A ~View~ into Ancient and Modern Agricultural Systems in Israel:

The Negev Highlands is a region in the south of Israel that is known for its desert climate; with low levels of precipitation and high levels of evaporation, it is considered a very difficult place to grow consumption crops. Despite the odds, this area is also known as the site of highly successful desert agriculture that was rooted in ancient harvesting techniques. This traditional methodology, called ‘run-off agriculture,’ relied upon the physical manipulation of geological characteristics amidst the desert landscape in order to collect natural sources of rainwater and run-off. This was achieved through the construction of stone walls, terraces, aqueducts, conduits, and cisterns. During the Byzantine period (4^th-7^thcenturies CE), this form of agriculture was at its peak. Six ancient “Negev Towns” (called Haluza, Nizana, Rehovot, Shivta, Mamshit, and Avdat) were the main areas for ancient desert agriculture as well as corresponding marketplaces in the Negev Highlands. While these agricultural techniques required a high amount of input from labor, these methods also required very low outputs from other material resources, such as fossil fuels or alternative energy (Ashkenazi et. al, 2012).

Desert run-off agriculture in the Negev Highlands relied upon the precise construction of borders, mounds, and channels to connect water supply to necessary points of dispersion or irrigation. The stone walls would keep out natural predators; terraces leveraged gravity to irrigate multiple crop beds; aqueducts and conduits distributed rainwater; and cisterns acted as a storage device for additional harvested rainwater. These distributive technologies ensured that no synthetic irrigation was required for crop production, resulting in a carbon-neutral mode of production (Ashkenazi et. al, 2012). These forms of ancient agriculture were also dependent upon detailed stewardship and knowledge of local geography, topography, and close proximity to towns/roads/marketplaces. Some major benefits from this form of desert run-off agriculture include the lack of dependence on foreign energy, a more intimate connection with the landscape, and a method of production with low environmental emissions (GHGs). Moreover, these agroecological systems were able to produce enough wheat, barley, olives, pistachios, pomegranates, grapes, figs, and dates to feed communities and sell at nearby markets within the Negev Highlands (Ashkenazi et. al, 2012).

Ancient run-off agricultural systems in this area have been exchanged, adapted, and modified for alternative technologies in an attempt to feed a growing Israeli population (now exceeding 9.05 million people in 2019). These newer techniques vary greatly from the traditional run-off agricultural systems once used in the Negev Highlands.

Much of the agriculture in Israel today takes place in greenhouses that use forms of drip irrigation from a combination of ground water (such as desalinated water from the Mediterranean Sea and other natural aquifers) to grow many seasonal vegetables and crops. In contrast, this modern form of agriculture is heavily dependent upon resourceful technology, digitalization, and reliable agricultural equipment. Furthermore, some greenhouses have begun to implement technologies that include advanced sensory imaging, data storage/platform integration, and newer irrigation equipment (Leichman, 2019).

Above: Greens including Basil Grow near Ashalim in Burlap Greenhouse

Israel has adopted many new technologies in an effort to optimize the potential yields of modern agricultural systems. For example, AgriTask is a company that has created a mobile app for farmers to review trending agricultural data for performative analysis – including results from weather stations and image sensors. Bio-Bee is another innovative company that breeds beneficial insect and mite populations for pest control. Furthermore, Tal-Ya Water Technologies has developed a reusable product that can collect moisture from the atmosphere and use it to irrigate crops; this particular technology has helped reduce the required water input for greenhouse crops by nearly 50% (Leichman, 2019). Lastly,  a solar tower has been developed with a series of reflecting mirrors on the ground level in the area, which generates heat and electricity for the surrounding area with high retention - enough to power through the night... and while these modern agricultural systems and technologies may be creating short-term growth in yield, the systems that keep them in place still have a significant need for development for improvement.

Above: Observing the Bio-Bees