Tu Bishvat, the New Year for Trees, encourages us to think about growth and our responsibility to the environment. It’s a moment to reflect on what sustains life long before we see fruit. The challenges of today — like water scarcity and food inflation — are not distant threats; they are here now, affecting societies around the globe.
In our previous discussion, we highlighted David Ben-Gurion’s words: a nation that can’t manage scarcity can’t maintain sovereignty. What Israel faced long ago — issues like desert landscapes and water shortages — is now a reality worldwide. Our focus today is less about whether we can manage scarcity and more about how we do it responsibly and collectively.
Israel found solutions not through a single innovation but by developing an entire ecosystem. This includes water management, agriculture, technology, and cooperation. Countries are now wrestling with similar challenges, and how we respond is crucial.
Facing a Growing Crisis
The global food and water crisis has reached alarming levels. Farmers in Europe are taking extreme steps to keep their land productive. For example, in the Great Hungarian Plain, some are working to restore natural flood patterns to prevent soil collapse. This isn’t about innovation; it’s about survival in the face of worsening conditions.
These pressures are felt in many regions, including Africa, India, and North America. Traditional agriculture systems are buckling under the strain. This is a pressing reality we face today.
Israel’s Early Response
Israel had to confront these water and food issues earlier than most. As a desert nation, it viewed water as vital national infrastructure. They’ve implemented desalination, reused wastewater, and planned meticulously. This shifted water from being a threat to a managed resource.
Cooperation has played a key role in Israel’s resilience. Water-sharing agreements, particularly with Jordan, show that shared resources can promote peace. Even amidst political tension, the flow of water continued. This illustrates the idea that survival often means shared responsibility.
The late Booky Oren, former chairman of Israel’s national water company, saw the need to share practical knowledge. He founded Booky Oren Global Water Technologies to create a network for utilities worldwide to exchange ideas about what works and what doesn’t. This shift towards sharing experiences rather than merely exporting technology is crucial.
Learning from History
Golda Meir, Israel’s first female Prime Minister, believed in earning legitimacy through contributions. During the 1950s and 1960s, Israel faced resource limitations but shared its agricultural expertise with newly independent African nations. This wasn’t about creating dependency but building capacity. Knowledge sharing became an early form of diplomacy that linked Israel’s agricultural successes to global development.
The Israeli Agricultural Model
Israel’s agricultural achievements aren’t about scale; they’re about cooperation. Farmers worked together through kibbutzim and moshavim, sharing resources and risks. This collaboration allowed Israeli agriculture to target premium markets instead of just churning out volume. Their focus included high-value produce, off-season crops for Europe, and high standards of quality and traceability.
This model has proven adaptable, spreading across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, where local contexts were respected rather than imposed.
Expanding Innovation
Over the years, Israel’s approach has evolved, incorporating advanced techniques like:
- Biological pest control to lower chemical use
- AI monitoring for early pest detection
- Precision irrigation based on soil and climate data
- Integrated agro-water solutions that fit crop needs
- Soil health practices to strengthen resilience
Technology doesn’t replace farmers; it enhances their capabilities, reducing the uncertainties that threaten stability.
A Personal Perspective
In my work with FarmUp.tech and food security initiatives in India and Africa, I’ve learned that today’s challenge is not just innovation but making connections. Knowledge and experience exist but often in silos, making it difficult to harness their full potential.
Food security, like water security before it, requires a structured approach to sharing practical knowledge, avoiding theoretical discussions that lead nowhere.
Responsible Action First
This is bigger than improving images; it’s about moral responsibility. As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks pointed out, building a good society relies on our obligations to one another. Food security isn’t just a goal; it’s a commitment tied to dignity and peace.
A Call to Collaborate
Throughout my writing on ethics and sustainability, I’ve recognized that words alone aren’t enough. I’m actively involved in initiatives beyond Israel, seeking ways to share experiences intentionally. This should not be a publicity stunt but an earnest conversation among those who understand the impact of our work.
In this age of scarcity, the most valuable contributions may not be high-tech solutions but the wisdom we share with humility.
For more insights on global water issues, you can explore this [report by the UN](https://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/sustainable_development_goals.shtml).
