Agro-Technology
Israel is one of the most
densely populated countries in the world,
and yet only 20% of the land is arable - and
half of that has to be irrigated. More than
half of Israel is arid or semi-arid, and the
rest of the country is dominated by steep
hillsides and forests. Yet thanks to cutting-edge
technology, Israel not only produces most
of its own food, but also exports $1.3 billion
worth of agricultural produce annually. This
includes farm products as well as some $1.2
billion worth of agricultural inputs and technology
sold overseas every year.
Because Israeli farmers and scientists have had to contend
with a difficult environment and limited water resources,
their experience is especially relevant to the developing
world. Development of greenhouse equipment, seed and livestock
propagation, fertilizers and pesticides have enabled Israeli agriculture to prosper in adversity. In addition, farmers have learned
to develop high value-added and innovative farm products
that enable them to compete in markets with lower-cost producers. Water management,
recycling, desalination and transportation in the National
Water Carrier have enabled the country to overcome drastic
shortages.
Every three years, the country's accomplishments
are showcased in the national Agritech exhibition;
in September 1999, the exhibition drew a record
9,000 overseas visitors from more than 100
countries.
World Hunger
Every week thousands of pounds of food worldwide go to waste due to spoilage before they even make it onto people's tables. Fruit, vegitables, and other products have a limited shelf-life and if they cannot be distributed in a timely manner, they will go to waste. Israeli company Pimi Agro is working to stop world hunger by developing ways to make these perishable foods last longer. Through an all natural, zero chemical process using hydrogen peroxide and "a few key additions", Pimi Agro has been able to develop fruit and vegitables that are viable and stay ripe for over 10 weeks. The solution developed was proven to be 15 times more effective at preserving perishable fruits and vegitables than any other preservation solution currently available, yielding 50% more market available citrus and onions during tests. Pimi Agro has been developing this method since the late 1990's and it has already been approved by the EPA and the EU as safe for consumption. The company has been working with Wal-Mart, Pepsico, Frito Lay, and other large food conglomerates to bring their products to international markets. This innovation will also lead to more sustainable farming practices, as farmers lose less of their crops to rot and therefore use less fertilizer, irrigation water, and seeds.
In other efforts to extend the shelf-life of perishable vegetables without refridgeration, Rivka Elbaum, from the Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture at Hebrew University, has developed a secret formula that prevents chlorophyll loss in lettuce leaves. The system involves dipping the desired food in a secret solution that has been patented and approved in Israel and North America. Elbaum said that one small application is enough to keep lettuce leaves fresh for a month without refridgeration , and she envisioned the solution being used in supermarkets to mist the vegetables instead of using water.
Water Problems and Possibilities
Israel has striking rainfall inequalities.
While the north of the country enjoys a relatively
generous rainfall of 700 millimeters each
year, the central region receives only 400-600
millimeters and the south sees a meager 25
millimeters annually. The National Water Carrier,
which transports water from north to south,
has helped to remedy these regional imbalances.
Beyond transportation, Israel has developed
effective solutions for the dearth of water
in some areas. Efficient water management
has increased agricultural output 12-fold
during the past 50 years, while water consumption
has remained constant through rigorous maintenance
of infrastructure, replenishing of aquifers
and the allocation of appropriate quotas and
pricing to discourage wasteful consumption.
The use of recycled water has provided another
solution. Out of 1.1 billion cubic meters
of water used for agriculture in 1998, approximately
250 million cubic meters were recycled effluents.
The Water Commission forecasts that by 2010
one third of all crops will be irrigated with
"cleaned" water. Twenty-four desalination
plants in Eilat, the Dead Sea region and the
Arava Desert supply another 161 million cubic
meters of irrigation water each year.
Another 70 million cubic meters of water
are generated annually from underground sources;
geothermal waters found beneath the surface
of the Negev desert are also used. Farmers
have found that salt water produces "sweeter"
crops than regular water. "Desert sweet"
tomatoes and melons, for instance, fetch premium
prices on European markets.
Cloud seeding (injecting clouds with iodine
to increase the percentage of water that each
cloud yields) has proven effective. Exploration
(using sophisticated seismological techniques),
prevention of pollution, soil conservation
and drainage have all maximized water use.
Landscaping to redirect floodwaters, computerized
calculations to chart routes of runoff water
and the strategic placement of trees and crops
have also prevented desertification
Every Drop Counts
Perhaps the most innovative development in
water utilization has been drip irrigation,
conceived in Israel some 35 years ago. Today,
networks of plastic pipes with small openings
for each plant or tree are strategically placed
across fields. Via the drippers, controlled
amounts of fertilizer can be pumped through
the irrigation pipes to the plants –
a system known as "fertigation".
Traditionally, drip irrigation has been used
in regions where water is scarce, but it has
also been effective where rainfall is high
because of its precision. For example, experiments
in Northern California in "precision"
irrigation caused some types of tree to grow
three times faster. Fast-growing trees can
increase profits for timber growers and at
the same time minimize environmental damage
by reducing the number of trees that need
to be felled.
Half a dozen Israeli companies sell plastic
piping and a full range of accessories for
drip irrigation. Many also specialize in designing
customized irrigation systems for gardens,
parks, farms and entire regions, installing
them and then providing consultation and maintenance.
Exports of irrigation equipment totaled almost
$300 million in 1998.
Other types of irrigation include: pressure
irrigation methods; buried irrigation, which
prevents infiltration by tiny roots; spray
irrigation, which is suitable for orchards;
and sprinklers used for entire fields. These
systems can be very simple or high-tech. Options
range from the basic turn on/off variety with
volume clocks, to more sophisticated computerized
systems, which include sensors to monitor
the moisture level of the soil and check changes
in the diameter of the stem or fruit. Other
accessories include filter traps to sweep
dirt away and low flow drip emitters for soil-less
media in greenhouses. Minute or ultra-low-rate
(ULR) irrigation methods have been developed
to apply water at rates of less than one millimeter
per hour.
Israeli agricultural technology firm AutoAgronom placed in the final 25 in 2014's Massachusetts based MassChallenge, the largest startup contest in the world. 2014's MassChallenge awarded over $1.75 million in grants and over $10 million in other prizes to startup technology companies around the world, and AutoAgronom was the only agricultural technology firm in the contest. AutoAgronom produces advanced drip-irrigation systems with smart technology and sensors to help farmers significantly cut down on water use. The company is also pioneering a process known as fertigation (fertilization + irrigation), in which sensors are attached to plant roots and the surrounding soil that analyze soil conditions, weather, water, and nutrient levels. After conducting this analysis, the system uses computer algorithms to determine when and how much water, fertilizer, and pest control to deliver to the individual plants for maximum growth. Farmers in the United Kingdom who have been using AutoAgronom's system have been able to cut down their water usage by 30% while increasing crop yields by 28% and decreasing pesticide use by 70%. As of November 2014 AutoAgronom's smart-drip fertigation system has been implimented in 13 countries and used with 70 different types of crops.
Bugs at Bay
Plagues of insects, fungi and weeds beset
farmers worldwide, and Israeli companies have
developed a range of pesticides and herbicides
as well as non-chemical and biological control
methods. Israel is home to the world's largest
producer of generic agro-chemicals. In 1999,
Israel exported over $117 million worth of
these pesticides and growth regulators.
Manufacturers produce large quantities of
methyl bromide and formaline for disinfecting
the soil. Environmentally friendly detergents,
which coat leaves, have been developed to
create a physical barrier between the parasite
and the leaf without harming the leaf. Fungicides
to prevent rotting in grapes as well as chemicals
to combat pests in citrus fruit and powdery
mildew in groves and vineyards are also produced.
Other recent developments include a defoliant
for cotton and herbicides for early treatment
of weeds.
With environmental protection in mind, biological
pesticides have been developed. Natural predators,
which wipe out a particular pest without damaging
the crop itself, are also cultivated. One
kibbutz breeds tiny spiders, which prey on
mites that can destroy strawberries, and exports
them by the million to California. A Jerusalem-based
biotechnology company developed fungi designed
to attack powdery mildew, and bacteria to
destroy moths. Another company developed a
polyethylene film, which acts as an insect
repellent by blocking ultra-violet rays.
Helping Farmers
Asian prawn-farmers have begun to look to Israeli research and technology to increase their profits and do better business. Male prawns are up to 60% larger than their female counterparts, and by injecting female prawns with a molecule that “silences” certain genes Israeli scientists have helped Asian farmers develop entire male populations of prawn. The farmers then enjoy increased profits selling their larger prawns for higher prices than smaller female ones. Female prawns are injected with the solution in Israel and then shipped to processing plants in India, China, and Vietnam.
The Dead Sea region, which provides bromine
for pesticides, is also rich in potassium,
phosphor and magnesium, which are ingredients
for agricultural fertilizers. Israel exports
both ready-to-use fertilizers and raw materials
to manufacture fertilizer worldwide.
Foliage fertilizers from potassium phosphate,
potassium sulfide and nitrogen potassium phosphate
are manufactured locally. Israel is also one
of the world's largest producers of potassium
nitrate, a highly soluble fertilizer suitable
for a variety of plants and crops. Two additional
highly soluble fertilizers, mono-ammonium
phosphate and mono-potassium phosphate, are
also produced.
Fertigation has led to the development of
a new generation of soluble fertilizers for
injection into irrigation systems. Basic chemicals
such as nitrogen or ammoniac nitrogen with
trace elements of iron, quartz, manganese
and copper, which enrich the soil and enhance
the growth of plants, have been combined to
develop soluble fertilizers.
In January 2016 Israeli company Doral Energy, in coordination with Kibbutz Lahav, announced a project to build a facility that generates energy from organic waste matter. The project will be constructed on Kibbutz Lahav property, and will convert organic waste from Lahav and other nearby Kibbutzim into usable biofuel products.
Greenhouses for Hot Climates
Invented by the Dutch for cooler climes in
Northern Europe, the greenhouse has been adapted
by Israel for use in arid regions. Some 3,000
hectares of greenhouse cultivation enable
farmers to overcome restrictions imposed by
soil quality, arid climate and limited water
supply.
Greenhouses can be erected in places where
the soil is unsuitable. Irrigation systems
overcome the problem of water scarcity, and
curtains and skylights can be regulated to
filter out or admit sunlight and provide temperature
control. Plastic covering provides for thermal
disinfecting of the soil prior to planting,
covers the soil for heat collection, prevents
growth of weeds and pests, and minimizes evaporation
and the escape of fertilizers. Netting above
the plants can keep out scales, mites and
other pests while more sophisticated netting
can act as a thermal screen, cooling plants
during the day and keeping them warm at night.
Fogging systems can be used for climate control.
All these systems can be operated by computer
programs designed to generate a micro-environment
on the cutting edge of 21st-century farming.
Several Israeli companies manufacture and
export woven high-tech plastic sheeting and
specialize in custom greenhouse projects,
including consultation, installation and maintenance.
Because of the high initial investment, greenhouses
are best suited for high value-added crops
such as vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants
and spices, and for intensive farming. Israeli
greenhouses, for instance, average three million
roses per hectare and yield an average of
300 tons of tomatoes per hectare each season.
Best of the Breed
Israeli scientists have developed seed varieties
that are resistant to disease, provide higher
and better-quality yields with less water
even in hot climates, and produce food with
a longer shelf life. In 1998, Israel exported
over $35 million worth of such seeds.
The process of developing a new seed can
take five years or more, but the latest biotechnological
methods have reduced this time by 20%. Recent
innovations include a variety of hybrid cotton
with longer, stronger fibers, which gives
a higher yield while requiring less water;
some varieties are grown in natural colors
of brown or green.
Sophisticated methods of crossbreeding have
developed seeds that minimize the need for
fertilizers and pesticides, producing high
added-value crops, e.g., cherry tomatoes,
greenhouse tomatoes and Galia melons. Seedless,
cantaloupe-sized and black-skinned watermelons
as well as saucer-shaped zucchini are profitable
new developments.
In an effort to develop the most appropriate
animals for the Middle East's hot and arid
climate, Israeli breeders have found that
the European Holstein cow adapts well. It
boasts very high milk yields that are rich
in protein and fat. The Holsteins' output
has been aided by computerized feeding and
milking systems, enabling the local dairy
and beef industry to supply most local needs.
The emphasis in poultry breeding has been
on disease-resistant chickens and turkeys
that can survive in extreme heat. Israeli
layers have among the world's highest annual
egg output at some 280 per bird. In addition,
195,000 tons of chicken and 121,000 tons of
turkey meat are produced each year. Israel
is also the second-largest breeder of ostriches
in the world after South Africa, but the meat,
which is not kosher, is exported. Israeli
foie gras is of such high quality that it
is exported even to France.
Breeders have also been successful in developing
improved strains of sheep and goats, which
are especially important in the Arab and Bedouin
sectors as a source of milk and meat. The
hybrid Awassi sheep is larger, woollier, has
higher milk yields and can be raised in arid,
semi-arid and sub-tropical climates. The Assaf
sheep is a cross between the Awassi and the
German Friesian and has improved milk and
meat production; most importantly, the Assaf
has three lambings every two years, which
is 50% higher than in regular Awassis. Male
Saanen goats imported from Europe and crossbred
with the local Mamber breed produce a high
milk yield goat. Israeli breeders can supply
reproductive material (frozen semen and embryos)
from improved breeds of sheep and goats that
are especially suitable for arid regions of
Asia, Africa and America.
Israel is also a world leader in fish breeding.
Fish are bred in small ponds, which produce
up to 500 kilograms of fish per cubic meter
of water annually. Innovative re-circulation
systems enable water in these super-intensive
farms to be recycled.
While the rest of the world's honeybee populations suffered major losses during the early 2000's, Israel's 500 beekeepers were able to keep their 110,000 hives happy and producing honey by controlling their diets. According to Israeli agricultural experts, eucalyptus and winter-flowering trees planted around the country by Keren Kayameth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) provide thorough nourishment for the bees year-round, keeping them healthy and producing high-quality honey. Israel's Honey Board coordinates with local organizations like the KKL-JNF, to keep Israel lush and green and at the same time provide food for honeybees. The bees also feed on orange, plum, avocado, and carob trees.
Upgrading Global Agriculture
Eighty percent of farms are owned and run
by kibbutzim (collective villages) and moshavim
(cooperative villages). The remaining 20%
are mainly citrus groves in the center of
the country owned by large private companies.
Kibbutzim often develop, design, manufacture
and market their own agro-technology inputs.
Drip irrigation was developed in a kibbutz
and all major manufacturers of the equipment
are kibbutz-based.
These farmers work closely with the country's
ten agricultural research institutes, including
the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO)
and the Hebrew University's Faculty of Agriculture
in Rehovot. Twenty-five professional and marketing
associations also fund R&D, as do various
government bodies and hundreds of private
firms in the biotechnology and computer software
sectors.
Manufacturers of agro-technological inputs
and their customers increasingly realize that
their products are most effective when accompanied
by professional services. Drip irrigation
systems and greenhouses are more productive
when the infrastructure is custom designed,
installed and later maintained to meet a customer's
specific needs. Productivity of fertilizers,
pesticides and genetically developed seeds
and livestock can be maximized by consultation
with professionals.
Experts are now specializing in upgrading
agricultural production for entire regions.
Companies take on turnkey projects that incorporate
more efficient water use, irrigation systems,
crop and seed choice. They also advise on
seasonal timing to fetch the best prices on
world markets, on choice of fertilizer and
pesticide to minimize environmental damage,
and on the selection of livestock. Farmers
of a particular region are then trained to
use their newly acquired technologies.
Sustainability
Israeli agro-technology, from irrigation
and efficient water management to fertilization
techniques and genetically improved seeds
and livestock, has dramatically improved local
yields, and could go a long way towards feeding
a hungry world.
Israeli professionals are currently planning
rural development projects in Thailand, the
Philippines and Brazil. In the Gap region
of Turkey, an area half the size of Israel,
experts are upgrading the province's agriculture
based on more efficient use of water from
the Tigris River. The key word in these projects
is sustainability. Companies stress that agro-technologies
must not only be appropriate for a particular
region or climate, but local farmers must
also be trained to use and maintain the systems
they purchase.
A Few Good Ideas
Weighty Considerations
Poultry growers can ensure higher profits
by producing a flock of the same size and
weight. Scientists at Israel's Agricultural
Research Organization's department of environmental
engineering have developed a device that sorts
live fowl, enabling breeders to produce flocks
of uniform size. Birds are moved on a conveyor
belt fitted with sophisticated hooks which
hold the birds as they are weighed and sorted
by size via a precise electronic weighing
system. A small flag in one of four colors
attached to the hook indicates the bird's
weight. The chicks are removed manually from
the conveyor and placed in different pens
according to the flags. Up to 2,600 birds
an hour can be sorted in this manner, yielding
big savings and thus enabling the system to
pay for itself within 12 - 14 months.
Cutting Edge Technology
A range of manual pruners developed by Haifa-based
Easy Cut Ltd, for use in both commercial agriculture
and home gardening makes it easier to pick
delicate fruits, vegetables and flowers without
damaging them, thereby increasing output by
20-50%. Based on the bio-mechanics of the
human hand, the pruners have a lightweight
gripper mechanism that enables the picker
to hold a branch or fruit, without flattening
or crushing its stem. The gripper mechanism
can also be sold as an independent component,
and attached to ordinary pruning shears or
clippers. The pruners' designs vary according
to the type of fruit, quality and size being
cut, but all are designed to grip, cut and
harvest fruit using one hand. The pruners
also make it possible for the picked fruit
to be conveyed to the collecting mechanism
without hand contact. This is very important
for consumers in certain countries like Japan.
No More Bad Apples
Fruitonics Ltd. has unveiled a new automatic
fruit sorting system. While weight and color
may be judged automatically, until now quality
grading for blemishes has always had to be
done by hand. Optigrade II performs all these
functions simultaneously, comparing each piece
of fruit to an ideal image and charting its
variation from the ideal, according to thousands
of images. The system can detect blemishes
only a millimeter or two in size - hardly
visible to the naked eye. It not only looks
at the skin but can also detect brown spots
under the skin. It can even be taught to recognize
unique or unusual blemishes by using artificial
intelligence. Infrared and the latest sensing
technology sort up to 10 pieces of fruit per
second and the criteria for quality can be
adjusted to the type of market for which the
fruit is destined. Fruitonics claims that
the labor-saving system pays for itself in
less than two years.
Firm Understanding
Most apple, pear, kiwi and persimmon crops
are stored for long periods of time in controlled-atmosphere,
cold-storage rooms. Because the oxygen level
in these rooms is very low, it is difficult
to monitor the quality of the fruits. However,
Eshet Eilon of Kibbutz Eilon has recently
completed the development of a central, remote-controlled
system for monitoring the firmness of fruits
inside cold-storage rooms, based on acoustical
technology. In each room, a sample of fruits
is placed on small monitoring units containing
a small thumper and a piezo-electric sensor.
Computer analysis of the vibration created
inside the fruits by the tiny thumpers provides
a continuous, clear picture of the fruits'
firmness. The system can also monitor and
even control the ripening process of fruit
which was harvested while still green.
Sources: “Israel's first bio-waste power plant to be built,” Globes (December 31. 2015);
Lewis, Ori. “Prawn sex-change boosts male yields, say scientists,” Reuters, (October 19, 2015);
Shamah, David. “New solution to keep veggies fresh for a month, sans fridge,” Times of Israel (April 29, 2015);
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
Leichman, Abigail. “How Israel is Saving the Honeybees,” Jerusalem Post (October 17, 2016);
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