Israel’s pioneering desert farms is a climate adaptation example
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Continuous innovation and cutting-edge technology demonstrate that sustainable farming can flourish even in the harshest environments.
The article from Energy Monitor, "Adaptation Lessons from Israel's Negev Desert: A source of climate hope," highlights the world's need for effective strategies to adapt to climate change and how the world grappling with its effects can turn to Israel's innovative water management technologies and desert farming techniques as an efficient climate adaptation solution.
The article notes that despite more than half of its land, 60%, being a desert, Israel's agricultural production surpasses that of larger rival countries. For example, Israel's milk production per cow is 13,000 litres, higher than North America's 10,000 litres and Europe's 6,000 litres. Its tomato yield is 300 tonnes (t) per hectare, compared with a global average of 50t per hectare. According to data collected by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, it also produces 262t of citrus fruit per hectare, compared with 243t in North America and 211t in Europe. Additionally, more than 40% of Israel's crops are grown in the desert.
Gideon Behar, Special Envoy for Climate Change and Sustainability at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, believes that much of what Israel has achieved can be replicated by other countries facing desertification.
"Israel has overcome climatic challenges with innovative solutions," he explains. "We are a small country with a limited impact; therefore, these adaptation solutions are our biggest contribution to the climate fight" (Adaptation Lessons, 2022).
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