Farming

Can advanced agriculture alter Bedouin society and the Negev's planning?

Danielle Abraham of Volcani International Partnerships says Hamas targeted farms on Oct. 7, aiming to harm Israel’s food supply and ‘break the agricultural communities’

Since October 7, farmers have been grappling with severe shortage of workers, exacerbating other challenges and threatening the livelihoods of farmers and the agricultural sector as a whole.

In the fields near Israel’s border with Gaza, amid the echoes of conflict and the haunting remnants of attacks, there lies a profound resilience.

Here is a tiny sample of the phenomenal Israeli creativity bubbling in hi-tech for farms – crucial, if the world is to feed its hungry people in the future.

Between April 2022 and April 2023, Edete pollinated 500 acres of pistachios in Bakersfield, Calif., for one of the largest growers in the US.

The Hamas attacks have cost Israel’s farming communities around $500 million in lost income.

Within only a few days, Brothers in Arms were able to send hundreds of volunteers every day to some 60 farms, renaming the project Brothers in Farms.

That problem is afflicting farmers all over Israel, not just those in the war zones.

Nearly all farmers (86%) expect a loss of income. While the national average is estimated at around 35%, the average loss is estimated at 69% in the Gaza area.