Alejandro BolívarApril 16, 2013

EOS 406: Science & Innovation in Israel

Agriculture and Salinity in Israel

Thesis Salinity is a challenge and opportunity for

Israeli agricultural sector Important because of:

Israel’s reliance on agriculture Regional diplomatic isolation Global climate transformation Geographic limitations Rapid population growth

Israeli agriculture Israel produces close to 70% of its food

requirements No normal diplomatic or trade relations with neighbors

Lebanon, Syria and other nearby Arab countries 2.4% of GDP Most important products

Fruit Livestock Vegetables Wheat, cotton Dairy Poultry Flowers

Tactics Improving water utilization

Efficiency is crucial: 50-60% of water transported to Amman, Jordan is lost along the way

New water Reclaimed treated sewage; seawater; groundwater desalination

Technology Barramundi fish farms in Negev allow growth of aggressive fish

species Water from fish ponds used for growing olive trees, lily flowers

Allows Israel to export agricultural products grown in Negev Melons (sold for $48 each in Japan) Olive oil

Even sewage water has a value Israel can buy sewage water from Palestine for agricultural use,

sell them treated water

References Hall, Rebekah. Des Moines Theodore Roosevelt HS, "Israel: Planning for

Long Term Stability through Water Conservation and Improved Irrigation." Accessed March 6, 2013.

Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Focus on Israel: Israel's Agriculture in the 21st Century." Last modified 2008. Accessed March 6, 2013. http://citationmachine.net/index2.php?start=&reqstyleid=10&mode=form&reqsrcid=ChicagoWebsite&srcCode=11&more=yes&nameCnt=1&stylename=Chicago&more=yes.

Rinat, Zafrir. Haaretz, "Israeli researchers desalinating sewage for agricultural use." Last modified 2009. Accessed March 6, 2013. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israeli-researchers-desalinating-sewage-for-agricultural-use-1.278928.

The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute, "Israel's Agriculture." Accessed March 6, 2013. http://www.moag.gov.il/agri/files/Israel's_Agriculture_Booklet.pdf.

Yamouri, Najat. World Bank, "Middle East and North Africa: Agriculture & Rural Development." Last modified 2013. Accessed March 6, 2013. http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/MENAEXT/0,,contentMDK:20528258~pagePK:146736~piPK:226340~theSitePK:256299,00.html.