Agricultural Innovations
Israel makes the desert bloom – Here’s how…
Letter Excerpts:
“This morning I visited a
farm and saw how the
irrigation system works. It
is composed of aluminum
pipes which have a
gummed part at the end.
One pipe fit into the other
and a slight push forming
a water tight joint. It
takes about a 1/10 of a
second. Sprinklers attach
at the joints the same
way. All parts and pipes
are Israeli produced.”
— August 6, 1957
“Wherever the irrigation
lines reached the land it
was green with stalks of
corn 12 & 15 feet high.”
— July 23, 1957
“I was amazed to learn
that this place is almost
3,000 acres in area & has
some of the highest acre
yields in the world in
certain items, dependent of
course on proper
irrigation.”
— July 31, 1957
By the 1950’s, Israel already knew that with proper irrigation they could make the Negev desert bloom. There was a huge shortage of water and a need to feed its growing population. Not only did Israel need water for agriculture; they needed it for drinking and bathing. Israel’s one fresh water lake, the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) was clearly not sufficient to fulfill all these needs, and a solution had to be found. In order to deal with it’s water and agricultural challenges, Israel has developed a wide array of technological solutions.
Bringing Water to the Desert
A Mekorot water line being built in the 1950’s in order to bring water from the Kinneret to southern Israel.
Stage 1 – Centralized Water Company
With the population expanding already in the 1930’s, water pipes needed to be built to extend to all parts of the country. A centralized water company (“Mekorot”) was established by Levy Eshkol, who eventually became Israel’s third Prime Minister. Pipes were built to send water throughout the country in an efficient manner.
Stage 2 – Drip Irrigation
Instead of flooding the fields with huge amounts of water (much of which gets wasted), small amounts are dripped directly into the roots of the plant. This form of irrigation is the most efficient way of saving water.
Israeli Innovation – Drip Irrigation
Israel has become the world initiator and leader in drip irrigation
Stage 3 – Irrigating with Treated Wastewater
Another method used to save water is building wastewater treatment plants to treat and reuse the sewage water. In this process, contaminants are removed from sewage water, and it is converted into an effluent that can be returned to the water cycle. This technology has contributed to the fact that there is almost no sewage pollution in Israel. TAHAL was established in 1952 by the government of Israel with the aim of meeting the country’s greatest challenge – transforming its arid lands into fertile fields. Initially focusing on the development of natural water resources and irrigation systems, TAHAL has moved to the design and construction of sophisticated projects utilizing brackish water, recycled wastewater and desalinated seawater.
Stage 4 – Desalination of Israel’s Salt Water Seas
This is another innovation for a country that has rain shortages and drought, but plenty of salty water.
Desalination is the process where salt is removed from seawater. As of 2019, 80% of Israel’s drinking water is from desalination, according to Israel’s Minister of Energy, Yuval Steinitz.
A TAHAL Plant
Using brackish water, recycled wastewater and desalinated seawater
to transform Israel’s arid lands into fertile fields.
“Irrigating the desert with purified seawater might seem to many today as a delusion, but Israel should be the last state to be afraid of ‘delusions’ that could change the primal order by force of the power of vision, science and pioneering capability.”
— Prime Minister David Ben Gurion, 1956
Stage 5 – Drones
Israel produces its own drones. These drones can easily locate irrigation malfunctions in the field or orchard – whether detecting leakage or damage to the irrigation system, or using thermal photography that enables identification of thirsty plants in the field. This surveillance ensures efficient, optimal irrigation. Besides monitoring irrigation problems, drones can monitor pesticide use, and identify lack of uniformity in the field. Drones can even do their own fruit picking!
Stage 6 – Sensors for Agriculture
The latest innovation is the use of sensors that measure moisture in the soil as well as the mineral and salt content in order to create the ideal growing conditions. It enables farmers to make data driven decisions by gathering data and uploading to the internet cloud. This information can be viewed on a cell phone app that controls the irrigation system.
One can know exactly how much water is in the soil, and then turn the water on or off from his cell phone, no matter where he is in the world. One of the innovators of this technology is a company from Israel called “Viridix”. It is a technology that enables farmers to save water, increase crop yield, raise crop quality, and ultimately increase profits. In the event that there is no internet connection for one to monitor his crops from his cell phone, the Viridix Sensor is connected to a satellite, enabling farmers from the most remote locations to enjoy this technology.
Viridix Sensor System
The Israeli Viridix sensor system automatically measures mositure, mineral and salt content in growing soil allowing farmers to accurately and remotely control irrigation for ideal yields.
Israel has Become a Water Superpower
According to the UN, much of the planet’s population faces water shortages and this scarcity is expected to become even more acute during the coming decades. In fact, water is the world’s most rapidly depleting resource and some analysts are calling water the “new oil” of the 21st century: The international water market is estimated at $450 billion and is growing at 7%-8% annually.
In light of the country’s long experience in contending with water scarcity and its broad base of water tech know-how, Israel is well positioned to tap into this global market. Here are ten ways that Israel’s water expertise is helping the world.
Israel’s IDE Builds Largest Desalination Plant in the Western Hemisphere
Going Forward
Israel has not only made her own desert bloom, but is exporting its technology all over the globe, including countries in which they don’t enjoy diplomatic relations. In general, there is a scarcity of water in the Middle East, and everyone benefits from Israeli innovation.