Why Israel is leading global agricultural technology

Why Israel is leading global agricultural technology

Anyone with a keen interest in modern agriculture will have noticed that Israeli agritech innovations are popping up left, right, and center. Israel spends 4.3% of its GDP on research and development – the most of any country – and according to the World Economic Forum, it is where companies embrace change the most and where innovative companies grow the fastest. 73 years after gaining statehood, Israel is making David Ben-Gurion’s dream of ‘making the desert bloom’ a reality. 17% of Israel’s total agricultural budget is allocated to R&D, and close cooperation between farmers, the agricultural industry, technological research, and the government seems to be a recipe for success.

Kibbutzim sowing seeds of innovation

Well before statehood had even been achieved, early Israeli pioneers sowed the seeds of agricultural innovation by founding the first kibbutz: an agricultural community focused on sharing land and resources and working together to tackle tough farming challenges. Harsh land, scarce water, a limited labour force, and limited trade with neighbouring countries stimulated resourcefulness in Israeli agriculture, and the kibbutzim ‘can-do’-attitude still characterises this sector.

Even today, the kibbutzim lie at the basis of Israeli agritech innovation, and more than half of the country’s agritech ventures are managed by someone who grew up in a kibbutz.

Source: https://www.futurefarming.com/Smart-farmers/Articles/2021/6/Why-Israel-is-leading-global-agricultural-technology-752448E/

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