Agriculture in Israel

Agriculture in Israel is a highly developed industry, making the country a leader in fresh produce and advanced farming technologies. Even though much of southern Israel is desert, special methods are used to provide water for crops. The northern part of the country gets more rain, making it easier to grow food without as much extra water. About 30% of the land in Israel is used for farming, even though water can be hard to find.

In 2008, farming made up about 2.5% of Israel’s total economy and contributed to 3.6% of what the country sells to other places. While Israel grows a lot of food, it still needs to buy some things like grains, meat, and sugar from other countries. In 2021, Israel brought in much more money from buying food than it made from selling its own farm products.

Two special kinds of farming communities help shape agriculture in Israel: the kibbutz and the moshav. These communities began when Jews settled the land that became Israel and worked together to build farms in rural areas. By 2016, the kibbutzim alone provided around 40% of all the food produced in the country, showing how important these community farms are to Israel’s agriculture.

History

The growth of farming in Israel is closely linked to the Zionist movement and Jewish people moving to Ottoman Syria in the late 1800s. By 1900, Jewish people owned about 4% of the farmland in the area. They mostly bought land near the Mediterranean Sea, while Palestinian Arabs lived in the highlands and grew wheat and barley.

Farming near the coast needed work to drain swamps and fight a disease called malaria, but the soil was very rich. After many Arab Palestinians left or were forced off their land around the time of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Jewish people gained more farmland. Today, most of Israel’s farmland needs water because the southern part is a desert.

Israel uses smart ways to grow food with less water, and even though farming is important, it makes up a small part of the country’s economy. In recent years, Israel has grown more food while using less water. Sadly, after an attack in 2023, many workers left or were unable to help on farms, causing big problems for farmers.

Farm types

Most farming in Israel follows cooperative ideas that started in the early 1900s. Two special types of farming communities exist: the kibbutz, where everyone shares the work and resources together, and the moshav, where families have their own homes and land but work together for buying and selling. These communities help make sure everyone is treated fairly and work together. Today, kibbutzim and moshavim produce 76% of Israel's fresh food and many processed food products. The means of production are shared in these communities.

Workers

Israeli farms used to rely on workers from nearby areas, but after some problems in the early 1990s, they started looking elsewhere for help. By 2021, around 75,200 people worked in farming, with many coming from other countries.

By 2023, thousands of workers from Thailand were on Israeli farms, but strict rules made it hard for them to live there long-term. After some serious events in October 2023, many Thai workers went home, causing problems for farmers. New workers from Sri Lanka were expected to arrive to help on the farms. In November 2023, an arrangement was made to bring workers from Malawi to work on Israeli farms.

The farming sector has faced challenges with treating foreign workers fairly. Despite laws meant to protect them, some workers still face unfair treatment and hard conditions. Efforts continue to improve conditions for all workers in the industry.

Agricultural produce

Israel can grow many different crops because of its varied land and climate. Common field crops include wheat, sorghum, and corn. Fruit and vegetables such as citrus, avocados, kiwifruit, guavas, mangos, and grapes are grown along the Mediterranean coastal plain. Common vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and zucchini are found everywhere. In warmer areas, bananas and dates grow, while apples, pears, and cherries are grown in the hills.

Israel also raises livestock, with cows producing large amounts of milk. The country grows many types of fruit, including oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, avocados, olives, cherries, and more. Israeli scientists developed special tomatoes that stay fresh longer, helping farmers export more produce.

Fishing and aquaculture

Main article: Fishing in Israel

The Mediterranean Sea provides salt-water fishing, while freshwater fishing happens on Lake Kinneret, also known as the Sea of Galilee. Scientists in the Negev desert have created ways to farm fish in artificial lakes. Most fresh fish in Israel now comes from aquaculture, with fish like silver carp, grass carp, and gilthead seabream being raised in special farms.

In 2022, Israel was among the top countries for flower exports, selling almost $89 million worth. Popular flowers include Chamelaucium (waxflower) and roses. Israel also grows special desert flowers and supplies traditional European flowers during winter.

Research and technology

Main article: Agricultural research in Israel

Israel is a leader in farming research and new ideas. This work has helped grow more food and better-quality crops. Farmers have created new seeds and plants. They also invented special ways to water plants, like using a mix of soil and a substance called vermiculite to help crops grow better, and a method called drip irrigation.

The Agritech exhibition

The Agritech Exhibition happens every three years and is a big event for showing new ideas in farming. People from all over the world come to see the latest tools and ways to grow food, especially in places with little water. In 2012, over 35,000 people visited, and more than 250 companies showed their products.

Organic farming

In Israel, organic farming is a small but important part of the country's agriculture. Organic produce makes up about 1.5% of the total farm products, but it is a bigger part of what Israel sells to other countries, accounting for 13% of agricultural exports. The country has around 7,000 hectares of land used for organic farming. Most of this land grows vegetables in open fields, with fruit orchards, vegetables in greenhouses, and herbs making up the rest.

Government regulation

Israel's government helps farms grow the right crops and stay within limits to avoid having too much of one product. Farms have limits on how much they can produce and how much water they can use, which helps keep prices steady. Special rules apply to milk, eggs, poultry, and potatoes.

The Ministry of Agriculture looks after farming in the country. It makes sure plants and animals are healthy, plans for future farming needs, and supports research and marketing. The government also tries to help farms save money by focusing on crops that are profitable and stopping the growth of crops that don't sell well.

Disease

In a study from 2017 to 2018, scientists found a harmful plant bacteria called Xylella fastidiosa in almond trees in the Hula Valley, located in northeast Israel. They used special lab tests, known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to confirm the exact type of bacteria, called Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa.

Agritourism

Agrotourism in Israel started to grow in the late 1980s when farmers needed new ways to make money. The Israel Ministry of Tourism began helping in 1993, offering support and training for rural tourism.

Visitors can learn about old farming ways at places like Ein Yael, Neot Kedumim, and Kfar Kedem. They can try activities like stomping grapes and pressing olives. The Wine Route and Olive Route let people see small wineries and old and new oil presses. The Dagon Museum in Haifa shows how people grew grain long ago and today. Binyamina is famous for its citrus groves, and Kibbutz Ein Gedi shows how to farm in the desert. Museums like the Dubrovin Farm and the Museum of Pioneer Settlement at Kibbutz Yifat tell the story of how Israel built its farms in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Impact of the Gaza war on agriculture

The war near Gaza caused damage to farms close to the border. At Kibbutz Alumim, buildings like chicken coops and greenhouses were destroyed, and some farming tools were lost. Only one part of the business stayed safe. The farm usually grows many crops and raises animals, but after the attacks, some workers could not return right away. The army first stopped farming work but later allowed a little bit of it. The CEO said their wheat did not grow well because it was planted late and not taken care of. Some crops like carrots and cabbages could not be picked, and greenhouses full of peppers were ruined. The farm used to be a big supplier of small sweet peppers but now only has a very small operation.