Israel - Stage 3
Main findings
The main findings that emerged from the second plant food systems dialogues included measurable targets related to the supply of production factors (land, water and workers), use of pesticides and fertilizers, climate change, food security, R&D, knowledge transfer, adoption of technologies to raise productivity, marketing, policy and regulatory tools regarding the status of agriculture, waste management, the position regarding imports/local production. Detailed explanation of each category: 1. Supply of production factors: The term 'agriculture' needs to be defined properly. Agriculture do
... Read morees not only refer to green fields, but should also refer to something more industrialized. A limited budget that should be used in the crops with the highest yield. a) Water – full utilization of recycled wastewater for agriculture. b) Land – Perhaps the agriculture needs to shift to the southern part of Israel. The army occupies large parts of Israel; therefore, a collaboration with the Ministry of Defense is necessary. Higher output per acre and higher quality of crops. c) Farmers: Maintain "family farms"; Educate the young generation of farmers towards a greener and a more technologically based agriculture. 2. Research and Development, Knowledge transfer – Ensure innovative agricultural R&D (more agriculture with less land). A mapping of data is required (what are the typical foods that comprise the Israeli diet?). 3. Pesticides and fertilizers – improving the use of pesticides and reducing its usage. Shift to biological pest control. Precise monitoring of the usage of pesticides. Lack of effective environmentally friendly pesticides. 4. Climate changes – the agriculture needs to adapt to the climate changes. Cultivation of crops suited for the changes. Increase the use of green houses with climate control. 5. Decrease Uncertainty of farming in Israel: maintain human capital, investments, insurance. 6. Technologies – We need to prepare for an increase in alternative protein based diet, hence it needs to be a main target. Increase in productivity via the use of green houses and urban agriculture. Use of monitoring tools for precise agriculture that can reduce its environmental impact 7. Food security – Israel's agriculture should supply at least 50% of its healthy foods. Fruits and vegetables should be produced mostly in Israel. Concession of the growth of "exotic fruits". 8. Marketing – preference to the production of food for humans rather than food for animals. 9. Policies – 2030 is just around the corner, therefore we need to prepare for 2040 and 2050. Ministries need to recognize the value (security, education) of the Israeli agriculture. Also, the local agriculture is Israel's safety net, therefore it should be protected. There is a need for long-term policy objectives for the agricultural sector that includes a reference to the fact the agriculture is also linked with the protection of open land and environment. Importing of certain healthy foods that cannot be locally grown should be supported. Broadening of organic agriculture. 10. Agricultural waste management – Zero waste produced from agriculture will go to landfills. Utilization of all waste into energy or recycling. Cut down on food losses and waste resulting from surplus production. 11. Conflicts between environment and agriculture – designate wildlife corridors and maintain biodiversity alongside urban use. Promoting environmentally friendly agriculture in open areas (100% of agriculture in open areas should be environmentally friendly); efficient land use (for agriculture and renewable energy) 12. Urban agriculture – in industrial areas, rooftops and vertical agriculture. **The definition of productivity wasn't clear to all the participants. Read less
Action Track(s): 1, 2, 3, 5
Keywords: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Finance, Governance, Human rights, Innovation, Policy, Trade-offs, Women & Youth Empowerment