Abundant Agriculture in the Middle of the Desert
It was agriculture at its best. In the midst of Israel’s large desert region, where one would expect desolation, appeared stands of vegetables and fruit, agriculturalists and farmers. It was unbelievable to see such a wealth of produce, innovation and supporters of the industry.
On stage, Gershon Cohen, Head of the Agriculture Union in Israel, declared that Tel Aviv (Israel’s foremost commercial city) could not exist if not for the background of agriculture in the periphery.
The event, Arava Open Day Agriculture Exhibition, took place by the hothouses of the Yair Experimental Station, home to the Arava Research and Development Station. Their research and development focusses on crops that can thrive in arid conditions.
Salanova Lettuce and Leafy Purple Lettuce
“When Israeli agriculturalists understood that other countries are also growing and exporting vegetables, they asked themselves how they could set Israeli agriculture apart. They have, accordingly developed niche vegetables, like small bell peppers, cherry tomatoes and vegetables that can be seasonally grown when too cold to grow in Europe,” explained Shiri Salant, Academic Coordinator of the Agriculture programmes at Galilee International Management Institute. She attended the exhibition with Anna Levita, Programme Director of our Russian Agriculture programmes/Director for East Europe and CIS Countries and Karina Shmaya, Programme Director for the Spanish Agriculture Programmes.
The three were there as part of the effort to ensure that our programmes offer the most up to date knowledge. They were impressed by the array of interesting, innovative produce they tasted (including an unusual grasshopper protein substitute created as part of a programme to solve world hunger), seed and seedling companies, advanced irrigation equipment and heavy mechanisation presented. “There is no end to the innovation. They are always finding and inventing new things,” said Shmaya.
Left to Right: Karina Shmaya, Shiri Salant and Anna Levita
Inside the Station, a permanent exhibition comprises a series of doors and behind each is a story of one of the first families that came to live in the Arava. They were inspired by the vision of Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, who was intent on making Israel’s large desert area bloom into a productive, livable area. “Everyone said they were crazy at the beginning,” explained Levita, “now the produce of the Arava is world renowned.”
Salant, Levita and Shmaya returned, filled with admiration for those who are living in the desert and developing arid agriculture there, as well as for the history of the idealistic men and women who first came to settle the desert.
Today, as desertification becomes an increasing threat, the story of the Arava ought to inspire modern day idealists and new pioneers. The local advancements, that have made growth, food security and agribusiness possible in the desert, are now relevant all over the globe, opening new frontiers for adventurers who are more likely to be thought of as high-tech than crazy today.
