefore, the Extension Service has to tackle, inter alia, following issues:

Water Management Promotion of water-saving technologies, encouraging the use of recycled water and enhancing the use of marginal water, for irrigation of suitable agricultural crops.

Diversifying Varieties and Species The Extension Service supports introduction of new varieties and species for agricultural production by using innovative extension methods.

Quality Agricultural Production Adaptation of agricultural production to comply with quality-management criteria, achieving high-standard produce that meets consumer demands, including food-safety requirements.

Supporting Marginal and Peripheral Regions The Extension Service supports farmers in remote areas, where agriculture is a key economic factor and even supplies highvalue products for the export and local markets.

Labor Saving Technologies Encouraging the adoption of new technologies and techniques by farmers in order to reduce the labor force and increase productivity in all agricultural branches.

Environment-Friendly Issues • Promotion of ecologically-oriented agriculture encouraging projects of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) with the aim of creating environment-friendly agriculture and reducing pesticide use.

• Adaptation of the dairy farm sector to updated environmental regulations. This was carried out by a reform in which a large amount of capital was invested in farm houses and equipment that resulted in preventing the infiltration of contaminants to ground water.

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Agriculture in the Arid Zone

From Desert to Agricultural Oasis: The Israeli Experience in the Arava Region Two-thirds of the State of Israel is defined as semi-arid and arid. Israel’s southern region is a desert called the Negev. The Negev Desert is subdivided into several regions that vary in climatic, topographical and soil conditions.The Northern Negev, Western Negev, Negev Highlands, and Arava are the main sub-regions, all of which experience small and scattered rain showers during a limited period in the winter.

The Arava, the southernmost part of the Negev, stretches along a 175 km strip bordering Jordan, and has an extremely hot and arid climate. Several dry riverbeds (wadis) pass through this strip.

Population dispersion and a national economic and development policy made it necessary to inhabit this region, while simultaneously meeting the challenges posed by the desert conditions.

Historically, the deser t was inhabited by nomadic tribes which, due to their dependent on the low rainfall, maintained a rather traditional desert agriculture, with wheat, barley and pasture for sheep being the main crops grown.

Water shortage The major problem in the Arava is the shortage of water supply and that it is not connected to the National Water Carrier that takes water from the Sea of Galilee down to the Northern Negev. Consequently, this region has had to rely on local groundwater sources which are saline and are accessed by pumping from wells. Saline water is found in the aquifer at a depth of 1,000 m, with a salinity level of 800-2,500 ppm.The temperature of geothermal water varies from 35 to 60°C. Additional water is obtained from the seasonal flooding of streams. The crusted soil causes flooding even after light rainfall. The water is collected in reservoirs and dams set up in the region.

matter, are infertile and saline. The high evaporation rate in the Arava causes the formation of layers of salt.

Challenges of Nature Climate Summer temperatures soar above 40°C, and winter temperatures range from 4 to 20°C. The average annual rainfall is 5-35 mm. Relative humidity varies from 12% to 80% and the monthly evaporation rate is between 120 and 240 mm.

Soils Soils in the Arava are classified as desert silt formed from settled alluvial materials.

These soils, entirely deficient of organic

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Transforming Disadvantages into

Transforming Disadvantages into Advantages Arava soils lack organic matter, are infertile, and are saline.

Solution: Addition of light soil from the Arava riverbed and leveling it in a 0.3 m layer.

Result: Good soil for growing vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, melons and eggplants and for orchards such as date palms, reaching high yields. The soil is also suitable for growing potatoes, with high yields of 40-50 tons/ha and other crops in the southern Arava.

Sparse but highly skilled population (7,000 people) Solution: Growing high-income crops that require professional know-how and modern technology.

Result: Production of different varieties of crops in greenhouses that achieve topquality yields, and that compete successfully in the international market.

Saline water in the Arava creates problems in various crops Solution: Precise irrigation with saline water, according to the plant’s absorption capacity.

Result: Crops such as sweet pepper, melon and tomato, are sweeter when irrigated with saline water.These vegetables are sold under the Desert Sweet brand name, attaining premium prices in Europe and the USA all year.

Growing crops in the winter Climate conditions in the Arava enable a large variety of vegetable and flower cultivation during the winter when there is a demand in the European market for quality produce.

Growing conditions in the Arava are harsh due to high winds, poor soil and other factors Solution: Switching from production in open fields to production in greenhouses and net-houses.

Result: Average annual yield of 250-300 tons/ha tomatoes and 80-100 tons/ha sweet peppers for export. 60% of Israel`s export of fresh vegetables comes from the Arava.

The Arava cannot exist without irrigation Solution: The transition to drip-irrigation enabled irrigating with saline water, in precise quantities according to the plants’ needs.

Result: Drip-irrigation is the sole method used in the Arava.

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Regular irrigation cycles cause high mineral concentrations in the soil Solution: Frequent irrigation, several times a day, keep a mineral balance in the soil.

Result: The yearly grapefruit yield is 120 tons/ha.The high quality mango yield in the hot season is 50 tons/ha.

Rural Development –Trends and Challenges The rural region in Israel, since the beginning of the Zionist movement in Israel until today, is a leading factor in the heritage and values of Israeli society, a landscape that combines settlement with agriculture and open areas, development areas that combine agriculture with current technology and rural enterprising and a society that encourages settlement in peripheral regions, an active community life and rural lifestyles.

The rural settlement is spread over the state of Israel in many different forms and variations: kibbutzim, workers’ moshavim, communal villages, communal moshavim, community settlements and other rural settlements; some of these settlement types are unique to Israel.

Israeli society is one of the most urbanized in the world. 92% of all residents of Israel live in urban areas. In this reality, the rural space in Israel is required to create quality, added value and relevance for its communities and Israeli society as a whole.

About 70% of rural settlements are in the peripheral regions of the country.

Rural settlement has led to values and characteristics of heritage, history, landscape and man to land values.

In recent years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has been leading a wide spectrum of processes and current plans for rural development. This stems from recognition of the range of changes that have occurred and the need to lead

processes that will advance the rural space based on current policies, principles and tools that are suitable for the changing reality, while maintaining its unique qualities and heritage.

The vision underlying the activity of the Ministry of Agriculture is to lead rural development as a model for renewal and a source of national pride, in social, economic and environmental spheres.

The rural development policy encourages openness, transparency and responsibility for society as a whole and its peripheral regions in particular, while developing it as a rooted, modest living space that is connected to the land and environment. This policy must relate to the Israeli rural space based on the following characteristics: • Reflecting a strong affinity for agriculture and production of healthy, fresh food.

• Representing a range of settlement types, lifestyles and multi-generational communities.

• Maintaining open and agricultural grounds and the imprint of the native landscape.

• Maintaining heritage and social values.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the agency that is responsible for the rural space and rural villages, and focuses on strengthening communities in the rural settlement, development and assistance for diversification of the economic basis, strengthening the physical and organizational

Development of Rural Settlement in Israel, 915 Settlements (35 without Year of Founding)

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infrastructures of settlements, while preserving and strengthening agricultural activity, with an affinity for the environment and open areas.

The development plan for the rural space has been implemented since 2006 by a team from the Regional Rural Planning Depar tment, by means of the district divisions, and with the suppor t of a professional team of consultants, which assists in supervising the various programs, coordinates data and assures the quality of the programs and their compatibility with the goals of the development plan.

Rural and Agricultural Tourism The rural space in Israel is undergoing a change. Alongside the efforts to maintain agriculture as a central occupation in rural settlement and action for maintaining open agricultural grounds, it is necessary to form an additional economic basis for residents of agricultural settlements. Tourist agriculture is part of the occupational diversification of the rural space; it provides for additional economic activity for farms, and assists in familiarizing the general public with agriculture. The development of tourist agriculture and rural tourism is one of the major economic fulcrums for rural development, particularly in peripheral settlements. In the last decade, thousands of small businesses that provide various tourism services have developed: recreation units, dining services, comfort services, art galleries and workshops, walking and vehicle country tours, agricultural visitor centers for presentation of growing and working processes of agricultural produce, selfpicking and so on.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development considers tourist agriculture and rural enterprising to be a fulcrum for rural development. For the purpose of tourism development in the rural space, the Ministry makes available a toolbox that consists of a range of support measures, starting from the level of the individual entrepreneur / farmer interested in integrating in tourist agriculture, to the level of the regional council as the entity in whose jurisdiction the tourist activity is being held.

1. The tourist incubator – an implement that is used to assist an entrepreneur in a moshav or kibbutz who is not a tourism expert to transform his idea into a tourist venture.

Tourism programs may be developed within these incubators. After the formation of ventures, further support may be provided for their operation and marketing.

2. Development of tourist agriculture – integration of tourism with agriculture.

Agricultural tourism is an additional economic branch for farming.The addition of a tourist facet to agriculture requires investments in infrastructure and preparation of farms / agriculture for accommodating tourists.

3. Par ticipation in sales promotion – agricultural and rural tourism are an instrument for familiarizing the general public with agriculture, its branches and products, its heritage and culture and its workers, and for increasing revenues from agricultural tourism. Festivals held in the rural space represent a strong attractor and gain considerable media coverage. A byproduct of events in the rural region is public familiarity with various areas and repeat visits in their free time when the festival or event has exposed them to the area.

4. Tourism villages – the tourism villages program started in 1995 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Jewish Agency, the Jewish National Fund and the Israel Land Administration.

The implementation was through the Israel Government Tourist Corporation.

The program has been based on the improvement of tourist infrastructures of villages in which there has been a transition to tourism. The development has focused on emphasizing the uniqueness of the settlement and dealing with aspects that are relevant to it and tourism, such as: the entrance to the settlement, tourist-oriented signage, lighting, gardening, a promenade, connection of the settlement to tourist trails and more. Since 1995, 32 tourism village projects have been implemented. In these settlements, tourism has become an important, central source of revenue.

5. Tourism infrastructures – since 2009, the Ministry has continued to support the

development of agricultural rural tourism infrastructures in settlements.

Courses and Training The purpose of training and courses is to instruct and train people working in the rural space, par ticularly its leaders, in the management and advancement of settlements, sustainability in minor enterprise development, sustainable tourism and more.

The courses will open a gateway and a wider world on various subjects, provide training in various skills and will assist in leading rural settlements and their residents to new horizons.

The support objectives: 1. Vocational training in the rural sector covering organizational issues, economic and tourism development.

2. Instructing of management personnel in rural settlements.

3. Adopting a policy of sustainable development among residents and representatives of the rural space.

4. Assistance in diversification of sources of income for residents of the rural space who leave agriculture.

Restoration of Infrastructures in Rural Settlements Based on a recognition of the importance of rural development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is currently leading a national plan for restoration of infrastructures in rural settlements in Israel. The rural infrastructure restoration plan is intended to bridge the gaps that have formed over the years among the utility infrastructures of various villages, and between them and municipal infrastructures.This is a basis and fulcrum for renewal of villages and their further growth over time. According to a government decision that was adopted in October 2010 to commemorate the centennial of rural settlement, a billion shekels will be invested in the restoration of infrastructures in rural settlements over ten years, for an investment of 100 million shekels per year.

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The knowledge that has been accumulating in rural development, combined with changes and transformations that have been occurring in the rural space and agriculture, pose new challenges and require innovative, current and possibly revolutionary thinking. The Ministr y of Agriculture and Rural Development has become a professional resource and specializes in rural development – for the field and for a range of relevant governmental ministries and organizations. The Ministry is leading processes of research and development, strategic planning, and novel professional methodological development along with professional, academic and public parties in Israel and abroad. A network of international and national professional contacts has developed, which is based on accrued knowledge, providing for infrastructure for further development, research and current knowledge around current issues – academic, research, planning and practical.

All planning and rural development processes emphasize the importance of involving the public, ensuring the visibility of planning products, formation of a discourse around planning processes and leading of suitable growth changes that will position the village in a current, contemporary place.

Based on the knowledge that has accrued and with the intent of leading a discourse and placing the rural space on the national agenda, the Ministry has written a “Rural Development Guide”. This is a large, professional database, which shows the highlights of the rural development concept at the policy, regional and settlement levels.

International Agricultural Cooperation Cooperation Israel places great emphasis on international cooperation with developing countries using extensive tools that aim to support training and demonstrations, centers for excellence, joint research, know-how transfer and the exchange of experts. The hallmark of the international cooperation program is Israel’s own professional and operational achievement, as well as its experience in agriculture, rural development, agrotechnology and human-capacity building.

The programs and projects involve a wide range of topics and development modalities encompassing human-capacity building, development demonstration projects, appropriate agro-technologies, specialized subject matter consultancies, research and development (R&D), combined with other interrelated professional and development topics.

The international cooperation programs, based on a demand-driven approach, are implemented primarily on a governmentto-government basis, but also include international organizations, institutes and NGOs. In this context over the past five decades the State of Israel, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Center for International Agriculture Development Cooperation (CINADCO), has been actively involved in formulating and conducting international development cooperation programs in agriculture and rural development.

Within this framework and implementation, the Ministr y of Agriculture and Rural Development mobilizes and makes available its entire professional human resource base, extension services, research and development (R&D) facilities as well as its accumulated agricultural sector development experience, including that of other tiers of Israel’s rural agro-sector at large. Program formulations and implementation also network with universities and counterpart development cooperation organizations.

The programs and projects include international agriculture training courses in Israel; on-the-spot courses in the various partner countries; collaborative agriculture research projects; development of demonstration-oriented agricultural project modalities for the on-site demonstration of agricultural know-how; trainings, appropriate technologies and publication of learning material.

rural development including agro-support services.

The overseas programs, more commonly known as “on-the-spot” or mobile courses and workshops, are an important development component and an integral part of CINADCO’s overall human capacitybuilding program, project development, implementation and suppor t activities management.

Human Capacity Building in Israel and Overseas CINADCO’s activities take place in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, CIS Republics, the Middle East, Latin America and Oceania.

Activities are conducted in English, Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic and other local languages. These training activities also focus on R&D courses and workshops in cooperation with the Ministry’s Agricultural Research Organization (ARO).

Development Programs, Project Consultancies and Learning Resources Agricultural demonstration - technology transfer - capacity building project modalities, are an impor tant and integral par t of ClNADCO’s professional and operational agenda. Various modalities have been developed to meet and support different agricultural and rural resource-based development conditions.

The prime concept of development projects is a “bottom-up” development approach

The program syllabus for these activities includes professional lectures, intensive field studies, exploration of a wide range of development and specialized agricultural technologies, round-table deliberations, project preparation, and evaluation. A wide range of thematic topics are covered, such as irrigation, tree crops, horticulture, poultry, dairy and livestock, beekeeping, dryland and arid-zone agriculture, agro-ecology, farm management, agri-business, post-harvest care, marketing, agricultural extension and

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aimed at initiating and enhancing actual development impact at the field level, enabling scaling-up and linkages with regional and country-level development.

This concept is also formulated to initiate and support large-scale agro-projects that can involve Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in different arrangements and modalities of implementation. CINADCO projects introduce appropriate Israeli technologies, innovations and inputs, combined with technical know-how to create high quality and value added market-driven development. Demonstration sites may also serve as “Centers for Excellence” including training for human capacity and skill development.

Israel’s international cooperation in agriculture is conducted in conjunction and co-financing with other donor countries. In this context CINADCO and MASHAV seek to expand networking with governments, international organizations and NGOs to challenge world development problems together.

These activities involve cooperation with government aid organizations such as USAid, JICA, CIDA, GIZ, and other international technical assistance organizations.

These program and project modalities have been established in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania, Latin America, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Central, South and Eastern Europe, Euro-Asia, and in countries including: China,Vietnam, Egypt, EI Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Senegal, Swaziland, Philippines, Thailand, and many others.

The programs and projects combine appropriate Israeli knowhow, agrotechnologies, production practices for high-quality production output, added value for enhanced market-driven development.

They also serve to facilitate training and the transfer of know-how, so the hostcountry agri-sector can directly observe and evaluate agricultural production practices, technologies, postharvest care and related value chain activities.

CINADCO is also active in developing multilingual professional publications (e.g., English, Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish) targeted to support the overall training, consultancy and project development activities.

Partnerships and Networking Israel’s international agricultural cooperation program is conducted in conjunction and partnership with donor countries and the international community to meet the global millennium development challenges. In this context, CINADCO, in cooperation with MASHAV is seeking to expand networking with the international community to meet the world development agenda.

Such programs and projects have a broadbased development spectrum, ranging from small-scale, semi-subsistence family farms in arid and semi-arid areas up to larger scale technology-oriented agribusiness development. Effort is also centered on the transfer of advanced technologies for water conservation and irrigation efficiency, introduction of new crops and varieties, integrated dairy development to enhance quality milk production, improved feeding and dairy management systems.The programs also aim at interaction and at enhancing public and private partnerships. Horticulture programs involve development of improved planting materials, nurseries, biotechnology and practices to reduce chemicals through

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Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems, methyl bromide alternatives and related sustainable and environment-friendly agricultural production systems.

The programs and projects are part of Israel’s international development cooperation agenda to cooperate and assist in worldwide efforts to overcome problems stemming from climate change, the shortage of water, soil degradation, for food security and the improvement of sustainable management of limited natural resources.

Center for International Agricultural Development Cooperation (CINADCO) CINADCO is part of Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Its headquarters are located at the Ministry’s Agricultural Complex in Beit Dagan near Tel Aviv, with the majority of CINADCO’s training activities being held at the international training center located at Kibbutz Shefayim .The training activities focusing on research and development (R&D) are conducted in cooperation with the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) in Beit Dagan.

For more information, please contact: P.O. Box 30, Beit Dagan Israel Tel: 972-3-9485760 Fax: 972-3-9485761 E-mail: cinadco@moag.gov.il www.cinadco.moag.gov.il

Biotechnology

Israeli agriculture and agriculture worldwide will soon face new challenges resulting from growing population figures, rising food prices, global warming and scarcity of high quality water supplies.While conventional plant and animal breeding and agro-techniques have been instrumental in bringing about a steady improvement in agricultural productivity in the years since Israel’s establishment, the

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new challenges require use of innovative approaches, many of which rely on biotechnological applications. Biotechnology will be required in future agriculture to ensure the supply of high quality food all year round and to overcome the constraints of conventional breeding and cultivation procedures.

Below is a partial list of current studies in Major areas of agricultural biotechnology • Production of high quality improved plant and animal germ-plasrn exploiting natural and induced variation.

• Efficient use of bio-pesticides and biofertilizers for integrated pest control and environmentally-safe use of chemicals.

• Use of plants as bioreactors to produce valuable pharmaceutical or edible vaccines or their use as sources of oil and biomass for renewable energy.

• Environmental biotechnology: use of plants for bioremediation.

• Livestock biotechnology: breeding and genetic manipulation for improved growth rate, milk and egg production, and use of DNA marker-assisted selection for improved selection efficiency.

• Aquatic and marine biotechnology.

• Conferring tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity by means of transgenic plants.

• Conferring resistance to pests including fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes and insects by means of transgenic plants.

• Utilization of genomic tools to study metabolism, gene expression and sequence organization at the whole genome level to facilitate gene identification in order to increase plant yield and nutritional value.

• Use of cell and tissue culture for propagation and generation of plant material free of pathogens.

• Use of beneficial microorganisms for improving plant growth and biofertilization.

• Recycling of agricultural and other waste including lignin degradation; biodegradation of pesticides and herbicides; bio-filtration and absorption of toxic chemicals and industrial waste.

Having the EU our major trading partner and in order to comply with its restrictions, Israel’s agriculture has never introduced any commercial fresh product based on genetically modified engineering.

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Plant Gene Bank

Israel is home to a wide variety of plant species. As part of the Fertile Crescent this region is characterized by geographic and climatic diversity and serves as a unique and rich center of genetic diversity of major crop wild relatives such as cereals (wheat, barley, oats), legumes (pea, lentil, chickpea), fruit trees (plum, pear, fig), vegetables (onion, carrot, cabbage), aromatic plants (sage, fennel, oregano), and forage plants (clover, alfalfa).

Confronted with increasing threats of genetic erosion due to urbanization, climate change and modern monoculture agriculture (based on elite species with a limited genetic diversity), the key aim of the Israel Plant Gene Bank (IGB) is the conservation of representative gene pools of local plant species. IGB focuses on wild plant species with economic agricultural and socio-cultural potential, which are native to the Land of Israel and the surrounding areas.

Lately, IGB has broadened its interests to

include conservation of rare, endangered and endemic species.

The plant genetic resource is essential for future breeding of cultivated varieties, such as high-yield specimens, and those with resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and improved nutritional value.

Seed collection, storage, research and Ex-situ conservation Exper t botanists collect plant material according to a prioritized species/habitat list and detailed seed collection guidelines.

The collected plant sample is uniquely labeled and documented in a designated database. The germplasm (=seeds) are then cleaned, dried, tested for viability and stored in freezers at -20째C for long-term and short-term storage. In case of loss of viability or a small amount of seeds, the IGB propagate the selected plants.

In addition, dried specimens of the plants are

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preserved for future reference as herbarium vouchers.

Within the collaborative framework with other seed-banks, duplicates from each seed sample are sent for backup purposes and safekeeping to the various institutes.

The IGB conducts and promotes research related to the collection of genetic resources as well as the mapping/ screening of relevant genetic characteristics of key species.

Some of the genetic resources, mostly fruit trees and aromatic shrubs, are kept in live collections.

National and International Activities and Collaboration IGB is currently in charge of implementing the program of conservation of national genetic resources. IGB provides professional and scientific support for the sustainable use and development of local plant genetic resources, advanced networking, information exchange and international cooperation, as well as promoting public awareness of the importance of maintaining the country’s plant biodiversity.

One of the IGB’s greatest contributions – through scientific collaboration – is by providing an accessible source of plant material for applied research, under international

Summary of IGB new seeds collection between 2007- 2011

No. of seedspecimens

No. of wildplant species*

4,499

860

Among them endangeredspecies 212

No. of species which were regenerated 56

*Out of ~ 2,400 local wild species

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Vegetables

The vegetable growing sector in Israel accounts for about 24% of total agricultural production in the country and about 40% of total horticultural production. In 2010, production exceeded 2.3 million tons intended for consumption in the domestic market, for export of fresh products to Europe and the USA, and raw material for industrial processing and canning.

Israel is outstanding for its ability in the vegetable growing field, developing objective-based technologies, in accordance with changing environmental conditions, the needs of consumers and the means at its disposal.

The vegetable growing sector in Israel enjoys the benefit of a national-public instructing system. In addition, there are R&D stations in different climatic regions and a national research center, which enable the ongoing improvement and development of the vegetable growing sector.

Year-round production and an uninterrupted supply of vegetable crops were made possible due to exploitation of a number of factors in the production process, including: • Production in different regions • Production in protected conditions • Exploitation of regional climatic conditions and production in different seasons • Introduction of new crops and new species There has been an expansion of production in protected conditions (green houses, high tunnels & net houses), and it now covers about 9,000 hectares in which a wide variety of vegetables are grown. The main vegetables are table tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, peppers, green herbs, spring and winter sown watermelons and melons, leafy vegetables intended for the Kosher market, eggplants and strawberries. The latter two are grown in smaller quantities than the other vegetables mentioned.

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Production in greenhouses, walk-in tunnels and shade-houses enables the following: • Protection of the plants from natural disasters • Ability to produce in different climatic and regional conditions • Significant increase in yields and improvement in quality • Reduction of plant pests which transfer viral diseases and cause direct damage to the plants • Significant reduction in the use of pesticides

About 60,000 hectares of vegetable varieties, adapted to specific climatic conditions, are grown in open fields.They include potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, summer-sown melons and watermelons.This is in addition to vegetables destined for industrial processing, such as tomatoes, corn, peas and cucumbers for pickling.

Production for export is a major source of income for Israel’s vegetable growers, especially in the Arava in the southern part of the country, known for its unique climatic conditions in the winter months.

These conditions enable production of highquality vegetables for export, conforming to the highest European and international standards and standardization, ensuring food safety.

On the other hand, Israel’s northern regions specialize in open-field summer vegetable production for industrial processing and canning.

• Application of a growing method on substrate in regions where the soil is unsuitable for growing crops • Introduction of new high-yielding and high-quality species which are pathogenresistant • Introduction of labor-saving technologies and means especially in open fields • Improvement and control of climate conditions in protected growing systems • Application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods • Introduction of modern irrigation methods based on procedures for control of irrigation and fertilization • Application of post-harvest methods, means and treatment to lengthen shelf life and prevent rotting

Among the professional achievements which have had a crucial influence on the formulation of the vegetable branch in the last decade the following are worthy of particular mention:

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Field Crops

Field crops require a high degree of mechanization. In Israel, these crops are grown on about 175,000 hectares, 130,000 of which are planted with winter crops: Wheat for grain and silage; barley for grain, hay and grazing and legumes for hay and seeds. About 45,000 hectares are planted with spring and summer crops, such as cotton, sunflowers, corn and sorghum for silage, corn for grains, chickpeas, green peas, beans, sweet corn, corn for popcorn, industrial tomatoes, groundnuts (peanuts), and watermelon for seeds (for snacks).

Most of these summer crops are irrigated using modern technologies rather than by natural rainfall.

The value of field crops reached $1,100 million in 2011, of which $125 million were from exports (mainly cotton, groundnuts and sunflower seeds). Most field crops produce high yields and are of superior quality - the result of joint efforts between R&D and Extension personnel, related institutions, and the growers.

Winter Crops Wheat Most of the 100,000 hectares of wheat are sown for grain, while a further 24,000 hectares are grown for silage and hay, constituting a major component in feed for dairy herds. Between 2.5 to 6.2 tons of grains are harvested per hectare, depending on the region and the amount of annual rainfall received. Most of these grains are produced and sold as flour in the domestic market. Between 8 to 12 dry-matter tons of silage or hay are reaped per hectare.

Winter wheat is largely a non-irrigated crop, and therefore yields are dependent on the amount of rainfall and its distribution throughout the winter months. Wheat for grain is grown mostly in the country’s dry southern regions and the northeastern interior valleys, enabling the extensive use of agricultural land.

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Barley 10,000 hectares of barley are sown for grain, hay and graze. Between 0.5 to 2 tons of grain and between 3 to 6 dry-matter tons of silage or hay are harvested per hectare.

Barley is a non-irrigated crop, and therefore yields are dependent on the amount of rainfall and its distribution throughout the winter months. Barley is grown in the country’s dry southern region.

Corn for silage and grains About 4.0 thousand hectares of corn are sown for silage and about 2.4 thousand hectares are sown for grains. The yield of silage is between 17 to 22 dry-matter tons per hectare, and between 11 to 15 tons of grain are harvested per hectare. Most of the fields are irrigated by drippers with Israeli-made equipment and the rest by sprinklers.

Oats Most of the 5,000 hectares of oat are sown for hay and between 8 to 12 dry-matter tons are reaped per hectare.

Oat is a non-irrigated crop, and therefore yields are dependent on the amount of rainfall and its distribution throughout the winter months.

Sorghum for silage About 1.5 thousands hectares of sorghum are sown for silage, two-thirds of the fields being harvested once and a third harvested twice. The yield of silage in one harvest is between 11 to 14 dry-matter tons per hectare and in two harvests, between 20 to 23 ton per hectare. Most of the fields are irrigated by drippers with Israeli-made equipment and the rest by sprinklers.

Spring, Summer and Perennial Crops Chickpeas About 6,000 hectares of chickpeas are grown and a yield of three tons per irrigated hectare was achieved in 2011. The entire crop is grown for the local market, which was developed and expanded in recent years.

Breeders, together with growers, are making efforts to increase the crops’ value and adjust it to market needs by developing unique varieties, including a very large white chickpea and disease-resistant varieties.

Groundnuts About 3,000 hectares of groundnuts were grown in 2011, valued at $42.3 million. Most of the crop is grown in light soils in the south of Israel.

About 65% of Israel’s groundnuts, which are characterized by a very large yellow nut, are exported and sold in their shells for specialty niche markets in Europe.

Sunflowers In 2011 sunflowers for seeds covered an area of about 800 hectares. About 70% of the yield is targeted for export. Israelideveloped sunflower grains are known for their excellent size and quality. Some of the new sunflower varieties are known for their resistance to Broomrape as well as for their particularly large seeds with attractive coloring. Most sunflower crops are drip-irrigated, achieving significant savings in water: 1,800-2,500 m3 of water are sufficient to produce two to three tons per hectare.

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Cotton Israel produces high-quality cotton. The entire cotton yield is exported, mainly to Europe and the Far East. Israeli long-fiber cotton fetches between 5 to 10 cents per pound more than the usual market prices.

The value of cotton production for 2011 was about $ 63.5 million. Almost the entire 8,500 hectares of cotton crop are dripirrigated with Israeli-made equipment. Israel’s cotton yields per land unit are among the highest in the world, averaging 5.8 tons per hectare for raw Acala Cotton, with 2.2 tons of fibers, and 5.3 tons per hectare for raw Pima Cotton, with 1.9 tons of fibers.

The cotton sector is totally mechanized.

The introduction of effluents for irrigation has contributed to a significant reduction in growing costs. Cotton seeds, a by-product of fiber processing, are used in the manufacture of animal feed.

Implementation of New Technologies The last few years has seen a steady decline in the profitability of the field crop industry.

To deal with this situation, Israeli farmers are investing in the implementation of advanced technologies and relatively highcost machinery, such as Global Positioning Sensors (GPS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for precision, no-till and minimum-till agriculture, in order to reduce long-term labor and other input costs.

Fruit

In 2011, the area covered by fruit orchards, excluding citrus groves, was about 37,000 hectares. In addition, there are 21,000 hectares of oil olives grown without additional irrigation, mostly in the Arab sector.

Produce reached 690,000 tons of fruit in 2011. The main fruit crops are bananas, 146,000 tons; apples, 110,000 tons; avocados, 90,000 tons; and table grapes, 75,000 tons. Fruit accounts for 20% of the total agricultural production in Israel. Even though most of the fruit production is for local consumption, in 2011 Israel exported 55,000 tons of avocados, 18,000 tons of persimmons, 15,000 tons of mangoes, 15,000 tons of dates and 16,000 tons of pomegranates.

The varied climate lends itself to a wide variety of fruit crops. In hilly and mountainous areas, for example, deciduous fruit trees, which have chilling requirements, are grown, while in the coastal plain or valleys, tropical and subtropical fruit trees can be grown.

In the arid Arava, dates are grown successfully.

Due to the varied climate and the advanced technologies for growing fruit trees under protected conditions (greenhouses and shade-houses) during the cold season, fruit can also be picked out of season, thereby prolonging the marketing period and improving fruit quality.

Yields of Selected Fruits 2011 Average Yield )tons/ha( 50 35 18 30 26 65 18 25 15

Fruit Apples Pears Plums Peaches Table grapes Bananas Avocados Mangoes Dates

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A number of leading growers have succeeded in reaching peak yields in Israel, for example: apples, 90 tons/ha; bananas, 100 tons/ha; plums, 50 tons/ha; peaches and nectarines, 70 tons/ha; mangoes, 75 tons/ha; and pears, 50 tons/ha.

Storage The use of advanced technologies enables the marketing of high quality fruit which can reach the overseas consumer a few days after picking.

Fruit can also be stored under refrigeration for long periods. Advanced storage technologies are employed in the cooling houses and sorting and packing facilities, as well as in the domestic and expor t distribution network.

Mechanization Several mechanical means have been developed in order to increase the efficiency of handling fruit. For example, a hydraulic lift with a booth allows the worker to reach the highest branches. The lift can be steered, guided from tree to tree and raised or lowered to the desired height. In addition to the standard model, a particularly high model has been developed for picking dates.

Research and Development The growing of fruit in substrate culture has resulted in improved quality, characterized by larger fruit and increased vegetative growth, particularly in heavy and alkaline soils. Mango is the most outstanding example.

Better fruit quality has also been achieved by using multi-colored shade nets, which improve the microclimate in the orchard.

In recent years, the fruit branch has taken the lead in developing phyto-monitoring systems which enable better quality management, control and supervision, mainly with regard to the irrigation process and efficient water management.

One of the main goals of the fruit branch is examination of new species and varieties, some of them exotic, in order to expand the selection of products and extend the marketing season, with an eye to the European consumer. These include pitaya, papaya, passiflora, guava, raspberry and other “small fruits.�There is a local breeding program for development of new varieties, focusing on table grapes, mangoes and avocados.

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Citrus In 2011, 600,000 tons of citrus fruit were produced in Israel from 18,200 hectares of orchards. In 2012, 1,500 hectares of new citrus orchards will be planted.

In recent years, the citrus sector in Israel has been undergoing changes as it introduced new agrotechnologies to facilitate improved operations, including the planting of new citrus varieties.

Israel markets a wide variety of oranges, grapefruits, easy peelers, and lemons, as well as a range of more exotic citrus fruit.

The traditional Shamouti orange is still Israel’s important citrus product. Other varieties of oranges exported include the Valencia Late and the Navel.

The citrus production of Israel is designated for three destinations: 190,000 tons for export 180,000 tons for the local market 230,000 tons for the juice industry Israel exports its citrus products mainly to the European markets (70%) and to the Russian market (20%).

Citrus fruit exported from Israel travels to 45 different countries all over the world, from Argentina and the U.S.A in the west, to China, Australia, Japan and Korea in the east.

In the past, the white grapefruit, originally cultivated in inland valleys, was one of the main varieties grown and exported from Israel. This variety has been replaced by the Star-Ruby variety (Sunrise), whose peel and flesh have a red tint, and the Sunrise is now the major product of Israeli citrus exports.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Plant Production and Marketing Board, are making a big effort to develop and promote new markets for Israeli citrus fruit.

New easy-peeling varieties such as ‘Or’, ’Orah’, ‘Rishon’, ‘Hadas’ and others were developed for export and for the local market and have been planted on a very large scale in recent years.

Israel produces exotic citrus varieties, such as lime, kumquat (Chinese orange), limequat (a cross between lime and kumquat), and both red and white pummelos.

Environment-Friendly Fruit There is a growing awareness of the impor tance of ecologically-oriented agriculture.This has led to the development of ‘green’ fruit, which is grown with minimal use of chemicals, to reduce interfering with the ecosystem or harming the environment.

Production is carried out according to the quality management requirements of the European market, in compliance with EurepGAP 2000 principles, ISO standards and crop management protocols.

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As part of the policy to reduce the use of chemicals, 65% of Israel’s citrus groves have instituted Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, which use natural control agents such as parasitic wasps and predator insects, thus minimizing the need for chemicals.

Development of new citrus is presently being geared to attain a lower seed content, longer shelf-life, attractive appearance and a longer marketing season. The intention has been to extend the area size of citrus easy peeler varieties, which is preferred by consumers to traditional orange varieties.

Model groves of newly developed easy peelers, which have been planted in various areas across the State of Israel, have already shown promising commercial potential. One of the leading new varieties, ‘Or’, which was developed in Israel, is one of the most requested fruits in Europe and provides the growers with good returns.

Rootstocks traditionally used in the past have been replaced by new ones, such as VolkaMariana, Troyer, C-35, and Rangpur, according to the variety, and type of soil and water.

New Trends The citrus sector, which has fluctuated over the years, has concentrated on increasing the efficiency of its operations, introducing new methods and, in addition to the new varieties developed, increasing efforts to meet changing market demands, while bringing citrus farmers greater returns.

Citrus marketing has changed considerably in the last decade, from marketing by a monopoly - the Citrus Marketing Board of Israel (CMBI, which due to reorganization is now part of the Plants Production and Marketing Board) - to private marketing entities authorized by the CMBI to compete on the open markets.

Currently, there are 50 authorized Israeli citrus exporters.

Citrus Varieties and Yields Yield per Hectare in

Variety

Oranges Grapefruit Easy peelers Lemons Exotics

tons

42.5 65.0 35.0 50.0 20.0

Source: Plants Production and Marketing Board/Central Bureau of Statistics

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Organic Agriculture Organic farms in all parts of the country use specific production areas to provide a year-round supply of a wide variety of fresh, quality products.

Standards and Inspection The Israeli organic standard follows those instituted by its main target market, the EU countries, and organic production complies with EU 2091/92 regulations and IFOAM standards. Exporters to the United States are obliged to comply with the rules and regulations of the National Organic Program (NOP) of the United States Department of Agriculture.The Plant Protection and Inspection Services (PPIS) of Israel›s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for inspection of fresh organic produce.

Most of organic growers in Israel are members of the Israel Bio-Organic Agriculture Association (IBOAA), an IFOAMaffiliated member.They are also members of Agro Bio Mediterranean (ABM), comprising organic farmers and organizations from Mediterranean countries. The IBOAA promotes, disseminates and develops local organic know-how through courses, field trips, extension activities, and marketing.

It has set a target for organic agriculture to reach a 10% share of total agricultural production in the coming years.

Organic farming accounts for about only 1.5% of total agricultural production in Israel, yet it represents 10% of fresh produce exports. Organic agriculture has become one of the fastest growing sectors, achieving an annual growth rate of 10%.

Today, 600 farmers cultivate 7,500 hectares of organically-grown crops.

Organic agriculture has been considered as an alternative approach to conventional farming since the 1940s. However, the turning point came in the late I 970s when Mario Levi, a member of Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu, started promoting organic farming as a real alternative and proved that it was profitable and could generate income.

Organic farming in Israel complies with international principles and standards.

The new principles recently approved by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) General Assembly form the cornerstone of Israeli organic farming.

Grown under intensive-production systems, crop yields, quality and profits often equal and even exceed those of conventionallygrown crops.

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All IBOAA activities focus on promoting the development of a human, animal­ and environment friendly industry that also offers economic viability and opportunities for employment, excellence and technological progress.

Crops by Region The Jordan Valley in the east and the Arava Valley in the south are the main suppliers of fresh vegetables in the winter. High levels of solar radiation and the relatively hot climate throughout the year are conducive to the growing of sweet peppers and tomatoes, which are exported primarily to Europe and the United States.

Potatoes and carrots are the main crops produced in the Western Negev desert, where the soils are light or medium light and the climate is warm. Organic potatoes are exported mainly to the UK, while carrots are exported mainly to Eastern Europe. Both crops are grown in rotation with potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onions, celery, paprika, and peanuts, thereby upholding one of the basic requirements for successful organic farming.

The northern valleys produce field crops, mainly cotton, tomatoes for industrial processing, and sweet corn, followed by chickpeas and organic seed crops.

Demand for organic produce in Israel is still growing, and organic produce is now widely available in the supermarket chains as well as in health-food stores. Production of organic olives is also expanding, with produce directed mainly at the local market.

Processed Organic Products and Inputs Processing of organic produce has also developed in recent years. A wide range of products are canned, frozen, or extracted for oil.The agro-industry sector produces inputs to support and provide organic farming with the specific inputs it needs. These include; compost, plant nutrition additives, pesticides, and irrigation equipment.

Cotton is an outstanding example of an organically-grown crop, which until a few years ago was unheard of or even unthinkable, as pesticides were standard procedure in conventionally grown cotton.

The introduction of organic agriculture practices has had little, if any, negative effect on the crop›s natural life cycle.

Organic orchards exist all over the country.

The main crops are dates in the Arava and Jordan valleys, and avocado and citrus in other regions.These crops are mostly destined for export. Fruits grown organically for the local market include olives, mangos, apples, stone fruits, figs, wine and table grapes.

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Floriculture Flowers and ornamental plants accounted for about 8.0% of Israel’s total fresh agricultural export (in 2010). About 5,000 hectares are dedicated to the production of flowers, with the typical farm size being about 5 hectares. Some 800 million cut flowers (65% of the total production) are exported throughout the year, mainly to Europe. The floriculture sector in our countr y is technologically advanced.

Accelerated R&D efforts combined with prompt knowhow transfer by the Extension Service, shortened the time needed for innovations (new varieties and improved technologies) to be adopted by experienced growers. Consequently, a large selection of more than hundred varieties of high-quality flowers are grown and marketed. There has been a decrease in the number of Israeli growers, due to increasing competition from abroad and the recent economic recession in target markets.

In the past, traditional varieties (such as rose, gerbera and carnation) accounted for about 80% of total flower production, but currently make up less than 30%. Today, these flowers are perceived rather as commodities and are mostly grown in African countries, while the Israeli floriculture sector is increasingly being based on niche products (see Table 1).

Acclimatization of new varieties of cut flowers and of many other varieties are grown in Israel, including Solidago, Gypsophila, Wax Flowers, Roses, Ornamental plants, Limonium, Lisianthus (Eustoma), Gerbera, Hypericum, Ranunculus, Ornithogalum and Anemone. New varieties include: acclimatized ‘summer flowers’ from Europe, which are picked and exported mainly during Europe’s winter season; various acclimatized flowers indigenous to the Southern Hemisphere; improved varieties; and acclimatized native wild flowers that have commercial potential.

During the last few years flowers of the geophyte section constitute a bigger part of the total production of cut flowers.

Many new varieties have been developed to suit the changing demands of the world markets, ranging from fragrant, colorful and fruit-bearing branches to flowers that are considered environment-friendly. Israeli flower growers have been complying with EurepGAP (European Retailers’ Protocol for Good Agricultural Practices) projects to promote flower production with the smallest possible harm to man and environment. Recently the growers have considered joining the MPS standard, developed in Holland.

Seasonal Production Originally, emphasis was placed on developing growing methods for winter flower production, through greenhouse and climate-control technologies. Today, some 60% of all flower produce is grown year-round in advanced, computerized greenhouses and other accomplishing technologies.

Direct Marketing The flower sector is based mainly on direct contacts between the local growers and their regular customers abroad. Most of the flowers are sold directly by Israeli growers to auctions in Western Europe. Other smaller markets are the USA and Eastern Europe.

Minor quantities are exported to Asian countries, mainly Japan.

The largest Israeli expor ter of fresh agricultural produce - Agrexco (a company formerly owned jointly by the government and farmers) was sold to a private entrepreneur, while several other exporters of fresh produce increased their volume at the expense of Agrexco’s previous share. The chain of post-harvest handling and storage – from picking until delivery to the end-user in Europe – is strictly kept, in order to guarantee the highest standards of quality and reliability.

In the past most flowers and ornamentals, which are perishable products, were shipped from Israel to Europe by cargo planes on regularly scheduled flights. This has been gradually changed to reduce costs.

Following improved post-harvest practices and logistics, sea shipment has become a feasible alternative.

Online Information Using email and the Internet as a regular communication channel and data source, growers rely on it for decision making both for marketing and production. When the flowers are ready for marketing the grower may make use of his own data to channel the flowers to the right destination. Upon entering several details relating to quantities

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and qualities of the available products, in return the grower receives relevant market information that is essential for actual decision making. Moreover, online information is available to the grower throughout the production cycle.

The Extension Service website includes economic information on flower production and handling instructions, and guidelines on disease prevention, pest control, fertilization, and processing, as well as information about planned field days, study days and courses.

Plants, Propagation Material and Flower Bulbs Israel expor ts a variety of ornamental plants and propagation material, including cuttings, seedlings for the home garden, cut flowers, pot plants, tissue culture material, bulbs, corms and seeds. Exports of these products are constantly on the increase due to rising demands for high quality products, with Israeli producers having the know-how to meet the high standards required by European and American customers. Israel also produces a wide range of flower bulbs, many of which are unique to the country.

The bulbs are used for cut flowers, as well as for garden and pot plants. In addition to propagation material, Israel exports a wide variety of pot plants as a finished product (see Table 2).

Table 1: Total quantity of exported cut flowers in 2011 Variety Wax Flowers Gypsophila Ruscus Aralia Pittosporum Aspidistra Solidago Anemone Ranunculus Others Total

Total Exported stemsX1000 52,612 71,719 123,957 68,344 61,128 40,498 23,940 61,038 41,217 786,325 786,325

Table 2: Total quantity of exported plants and propagation material in 2011 Product

Quantity X 1000

Cuttings Bulbs Plants

405,700 43,840 3,980

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Dairy Cattle The Israeli Herd-book The Israeli Herd-book, managed by the Israel Cattle Breeders’ Association (ICBA), is a computerized databank allowing users to trace milk yield, content and quality, as well as the genealogy, fertility, and health data of every cow in the country.

In 2010, dairy and beef herds accounted for 14.5% of Israel’s total agricultural production: 10% from milk and dair y products and 4.5% from beef products.

The dairy sector supplies more than 80% of the country’s dairy requirements, with production potential greatly exceeding domestic needs. Production is regulated by a planning and quota policy, which is currently undergoing structural changes, with emphasis on environmental aspects.

Israel’s dairy industry faces the challenge of meeting the demand for milk and dairy products in a country whose population has increased ten-fold since its establishment in 1948.

Milk consumption per capita totals 180 liters per year. According to figures published by the Israel Dairy Board (Production and Marketing), average milk yield per cow has increased two and half times since the 1950s, from 3,900 kg annually to 11,448 kg in 2010.The percentage of fat and protein rose sharply over the years to 3.66% fat content and 3.24% protein content by 2010. The annual fat and protein yield per cow in Israel is the highest in the world (over 765 kg).

Israel’s dairy product and technology exports include advanced and computerized milking

and feeding systems, cow-cooling systems (designed for heat-stress relief during harsh, hot and humid summers), as well as milk processing equipment (such as mini-dairies), consultancy, and joint international project development.

Israeli-Holstein genetic sources have the potential for better adaptation and performance under hot climatic conditions, a fact that makes impor t of cows and frozen semen from Israel very attractive to countries with similar conditions.

The achievements of Israel’s dairy sector have been made possible by the development of an efficient system, an integrative approach, and a combination of additional factors, including:

Breeding By and large, Israel’s dair y herd is genetically made up of Israeli-Holstein cows, characterized by their adaptability to harsh and varied climatic conditions.

Most Israeli herds are included in the Herd-book progeny test, and the majority of the cows are inseminated with semen collected and processed from Israeli sires.

Israel has the potential to export high quality semen, mainly to regions with harsh climatic conditions.

Feeding Israel has zero-grazing for dairy cows (and some for beef cattle); hence, most of the dairy herd’s nutrition is based on a total mixed ration (TMR). The milk-cow TMR contains 33% - 35% of forages (OM basis; mainly wheat silage); the rest is concentrates (grain and meals) and by-products. Some 65% of the Israeli dairy-herd-TMRs are produced in regional feed centers and delivered to herds in the area.The relatively high proportion of agricultural and industrial by-products in the diet of Israeli cows lowers

Israel milk recording data: milk and milk solids production from 1995 to 2010 (kg/cow/year) 12,500

440 420

12,000

400 11,500

380 360

11,000

340 10,500

320

10,000

300 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Fat (kg)

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Protein (kg)

Milk (kg)

feeding costs and reduces environmental contamination. In order to facilitate feed processing and reduce overloading, special machinery, such as mobile and self-propelled wagons, has been developed.

Technologies Israel’s dairy industry employs locallydeveloped advanced technologies that have changed the industry through automation, facilitating strict controls. This eases the workload and ensures that operations comply with prescribed standards and are highly profitable. For example, a flowmeter is attached to the milking equipment, automatically measuring the milk flow and milking duration. It is also used as a means of early detection of mastitis and udder infection by measuring milk conductivity. A tag containing an ‘activity-meter’ is used to identify the cow and transmit the information to the computer regarding the cow’s general activity, detecting sick cows as well as those in estrus. Other recently developed tags have the ability to detect daily rumination­ duration and lying-duration, supplying information about a cow’s nutritional and welfare status.

Linear programming software developed in Israel assists in formulating the lowest cost rations for optimized feeding and production programs. A feed controller, a mobile unit

attached to the mixing wagon which stores group-feeding data, is used to download the data to the main computer. The data are also linked to the herd management software to generate intake reports per head or group.

Cooling systems developed in Israel are used in most dairy herds, helping to maintain relatively high production and fertility levels in the summer, and to reduce production seasonality.

Milk Processing After milking, the milk is subjected to laboratory and quality testing. It is then pasteurized, following which it can be used in the manufacture of butter, yogurt, cheese and other dairy products by fully automated systems. Israel offers consumers a wide range of over 1,000 dairy products.

Beef Israel’s dairy herds supply 45% of the country’s demand for fresh red meat. The rest of local market demand is met by beef breed herds located in grazing areas and by young bulls imported for local fattening.

The Structure of Dair y Farming Production Dairy farms are located on Kibbutzim (collective farms) accounting for almost 60% of national production and on Moshavim (cooperative family farms) accounting for almost 40% of national production. Family dairy farms average 74 milking cows per farm, while the kibbutz average is 391 milking cows per dairy herd.

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Planning Dairy farming is subject to production quotas set by the Dairy Board; prices are controlled by the Government. According to special Governmental regulations, no dairy farm is allowed to produce or market unprocessed milk. This helps maintain the balance between supply and demand in the sector, while allowing continued growth and reasonable profitability.

Poultry

Israel’s poultry sector accounts for almost one-fifth of the country’s total agricultural output. Per capita consumption of broiler and turkey meat and eggs is among the highest in the world. In addition, ostriches are raised for leather and meat, primarily for export.

About 1.8 billion table eggs, 430,000 tons of broiler meat and 92,000 tons of turkey meat are produced each year. Hot climate conditions in Israel necessitated the development of highly productive, diseaseresistant poultry breeds.

Characterized by excellent feed conversion rates, a rapid growth rate, high egg production (an average of 250 eggs per layer per year) and low-fat meat, local strains of chicken are widely exported, particularly to countries with exceptionally hot climates.

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The raising and breeding of broiler chickens is the most prominent sector of Israel›s poultry industry, accounting for more than 60 percent of poultry output. Breeder and broiler farms, as well as meat processing plants, are fully automated, rendering annual meat yields of 210 kg per square meter of broiler house. Egg production includes, inter alia, organic and omega-3 enriched products as well as eggs from free-range chickens.

Israel is the world’s largest per capita consumer of turkey meat. A wide array of processed turkey products are also expor ted, mainly to Western Europe.

Extensive automation, strict hygienic conditions, and development of diseaseresistant breeds contribute significantly to high meat production.

Technology plays a key role in Israel’s poultry industry. Equipment has been developed in Israel to improve production and efficiency.

One example is an automatic egg collector that cuts man hours in half compared with manual collection.

Other innovations include a unique drinking system and durable plastic slat flooring to enhance hygienic conditions and improve flock health. Sophisticated control systems have been developed to maintain optimal levels of humidity, heat, lighting, feed and ventilation in henhouses around the clock.

Wall and ceiling insulation effectively blocks 95% of solar radiation. Special lighting systems save up to 80% in electricity costs.

An automated weighing system provides early detection of disease and monitors optimal weight, while computerized feed dispensers monitor control food quantities.

R&D has also led to the development of a monochromatic red light that stimulates laying productivity.

Other areas of research deal with in-embryo chicken development. Israeli researchers found that early feeding in the embryo stage improves broiler growth. They also found that manipulation of the temperature to which the embryo is exposed in the hatchery can reduce the impact of heat stress on the broiler.

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Aquaculture

Fish culture in Israel, started about 70 years ago, is practiced mainly in inland aquaculture.

The leading species are freshwater fish – tilapias, common carp and grey mullet – constituting together some 95% of total production. Israel is the most northern country in the world where tilapias are cultured in open systems. However, this necessitated the development of technologies to cope with the low winter temperatures. In addition, a few farms also produce grass carp, silver carp, black carp, hybrid striped bass, barramundi, rainbow trout, sturgeon and African catfish. Aside from these edible species, the industry produces a variety of coldwater and tropical ornamental fish. During the last two decades a mariculture branch has been developed,

focusing on culture of Gilthead Sea-Bream in a few cage farms off the Mediterranean coast.

of water, both agriculture and aquaculture succeeded in developing into thriving industries.

Inland Aquaculture Despite being territorially small, Israel has diverse climate conditions. Most of the country is semi-arid, with a distinct short winter (wet and cold) season and a long summer (dry and hot) season.The average rainfall is relatively low, around 500 mm, with a large variation between 900 mm in the Upper Galilee to less than 100 mm in the southern desert named Arava.

Israel has been facing chronic water shortage for many decades. In spite of the obvious climatic constraints and overall shortage

In order to cope with these impediments, different solutions and methods aimed at maximizing water use and enabling the production of fresh edible fish have been developed, including: • Reservoirs to store rainwater during the wet season; many of which are used for fish culture in integrated farming systems.

• Large-scale recirculating systems, in which water from outdoor fish ponds, raceways and tanks, is passed into sediment ponds to remove the solids.

• Highly-intensive recirculating systems that incorporate water filtration devices, such as drum filters, biological filters, protein skimmers and oxygen injection systems.

• Greenhouse technology was adopted from desert vegetable and flower agriculture and includes environmental control, i.e. humidity, temperature, light and radiation.

These conditions are important in arid areas, which have large temperature changes between day and night and summer and winter.

The Israeli Aquaculture by Sources

Number of farms 40 Total Area 2000 ha Annual Production 20000 ton

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Aquaculture activities in reservoirs began in the late 1970s. A typical reservoir has 8-20 ha of surface area, a depth of 5-14m, and holds 500,000-1,000,000 m3 of water.

Fish can be successfully reared in irrigation reservoirs; however, without appropriate facilities or technology to harvest them, there is no biological or economical meaning to this culture system. In early reservoirs, small earthen ponds located next to the reservoir were used for harvesting the fish.

An outlet pipe installed at the deep end of the reservoir drained the fish along with water left over at the end of the season.

Mariculture The Israeli mariculture sector grows fish in either land-based or off-shore farms. The expansion of this sector is limited by low availability of suitable sites for land-based farms, and by the rough conditions in the eastern Mediterranean. The main product (98%) of Israeli mariculture is Gilthead Sea-Bream. Marine fish hatcheries produce around 15 million fingerlings annually.

Research and Development (R&D) The Ministr y of Agriculture & Rural Development operates four R&D units supporting inland aquaculture, and a few others are operated by universities and research institutes. Mariculture research is mainly done at the National Center for Mariculture in Eilat.

The major research topics include: Nutrition and feed ingredients, health aspects, genetics and biotechnology, management and culture technologies, environmental issues, and introduction of new species.

Fish Species

The quantities of fish drained into the harvesting concrete tank were determined according to the daily handling capacity of the crew, say 20 tons. From there the fish are elevated to grading tables, sorted by size and species, counted and weighed and transferred in tanks to separate holding ponds.This method made Israeli fish-farmers very efficient, and the reservoirs have the world’s best ratio of output to production area – 20 t/ha.

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Beekeeping strains, in an attempt to moderate its temperament. Today the most common bees in Israel are the Italian Bees, which were imported from the USA. The Italian bee is generally non-aggressive and is considered a good honey producer. A long-term breeding program aims to produce docile bees, which are relatively easy to manage and produce a good honey crop.The present Italian Bees are tolerant to the most damaging bee pest, Varroa destructor, the main enemy of honey bees anywhere.

The Old Testament tells us that Israel is the Land of Milk and Honey. Indeed, traditional log hives, found in archaeological excavations in Tel-Rehov in the Beit- Shean valley, were dated as being 3000 years old.

The diverse geographical zones in Israel enable beekeepers to produce many types of honey originating from typical sources of nectar.

In the small state of Israel, there are about 500 beekeepers, with over 100,000 Langstroth beehives that produce more than 3,200 tons of honey annually. Nearly 75% of these hives are in large commercial apiaries, with hundreds and even thousands of hives.This factor - in distinct contrast to most developed countries where largescale commercial beekeeping is only a small fraction of the overall beekeeping industry - has undoubtedly contributed to high standards of modern beekeeping and apiary management in Israel.

Due to shortage of natural pasture in Israel the availability of nectar-rich crops is limited.

This has been further aggravated by rapid urbanization and the uprooting of orange groves and roadside eucalyptus trees, both of which used to be primary nectar sources for honey production. Consequently, beekeepers had to adopt advanced and efficient beekeeping methods, including mechanization and breeding, in order to increase honey yield, resulting in average annual honey production of 40 kg per hive.

Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, together with the Honey Marketing Board, have been involved in a large-scale project to increase the availability of nectar and pollen by planting trees and bushes. The intention is to enrich the potential of nectar by planting primary nectar-source trees along the highways, railways and uncultivated land all over the country.

Economically speaking, honey production is a relatively marginal part of the significance of beekeeping; its major importance lies in the pollination of various crops, which would otherwise be futile since they are pollinated exclusively or primarily by the honeybee.

The Israeli bee, originally bred from selected local stock, Apis Mellifera Syriaca, is relatively defensive (aggressive) and is difficult to work with in modern apiaries. Over the years, this bee has been crossbred with introduced

Honey Production Israel produces about 3,200 tons of honey annually, with the yield per hive varying from 20-30 kg for small-scale beekeepers to 50-60 kg for large commercial apiaries.

(The difference is based on the fact that commercial beekeepers migrate their hives 3-4 times a year to different bee pastures.) In the past, 40% of Israeli honey was produced from citrus blossoms. Today however, due to the uprooting of citrus groves and changes of citrus cultivars, it is difficult to produce a typical citrus honey. Most of the Israeli honey is usually produced from a wide variety of wild flowers, herbs, thistles, eucalyptus trees, orchards and legumes.

Local annual honey consumption amounts to 4,000 tons, and the annual turnover is about $15 million.

Pollination One of the most important aspects of beekeeping is the use of bees as indispensable pollinators for many agricultural crops such as avocadoes, almonds, apples and plums, melons, cucumbers, sunflowers, strawberries, winter vegetables and many seed crops.

Distribution of Bee Farms According to Size More than 501 hives: 10% of beekeepers

Mor than 151-500 Hives: 17% of beekeepers

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Up to 150 hives: 73% of beekeepers

Many crops depend exclusively on the honeybee for their pollination and others obtain up to 30% increased yields by using bees. Over 100,000 hives are hired annually for pollination service in those crops. The annual turnover of the beekeepers through the pollination service is about $6 million.

In practice, however, the commercial value of pollination is estimated as $480 million, in terms of its overall impact on Israeli agricultural produce.

The beekeeping industry, as well as many crops and natural vegetation, has been facing an ever-growing concern due to CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder) and the disappearance of bees from nature and the beehives. In Israel most feral honeybee colonies vanished, chiefly as a consequence of a Varroa destructor invasion in 1984.

The beehives were however treated with appropriate acaracides against the Varroa mites, and therefore they were much less susceptible to damage.

The Department of Beekeeping in the Agricultural Extension Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Trains and advises beekeepers, helps to solve problems in the field, transmits new research and information, and participates in new field trials and the development of new breeds.

The Veterinary Services Responsible for controlling bee diseases, bee pests and for regulations concerning the import and export of bee and apiary products.

The Triwaks Bee Research Center at the Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, conducts research and courses for students and beekeepers.

Apiary Products In addition to the honey itself and pollination services, the beekeeping industry produces several other products on a smaller scale.

These products include beeswax used mainly for handmade candles and the construction of honeycomb foundations and royal jelly, pollen, propolis and bee venom, which are used as therapeutic ingredients, mainly in alternative medicine.

Organization of the Beekeeping Sector The industry is organized and administered by a number of institutions:

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The Israel Beekeepers’ Association Represents the beekeepers in various forums; super vises modernization of beekeeping equipment; maintain contact with beekeeping organizations around the world.

The Israel Honey Board Responsible for the registration of beekeepers, allotment of pasture and crop areas and supervision of honey marketing channels.

The Council of Directors Composed of a representative of each of the aforementioned organizations; responsible for coordinating the various activities in the branch.

Sheep and Goats

Sheep and goat production for milk and meat is one of Israel’s oldest agricultural branches. Today, some 2,400 families raise sheep and goats under a wide range of production systems: from extensive, traditional, semi-nomadic and transhumant flocks to the intensive, zero-grazing dairy and meat units of the Moshav (cooperative family farms), Kibbutz (collective farms), and other farms in various parts of the country.

The evolution of the Israeli sheep sector is a good example of how modern technology has been integrated into a traditional farming system through research and extension.

Local Awassi Sheep The native breed in Israel is the fat tail Awassi, known for its adaptability to the harsh local conditions. The Awassi is the most common sheep breed in southwest Asia.

Some 180,000 Awassi sheep are kept under semi-extensive conditions by Bedouin in the Negev desert in the southern part of the country, mainly for lamb meat production.

The Awassi is a seasonal breed and in most cases the Awassi ewe lambs once a year, in the spring. The prolificacy of the local Awassi is somewhat low, one lamb per lambing.

Improved Awassi Sheep The improved Awassi, known for its remarkable high milk yield, has been developed from the local Awassi.This high milk yield has been achieved through an ongoing selection process over a period of sixty years. The improved Awassi is larger than the local Awassi. Under intensive conditions, the improved Awassi produces an average of 550 liters of milk per lactation.

Improved Awassi sheep from the Kibbutz Ein Harod flock have been exported to several countries in Asia, Africa and Europe.

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Assaf Sheep The Assaf breed is the result of a crossbreeding program initiated in 1955 between the improved Israeli Awassi and the German East Friesian breed. Both breeds are known for their high milk yields.

The average milk yield of the Assaf under intensive management conditions can reach 450 liters per lactation, with an average prolificacy of 1.6 lambs per lambing. Other traits that characterize the half fat tail Assaf breed are its large body (a ram can weigh as much as 120 kg), relatively short anestrous period and the lambs’ excellent growth ability. Today, the Assaf population in Israel is about 40,000 breeding ewes. Assaf sheep have been exported to several countries, including Jordan, Portugal and Spain.

Afec Awassi and Afec Assaf Sheep Recently, more profitable and prolific strains of improved Awassi and Assaf have been developed in Israel by introducing the Booroola gene into these breeds. The prolificacy of the new strains, Afec Awassi and Afec Assaf, is more than two lambs per lambing.

Meat Production The demand for sheep and goat meat increases during the holiday seasons. Some 500,000 lambs are slaughtered for meat annually, with a live weight of 29,800 tons and carcass weight of 15,000 tons. Some 86,500 kids are slaughtered for meat, with a live weight of 2,600 tons and carcass weight of 1,270 tons.

Saanen Goats Saanen goats, known for their high milk yields, were imported from Europe and found to adapt to the local conditions.

Saanen goats are raised under intensive conditions and have excellent milk yields, with an average annual yield of 750 liters per doe. Saanen goats are also known for their ability to reproduce an average of two kids per kidding.

Milk Production Approximately 17 million kg of sheep milk and 23 million kg of goat milk are produced annually. The milk is used for a range of cheese and yoghurt products. Due to their high quality and hygienic properties, sheep and goat-cheeses are exported, mainly to the United States.

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Israel’s Agriculture

In cooperation with:

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

29 Hamered St., Tel Aviv 68125, Israel, Tel: +972-3-514-2830, Fax: +972-3-514-2902, www.export.gov.il