Skip to main content

From Farm to Frontline: The Impact of Gaza, Lebanon war on Israel’s Crops

  Overview of Israel's Agriculture Sector

1. Total Cultivated Land:
- Approximately 29.7% of Israel's land is used for agriculture¹. The country has a mix of desert in the south and more fertile, rain-fed areas in the north.

2. Main Crops
- Fruits and Vegetables: Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons), avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers.

- Field Crops: Wheat, barley, and corn.

- Flowers: Israel is a significant exporter of flowers, especially to Europe¹.

In 2022, Israel ranked 9th among the countries in the world in the value of its flower exports which totaled almost $89 million. 

The flowers grown most commonly are Chamelaucium (waxflower), followed by roses, which are grown on 250 hectares (620 acres) of land. 

In addition to flowers favored in the West such as lilies, roses, and tulips, Israel exports desert varieties. It has become a major player in the global floral industry, especially as a supplier of traditional European flowers during the winter months. Similar to floriculture around the world, Israel's flower cultivation relies heavily on introduced species.  Here these especially include Ornithogalum dubium, Leucojum aestivum and Paeonia.

3. Irrigation System:
- Israel is renowned for its advanced irrigation techniques, particularly drip irrigation, which conserves water by delivering it directly to the plant roots. This system is crucial given the country's limited water resources¹.
- The country also utilizes treated wastewater and desalinated water for irrigation¹.

Israel's Agricultural Market:
The Israel agriculture market is projected to grow by USD 2.76 billion between 2023 and 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6%. This growth is driven by the expansion of organized retail, facilitating better supply chain management, and substantial investments in research and development (R&D) aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity. The food processing industry also plays a significant role in transforming raw agricultural outputs into value-added products for both local consumption and export. Israel’s agricultural industry is marked by innovation, especially in irrigation and technology, contributing to its resilience and productivity in challenging environments.

The market's key segments include cereals, grains, oilseeds, and pulses, alongside major exports like olive oil and fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables. However, the sector faces challenges, particularly the reduction in arable land due to urbanization and industrialization, which could limit long-term growth. Despite these challenges, advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, and precision farming are expected to revolutionize agriculture in Israel, driving further market expansion during the forecast period. (12)

Impact of the Gaza War on Israel's Agriculture Sector
The ongoing conflict has significantly affected Israel's agriculture sector:

- Food Security: The war has disrupted food production and supply chains, leading to increased food prices and food insecurity⁵.

- Crop Damage: Agricultural lands near conflict zones, especially around Gaza, have suffered from direct damage due to military activities.

- Economic Strain: The war has placed additional financial burdens on farmers, with increased costs for security and reduced access to markets⁶.

The ongoing Swords of Iron war has severely impacted Israel's agriculture and food security. 

A report from Leket Israel reveals that food waste has surged, costing the economy NIS 1 billion ($275 million). Vegetable prices have jumped by 18% and fruit prices by 12%, exacerbating food insecurity across the country.

Over 150,000 tons of produce, worth NIS 670 million ($185 million), has gone to waste, due to labor shortages and disrupted farming activities, particularly in areas near the Gaza envelope and northern Israel.

Around 40% of the agricultural workforce has been lost, including Palestinian and foreign workers, contributing to increased food waste as fewer hands are available to harvest crops. 
The food waste rate in agriculture has risen from 9% to 22%. While initiatives like Leket Israel's volunteer efforts have helped reduce waste, they are temporary fixes. The crisis calls for systemic policy changes to protect Israel’s agriculture and prevent further erosion of its food security. (11)

In summary, while Israel's agriculture sector is known for its resilience and technological prowess, the current conflict is posing unprecedented challenges, with severe impacts on production, labor availability, and food prices. 

The sector’s recovery will require robust and creative governmental support.

Source: 
(1) Agriculture in Israel - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Israel.
(2) The war is harming Israel’s food security and agriculture. https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/the-war-is-harming-israel-s-food-security-and-agriculture/ar-AA1qZMPv.
(3) War raging around Israel’s farmlands puts agricultural future ... - PBS. https://bing.com/search?q=Gaza+war+impact+Israel%27s+agriculture+sector.
(4) Israeli economy struggles under weight of Gaza war. https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/09/israeli-economy-struggles-under-weight-gaza-war.
(5) Israeli AgTech: Driving innovation to feed the world sustainably. https://www.timesofisrael.com/spotlight/israeli-agtech-driving-innovation-to-feed-the-world-sustainably/.
(6) The Role of Agriculture in Israel’s Economy: An In-depth Analysis. https://israelnationalnews.org/2024/45.
(7) Agriculture in Israel - Wikiwand. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Agriculture_in_Israel.
(8) Israel’s permanent war on the Palestinians means permanent war on the working class at home. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/09/15/gjmi-s15.html.
(9) How Israel destroyed Gaza's ability to feed itself - Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2024/7/2/how-israel-destroyed-gazas-ability-to-feed-itself.
(10) In Gaza, 'an estimated 22% of agricultural land' has been destroyed .... https://observers.france24.com/en/middle-east/20231212-in-gaza-an-estimated-22-of-agricultural-land-has-been-destroyed-since-the-start-of-the-conflict.
(11) https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-swords-of-iron-war-is-harming-israels-food-security-and-agriculture/
(12) https://www.technavio.com/report/israel-agriculture-market-industry-analysis%3famp

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The End of Zionism? Welcome to the Funeral Nobody Wants to Admit Is Overdue

  Of course. Haaretz recently published an opinion piece by Ithamar Handelman -Smith titled “ Some Say It’s the End of Zionism, and I Say That’s All Right .” And what impeccable timing: as Israel carries out a near-two-year campaign of siege, famine, and bombardment in Gaza — slaughtering families, burying aid workers with their ambulances, and literally starving children to death — someone in Israel finally whispers the unspeakable: maybe Zionism, that 20th-century project of “ Jewish salvation ,” has outlived its moral shelf life. Bravo. The house is burning, bodies are scattered in the street, and the philosopher shows up with a garden hose . Zionism: Success Story or Crime Scene? Handelman-Smith argues that Zionism achieved its success : a Jewish state, a safe haven, a fortress against the ghosts of Europe’s crimes . But like every “ success story ” drenched in other people’s blood , it didn’t age well. What began as refuge turned into domination; what was called “ ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Docu Drama. The voice of Hind Rajab.

The Red Phone Rings, but the World Hits Mute The world just gave a 23-minute standing ovation —yes, twenty-three full minutes of clapping —for The Voice of Hind Rajab at the Venice Film Festival . Applause so long it could’ve filled Hind’s final desperate phone call to the Red Crescent. Bravo, humanity. We couldn’t save her when it mattered, but at least we can applaud her ghost. This is the new morality play: a five-year-old Palestinian child, trapped in a bullet-riddled car , whispering “please come, I’m scared ,” while surrounded by the corpses of her family. The Red Crescent tried . Paramedics drove toward her and were killed too . Israel buried them in silence . And the “ civilized world ”? It buried her in its news cycle . But now—don’t worry— we have a movie . Starring Hind’s voice. Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania. Produced by an ensemble of Hollywood conscience-bearers : Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuarón, Jonathan Glazer, Jemima Khan , and others. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Gaza’s Famine: The World Watches Starvation as a Weapon of War

  By Vivian Yee, The New York Times (Aug. 22, 2025) — Reflections and Analysis It is now official: Gaza City and its surrounding areas are in famine. Not “at risk of famine.” Not “approaching famine.” But famine itself — starvation, acute malnutrition, and death. At least half a million people in Gaza Governorate are enduring th e most extreme conditions that the world’s top hunger monitoring group — the U.N.-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (I.P.C.) — measures. With rare exceptions, the other two million residents of Gaza are also suffering severe hunger. The report is unambiguous: famine in Gaza is entirely man-made . It is not drought. It is not nature. It is the direct result of Israel’s blockade of food and aid, relentless bombardment, and the collapse of healthcare, water, and agriculture. “ The time for debate and hesitation has passed. Starvation is present and is rapidly spreading.” — I.P.C. Report By September, famine is expected to engul...
Post a Comment
Read more

God’s Favorite Real Estate Agents: Smotrich, Ben Gvir, and the Holy Land Realty Circus

  Forget Wall Street. Forget Silicon Valley. The hottest property market today is Occupied Palestine , where homes are not sold with contracts but sanctified with bulldozers, blessings, and bullets. The chief brokers are well known: Bezalel Smotrich , Israel’s Finance Minister, and Itamar Ben Gvir , its National Security Minister. Smotrich doesn’t bother with diplomacy anymore. He boasts that 3,400 new settlement units will “ bury” Palestinian statehood . That’s not zoning — that’s divine grave-digging . Ben Gvir, meanwhile, provides the “ Home Security Package ,” arming settlers like crusader knights on hilltop fortresses and declaring it holy work . All of this would be bad enough if it were just Israeli extremists playing God’s real estate agents . But then came the shocker — the endorsement from the world’s highest court. Enter Judge Julia Sebutinde : a Ugandan jurist, the first African woman to sit on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) , today its Vice-President ,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dockers of Conscience: Italy’s Brave Guardians of Gaza

  At a time when most governments avert their eyes , when institutions choose silence over principle, it is often the hands hardened by real work — the hands of dockworkers— that lift the banner of humanity. In Genoa , those hands belong to the members of the Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) and the dockworkers’ collective CALP ( Collettivo Autonomo Lavoratori Portuali ) . These are not new voices. For years they have stood where conscience demands —on the cold concrete of the docks , blocking ships laden with weapons destined for wars , refusing to let Italy’s ports be complicit in bloodshed. USB , born in 2010 out of grassroots struggles , has carried a proud history of international solidarity. Its members have consistently placed labor at the service of justice, from strikes against austerity to protests against militarism . CALP , forged in Genoa’s port , has a more direct history with Palestine: blocking Israeli-bound weapons , organizing boycotts, and declaring, time ...
Post a Comment
Read more