Israel's Cutting Edge Agriculture: Why Sub-Saharan African Countries Need to Partner with Israel

An article by By Alice Menichelli and Lauren Blanchard “By Improving Access To Basic Necessities, Israeli Technologies Transform Africa, Save Lives” (published at www.NoCamels.com) quotes Dr. Aliza Belman Inbal, director of the Pears Program for Global Innovation at Tel Aviv University, “Working with and for developing countries is an enormous moral and economic opportunity,” This Program works to increase Israel’s contribution to international development through technology-based solutions. According to the article, Dr. Inbal also stated that “Israeli startups are developing products that will have a meaningful impact on the people who need them the most.”

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Here are some of the Israeli cutting edge innovations noted in the article by Alice Menichelli and Lauren Blanchard.

1.Turning air into water: “Rishon LeTsiyon-based company Water-Gen has developed a new way to extract water molecules from thin air. The generators can ‘suck in’ water from the ambient air humidity and separate it from dust and dirt through unique air filters. One unit of this system produces 5 to 20 gallons a day of clean drinking water, even in very dry weather conditions. The company has also developed a battery-powered device that can purify lake water, generating up to 57-63 gallons of pure water per single battery.” These water-from-air generators were originally designed for the defense sector and “have recently been adapted to civilian use, with the aim of addressing the ongoing water shortage in developing countries. Such units could be used in locations where municipal water does not exist or is unsafe to drink.”

2.“IDE Technologies, the Israeli specialist in desalination facilities and industrial water treatment, is adapting its solutions to the African market. The company, which has already built desalination plants in Israel and in California, has developed special units powered by solar energy that have the potential to provide desalinated water to entire municipalities at a low cost.”

3.“Israeli designed GrainPro Cocoons, for example, are helping farmers to recoup post-harvesting losses, a problem that afflicts 50 percent of the crops in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most farmers in developing countries consume what they produce and store their crops in straw baskets or canvas bags, leaving them vulnerable to insects and mold. First developed by Prof. Shlomo Navarro, these large storage bags keep water and air out, and protect the grains from humidity and bacteria.”

4.“Another Israeli company, LivinGreen, provides inexpensive, self-sustaining and environmentally friendly hydroponics devices, which allow farmers to grow vegetables without the need of fertile soil. According to the company, a single unit can provide for a family of five; if chained together, multiple units can be enough for a whole village.”

Also, Israel is already working with countries like Southern Sudan to build model agricultural farms using breakthrough agricultural methods and technologies. http://www.israel21c.org/israel-to-build-model-farm-in-south-sudan/

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Below is an excerpt from a publication on Agriculture with Government Focal Points by Dr. Jorge Tarchitzky, Department of Soil and Water Division, Agricultural Extension Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Israel discusses Israel achievements in the area of agriculture.

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Original Information Source from: http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/israel/agriculture.pdf

Here’s is the published overview. For full text of this document click here:

“Israel’s agriculture is characterized by high technological level, pressure irrigation systems, automatic and controlled mechanization and high quality seeds and plants. Israel meets most of its food requirements through domestic production to produce over 5 million tons of field crops, 1.15 billion liters of milk, 1.6 billion eggs and 1.2 billion flowers for export (Ministry of Agriculture, 2006). The total area of arable land is 377,300 hectares with 78% under cultivation.

Water scarcity is the main limiting factor in Israeli agriculture and the country depends on irrigation to increase its crop yields; about 50% of the land is irrigated. Of the 1,129 million cubic meters (MCM) of water used by agriculture per year, some 30% of agricultural water is treated wastewater (TWW) for drip irrigation of orchards and non-food crops, while another 16% is saline water.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s is a key driver of plans supporting sustainable development and reducing environmental hazards stemming from agriculture, while on the other hand, positioning agriculture as an environmentally friendly solution for treated sewage.

Along with other government bodies, the Ministry is dedicated to increasing the efficient use of water and treated wastewater and promoting water recycling. Restructured pricing in the water sector provides incentive to farmers to utilize more treated wastewater. Next generation Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) is more suitable for treated wastewater and results in even more efficient water use and crop growth than surface drip irrigation methods. However, continued research is required to ensure the success of recycled water in agricultural production.

The Ministry is also dedicated to upgrading existing branches of agriculture, such as dairy and poultry farms to make to them more sustainable and less polluting. Biological pest control is being encouraged to reduce pesticide use. Despite the fact that Israel strengthened its efforts to address sustainable development processes, the risk of soil degradation and desertification is persistent there is a continuous need to promote soil conservation programs.

At the heart of the agricultural sector is the ability to wisely balance financial incentives, government regulation and free-market forces to improve the agricultural sector and make it more sustainable. In addition the unique climate of Israel has necessitated close collaboration between government institutions, scientists, farmers, and localized agricultural concerns in order to maximize the growth and sustainability of agricultural output in an area with limited natural resources.”