In June this year, global temperatures reached the highest ever recorded, while Israel experienced its hottest July in 75 years. In August, the price of tomatoes rose to nearly NIS 30 ($8) per kilogram in some markets, and a ban on importing cucumbers was imposed due to bacterial contamination. This raises pressing questions about the availability and cost of fresh produce in Israel. What will Israeli salad look like in the future? And how much will it cost?
The challenges go beyond lettuce, a particularly harsh season or a specific shortage. The impact of climate change on food security is emerging as one of the most important challenges of the 21st century. Without immediate investment in finding solutions, we could face a major crisis in the near future.
Climate change has a significant impact on food security as it alters growing conditions and leads to reduced agricultural productivity due to excessive heat and water scarcity. Take the tomato, for example.
Tomatoes suffer from the heat; heat waves and high nighttime temperatures affect the vitality of pollen grains and reduce their ability to fertilize flowers and produce fruit. This leads to particularly poor yields during the peak summer season, which in turn leads to market shortages and higher prices, which in turn affect farmers and the local economy. In addition, extreme weather events such as droughts and floods, as well as additional changes in water availability, make it difficult to irrigate the crops efficiently and safely. The same is true for many other crops and agriculture in general.
As climate change rapidly alters the Earth’s surface, its impacts on agriculture and food sources cannot be ignored. Addressing these challenges requires immediate investment in research and development of new technologies and advanced agricultural systems to adapt to these changes and ensure food supplies for the world’s growing population.
To ensure food security in the era of climate change, policy integration and support for farmers and food systems, as well as investment in research and development of innovative agricultural technologies are essential – for example, the development of crop varieties adapted to extreme conditions, such as heat or salt-resistant varieties. Such solutions enable cultivation in areas previously less suitable for agriculture and increase productivity under changing climate conditions.
ANOTHER CRITICAL area concerns the development of smart water management technologies, including drip irrigation and computer-controlled irrigation systems, which help conserve water resources and improve their efficiency. Israel has long been a pioneer in the development and implementation of such innovative technologies, which other countries are also seeking to implement.
Climate change will affect pest populations that are not present in many places before, but rising temperatures will encourage their spread. New biotechnology technologies to control pests and diseases are also being developed in many parts of the world, reducing the need for pesticides and insecticides and leading to more sustainable agricultural production that is safer for consumers. These technologies, along with other solutions still under development, need to be proven in practice.
New forms of agriculture
A frequently discussed topic in this context is urban and vertical farming, which allows food to be grown in closed systems closer to urban centers, reducing transportation costs and minimizing environmental impact. Although the construction of such facilities is increasing by 30% worldwide, there is still a gap between the potential of these systems and their performance in practice – particularly due to the economic model, which needs improvements, especially in reducing the energy costs required for agricultural production using these methods.
Investing in advanced agricultural technologies such as precision farming and data-driven farming have proven beneficial in increasing productivity, saving inputs and reducing the impact of environmental and climate risks. For example, by using sensors and smart systems, farmers can monitor soil and climate conditions and make immediate adjustments, especially by receiving real-time alerts about crop problems or similar issues.
We need to harness the power of AI and integrate it into every aspect of agriculture to create supply chains that are precise, modern, cost-efficient – and most importantly, resilient. As supply chains are increasingly impacted by natural and extreme climate events, as well as man-made disasters and various global events, building resilient supply chains is an overarching imperative.
Given the significant challenges that climate change poses to food security, immediate investment in research and development is absolutely essential. By taking the necessary steps now, we can ensure a safe and nutritious future for our growing global population. While critics might argue that investing in research and development is too costly, the cost of inaction threatens to be even higher.
The author is the executive director of the US-Israel binational Fund for Agricultural Research and Development (BARD). He is the former director general of the Volcano Center in Israel and previously headed numerous institutes within the center. He received his PhD in soil microbiology from the Hebrew University and completed his postdoctoral work as a Fulbright scholar at the University of California, Davis.
