Agriculture and environmental technologies

Agriculture accounts for 2.4 percent of Israel’s GDP. Its importance is declining largely because of ongoing negative growth. Thus, while GDP has grown by 3.2 percent since 1986, agricultural production decreased by almost 10 percent, employing 50,000 people. However, it continues to play an important role in certain poor areas of Israel like the Jordan Valley or Arava.

Agricultural production rose in 2004 to $3.9 billion, 23 percent of which is exported. These figures vary from year to year depending on weather and monetary fluctuations. Israeli agricultural exports brought in $1 billion in 2005, 4 percent of total exports.

Israel produces 70 percent of its food needs, counting on imports for sugar, coffee, cocoa and almost all its seeds, oilseeds, meat and fish. Israel is 100 percent dependent on imports for cereals. Fish and oilseeds are imported in large quantities to meet some 50 percent of consumption.

Israeli is well known for its know-how in intensive agriculture. Thanks in particular to the use of drip irrigation techniques, Israeli agriculture posts record productivity levels. For example, nearly 200 tons of tomatoes can be produced in one year on just one hectare. Israeli micro irrigation companies like Plastro Irrigation Systems are world leaders in this sector.

Advances by the profession have had a crucial influence on vegetable crops over the past decade. Innovations include: improvement and control of climate conditions in protected growing systems; use of substrata growing methods in regions where the soil is unsuitable for growing crops; application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods for a wide range of vegetable crops; use of post-harvest methods, means and treatment in order to lengthen shelf life and prevent rotting. Dairy-product and technology exports include advanced and computerised milking and feeding systems, cow-cooling systems (to reduce heat stress on cows over the hot, dry summer) as well as milk processing equipment, advisory services, and development of joint international projects.

Although Israel is a major producer of agricultural machinery, there are business opportunities for the import of certain specialised machines. Israel has developed its agricultural mechanisation industry, leading to $1.85 billion in export of agricultural raw materials and equipment in 2005, an increase of 16 percent. Exports by this sector have grown twice as quickly as the average for Israeli exports overall. Israeli agricultural equipment is especially strong on the gardening or orchard markets.

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