Isra-Tech | april 2023

Precision irrigation, invented in Israel by Netafimdecades ago to cultivate crops in desert conditions, has one overriding goal: to grow more with less. This means growing better yields every season with less resources – less water, less fertilizer, less energy and also less environmental impact. Precision irrigation systems are designed to give each plant the exact amount of water and fertilizer exactly when they need it, at scale, increasing yields and minimizing environmental damage. Precision irrigation is changing the way we grow and harvest. Just as Israel achieved agricultural self- sufficiency with precision irrigation, farmers around the world are changing the way they work to achieve better, more sustainable yields with fewer resources. Advanced digital farming tools are further assisting farmers with greater control of their operations and more accurate insights, providing their businesses with enhanced predictability and profitability. The adoption of Israeli precision agricultural techniques and technology is literally impacting the world’s greatest environmental and food problems every day. Precision Agriculture: Delivering Success Worldwide Netafim is proud to play a leading role in realizing the vision of global food security by boosting the entire agricultural ecosystem, bringing prosperity and stability to entire regions. Netafim’s investment to substantially broaden their greenhouse offering further underlines this commitment, helping countries to meet the interest in locally grown fresh produce in the light of geo-political events and climate change. Netafim is working closelywith governments, companies and growers to drive change, Netafim is Driving Food Security for a Changing World I t’s not breaking news that our planet, society and indeed our species are facing unprecedented challenges. With farmers globally fighting drought, water scarcity and extreme weather cycles on an increasingly frequent basis, food insecurity is reaching new and worrisome levels. According to the UN, nearly 30 per cent of the world’s population – 2 . 3 billion people - were moderately or severely food insecure in 2021 . In recent years, food supply chain issues have become a global issue, affecting even the developed world which had previously taken their food supply for granted. The picture is worrying. Yet thankfully not hopeless. With a shared commitment and purpose there are clear ways that global leaders can use the latest technology and shared knowledge to help farmers and societies move towards food security, even in the face of climate change. Netafim acts as a central point of collaboration between industry, governments and growers, pushing the needle on the threat of global food insecurity and providing a model for global impact and sustainability. To meet the challenges of the coming decades, global agriculture needs to shift towards enhanced and sustainable production – gettingmore produce from each field using fewer resources. The Precision Irrigation Revolution: Born in Israel While 70 per cent of the world’s water goes to agriculture, it’s used to irrigate only 24 per cent of arable land. What’s more, traditional industrial agriculture relies heavily on pesticides and herbicides but applies them inaccurately which not only harms the soil and water sources but also impacts human and wildlife health. This is where precision irrigation can have far reaching benefits. 26 Climate Tech Isra-Tech Israeli Technologies Magazine April 2023 Precision Irrigation