Israel has a food security problem, which affects its national security
This according to the Head of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee, MP Ram Ben Barak, following a special discussion on the matter. Dr. Dorit Adler, President of the Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition, spoke with Israel Defense about local agriculture as a key pillar of national resilience, and the importance of preparing for long-term crises
Mandi Kogosowski
| 15/08/2021
A worker picks apples in the Golan Heights. Photo: REUTERS/Ammar Awad
“We’ve come to the understanding that we have a problem with food security, which is a vital component of our national security”. This realization was sounded by the Head of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee, MP Ram Ben Barak, at the end of a special panel discussion on the matter. The forthcoming agricultural reform, Arrangements Law and farmers’ protests have been widely covered by the media in recent weeks. There’s been a lot of talk regarding profit/loss for the agriculture sector, about who could make a quick buck off someone else’ back, the role the large retails chains have been playing, and also about the simple love of the land. But one part of the complex equation was sidelined, together with a major component that was probably not really taken into account when the powers that be planned the reform: that there can be no national security without food security.
“Up until today, the State of Israel hasn’t prepared itself for long-term emergency scenarios and disasters – and actually, not even for mid-range ones, but only for short-range scenarios of a war that lasts a few weeks and then ends,” says Dr. Dorit Adler, President of the Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition, who participated in the Knesset’s discussion. “And therefore, the state doesn’t have a plan regarding the amount of food that must be stored for emergencies, which foods should be stored, for how long, and who is responsible for this whole thing. There is no single body that is in charge of this subject as far as planning, budgeting and control.
“But the climate crisis, which is already affecting global food webs, is not something that will last only a few weeks, nor is it something we can ignore for now and have the next generations figure out, or even postpone by a decade. It’s here now,” Dr. Adler continues with an unstoppable flow. “Let’s take the record-setting heat waves in the US: it’s already known that wheat and soybean production will substantially decline this year as a result, and similar effects will happen in other countries around the world. And then what? Countries will stop exporting as soon as they won’t have enough to feed their own populations – and that also means that Israel will not be able to import a significant amount of its food. We will not always be able to buy grain from countries that might not be able to provide it to its own people, or that will put such a high price tag that it will be completely unaffordable.”
Between fresh food production and the Chinese takeover
Q: What’s the situation in Israel regarding food production/import?
“Currently, Israel produces nearly all of its fresh foods: fruits, vegetables, potatoes – and also poultry, eggs and dairy. But in order to have those meat and dairy products, we import grains and forage crops, to feed the animals. We don’t have the ability to grow enough wheat in Israel, for example. So this is one point,” explains Dr. Adler. “Another point, is that Israel mostly imports sugar, oils and grains, and a large part of those calories ends up in ultra-processed foods which we should avoid.
“The state must realize that its farmers and agriculture are a national security infrastructure, and must provide incentives for farmers to grow foods that are in the core of healthy nutrition, the Mediterranean diet,”, Dr. Adler continues. “For example, let’s suppose we can no longer import wheat – but we can still grow potatoes, fruits and vegetables, and also legumes. Today, Israeli farmers grow about 50% of the legumes consumed in the country. There’s no actual reason why they can’t grow 100%, except that it’s just not worthwhile for them. So give them incentives to make it worthwhile, and then those legumes out in the field will also become part of the emergency food stock, and healthy food as it is.”
And there is yet another point, regarding other countries that are well prepared for a food crisis possibility. So well, in fact, that other countries might not have anything left. “China, for example, buys almost everything today. And when China is buying, this might harm other countries that will not be able to keep up with the competition and buy as well,” states Dr. Adler.
In fact, China has been taking over much more than agricultural exports, including food production companies in various countries – including Israel’s “Tnuva”, which was purchased by China’s state-owned “Bright Food” corporation in 2015. Many members of the Israeli parliament opposed this step, citing fears of harming the country’s national security interests. Former Head of the Mossad, Efraim Halevy, issued stark warnings that China might exploit this asset for its economic and security goals the moment it so desires.
“The absense of food security leads to social unrest, even in democracies”
Israel finds itself in a unique situation as far as the interrelations between the climate crisis and national security. The combination of a small country surrounded by enemies, located in a region referred to as a “climate change hotspot” that is warming up faster than the global average, with a mostly semi-arid and arid climate, has created an entire range of risks and challenges. “The origins of the Syrian civil war can be found in a long drought that hit the eastern part of the country, that started the internal immigration which then led to economic difficulties and civil unrest,” Dr. Adler explains. “We already know that the absence of food security causes unrest in both problematic and democratic regimes worldwide. Rising prices do the same, we’ve already seen that in Israel. But at the moment this isn’t getting enough attention.”
Dr Dorit Adler. Photo from the website of the Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition
But every challenge has an opportunity by its side, and Dr. Adler is also optimistic. “If we look at the situation not only as a threat, but rather also as a challenge that tightens our ability to handle various crises together – well then, we have regional potential here. For example: Israel has great tech, and Jordan has plenty of land for agriculture. Why won’t we lease land from Jordan and sign agreements that will strengthen the relations between both countries, and also help us deal with regional food insecurity in a much more comprehensive way? We already have a water agreement, it could possibly be expanded.
“Furthermore, Israel takes great pride in its foodtech and agritech – but all of this lies on the basis of the research infrastructure, which in itself stems from the glorious agriculture we have here, which is at a very high level. Therefore, killing local agriculture by opening up the markets would also kill the research. The state hasn’t been looking at this from a systemic point of view. It must start doing so, and part of it is providing massive research budgets,” Adler states.
“The direct support they want to offer the farmers is a mockery”
Q: On the spectrum between the farmers protesting against the new reforms and the politicians crying over the high price of grapes, it’s not too difficult to guess where you stand, right?
“Look, also the farmers say a reform is necessary. The price of fruits and vegetables should definitely be lowered, and it’s up to the state to do so. But it has enough tools – and not by cutting import taxes, but rather by supporting the farmers. Until this day, the consumer has not benefited from cutting taxes, and it’s unlikely that will change now,” says Adler. “But one must remember that food is a fundamental right, just like security is – and no one has been arguing with the Ministry of Defense regarding costs. Israel’s agricultural infrastructure is by no means less significant than Israel’s security. There can be no national security without food security.
“The state has many tools at its disposal, for example lowering the prices of the recycled water used for agriculture, encouraging farmers to grow the right, healthy crops, with proper incentives, rewarding them for ecological services such as preserving biodiversity,” Adler mentions just a few points. “The direct support the state wants to offer the farmers now with the new reform is a mockery: they’re discussing a compensation of a fixed price per hectare, regardless of the crop – so then it will be easiest for the farmer to grow wheat, where he has to put in much less that with fruits and vegetables. So then all anyone will grow here will be wheat?
“Until now, the discourse revolving this topic has been on a one-dimensional level, dealing with food as if it were simply another commodity, without the realization that it is first and foremost a basic human right and human need, critical for our survival,” Dr. Adler concludes. “ Food systems are highly complex, and constitute a key component in the national resilience and national security of the State of Israel – which must start immediately investing substantial sums in order to face the mighty challenges ahead.”
**Dr Dorit Adler, President of the Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition (a non-profit, no-budget organization, whose highly skilled members are all volunteers), co-authored the essay “Food Security and National Resilience in the Age of a Changing Climate”, together with Dr. Sigal Tepper and Dr. Asaf Tzachor”. The essay was published as part of the collection titled Environment, Climate and National Security: Israel’s New Front, by Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS).
**This article was first published in Hebrew and was translated by the author. For the original article click here.
This according to the Head of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee, MP Ram Ben Barak, following a special discussion on the matter. Dr. Dorit Adler, President of the Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition, spoke with Israel Defense about local agriculture as a key pillar of national resilience, and the importance of preparing for long-term crises
A worker picks apples in the Golan Heights. Photo: REUTERS/Ammar Awad
“We’ve come to the understanding that we have a problem with food security, which is a vital component of our national security”. This realization was sounded by the Head of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee, MP Ram Ben Barak, at the end of a special panel discussion on the matter. The forthcoming agricultural reform, Arrangements Law and farmers’ protests have been widely covered by the media in recent weeks. There’s been a lot of talk regarding profit/loss for the agriculture sector, about who could make a quick buck off someone else’ back, the role the large retails chains have been playing, and also about the simple love of the land. But one part of the complex equation was sidelined, together with a major component that was probably not really taken into account when the powers that be planned the reform: that there can be no national security without food security.
“Up until today, the State of Israel hasn’t prepared itself for long-term emergency scenarios and disasters – and actually, not even for mid-range ones, but only for short-range scenarios of a war that lasts a few weeks and then ends,” says Dr. Dorit Adler, President of the Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition, who participated in the Knesset’s discussion. “And therefore, the state doesn’t have a plan regarding the amount of food that must be stored for emergencies, which foods should be stored, for how long, and who is responsible for this whole thing. There is no single body that is in charge of this subject as far as planning, budgeting and control.
“But the climate crisis, which is already affecting global food webs, is not something that will last only a few weeks, nor is it something we can ignore for now and have the next generations figure out, or even postpone by a decade. It’s here now,” Dr. Adler continues with an unstoppable flow. “Let’s take the record-setting heat waves in the US: it’s already known that wheat and soybean production will substantially decline this year as a result, and similar effects will happen in other countries around the world. And then what? Countries will stop exporting as soon as they won’t have enough to feed their own populations – and that also means that Israel will not be able to import a significant amount of its food. We will not always be able to buy grain from countries that might not be able to provide it to its own people, or that will put such a high price tag that it will be completely unaffordable.”
Between fresh food production and the Chinese takeover
Q: What’s the situation in Israel regarding food production/import?
“Currently, Israel produces nearly all of its fresh foods: fruits, vegetables, potatoes – and also poultry, eggs and dairy. But in order to have those meat and dairy products, we import grains and forage crops, to feed the animals. We don’t have the ability to grow enough wheat in Israel, for example. So this is one point,” explains Dr. Adler. “Another point, is that Israel mostly imports sugar, oils and grains, and a large part of those calories ends up in ultra-processed foods which we should avoid.
“The state must realize that its farmers and agriculture are a national security infrastructure, and must provide incentives for farmers to grow foods that are in the core of healthy nutrition, the Mediterranean diet,”, Dr. Adler continues. “For example, let’s suppose we can no longer import wheat – but we can still grow potatoes, fruits and vegetables, and also legumes. Today, Israeli farmers grow about 50% of the legumes consumed in the country. There’s no actual reason why they can’t grow 100%, except that it’s just not worthwhile for them. So give them incentives to make it worthwhile, and then those legumes out in the field will also become part of the emergency food stock, and healthy food as it is.”
And there is yet another point, regarding other countries that are well prepared for a food crisis possibility. So well, in fact, that other countries might not have anything left. “China, for example, buys almost everything today. And when China is buying, this might harm other countries that will not be able to keep up with the competition and buy as well,” states Dr. Adler.
In fact, China has been taking over much more than agricultural exports, including food production companies in various countries – including Israel’s “Tnuva”, which was purchased by China’s state-owned “Bright Food” corporation in 2015. Many members of the Israeli parliament opposed this step, citing fears of harming the country’s national security interests. Former Head of the Mossad, Efraim Halevy, issued stark warnings that China might exploit this asset for its economic and security goals the moment it so desires.
“The absense of food security leads to social unrest, even in democracies”
Israel finds itself in a unique situation as far as the interrelations between the climate crisis and national security. The combination of a small country surrounded by enemies, located in a region referred to as a “climate change hotspot” that is warming up faster than the global average, with a mostly semi-arid and arid climate, has created an entire range of risks and challenges. “The origins of the Syrian civil war can be found in a long drought that hit the eastern part of the country, that started the internal immigration which then led to economic difficulties and civil unrest,” Dr. Adler explains. “We already know that the absence of food security causes unrest in both problematic and democratic regimes worldwide. Rising prices do the same, we’ve already seen that in Israel. But at the moment this isn’t getting enough attention.”
Dr Dorit Adler. Photo from the website of the Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition
But every challenge has an opportunity by its side, and Dr. Adler is also optimistic. “If we look at the situation not only as a threat, but rather also as a challenge that tightens our ability to handle various crises together – well then, we have regional potential here. For example: Israel has great tech, and Jordan has plenty of land for agriculture. Why won’t we lease land from Jordan and sign agreements that will strengthen the relations between both countries, and also help us deal with regional food insecurity in a much more comprehensive way? We already have a water agreement, it could possibly be expanded.
“Furthermore, Israel takes great pride in its foodtech and agritech – but all of this lies on the basis of the research infrastructure, which in itself stems from the glorious agriculture we have here, which is at a very high level. Therefore, killing local agriculture by opening up the markets would also kill the research. The state hasn’t been looking at this from a systemic point of view. It must start doing so, and part of it is providing massive research budgets,” Adler states.
“The direct support they want to offer the farmers is a mockery”
Q: On the spectrum between the farmers protesting against the new reforms and the politicians crying over the high price of grapes, it’s not too difficult to guess where you stand, right?
“Look, also the farmers say a reform is necessary. The price of fruits and vegetables should definitely be lowered, and it’s up to the state to do so. But it has enough tools – and not by cutting import taxes, but rather by supporting the farmers. Until this day, the consumer has not benefited from cutting taxes, and it’s unlikely that will change now,” says Adler. “But one must remember that food is a fundamental right, just like security is – and no one has been arguing with the Ministry of Defense regarding costs. Israel’s agricultural infrastructure is by no means less significant than Israel’s security. There can be no national security without food security.
“The state has many tools at its disposal, for example lowering the prices of the recycled water used for agriculture, encouraging farmers to grow the right, healthy crops, with proper incentives, rewarding them for ecological services such as preserving biodiversity,” Adler mentions just a few points. “The direct support the state wants to offer the farmers now with the new reform is a mockery: they’re discussing a compensation of a fixed price per hectare, regardless of the crop – so then it will be easiest for the farmer to grow wheat, where he has to put in much less that with fruits and vegetables. So then all anyone will grow here will be wheat?
“Until now, the discourse revolving this topic has been on a one-dimensional level, dealing with food as if it were simply another commodity, without the realization that it is first and foremost a basic human right and human need, critical for our survival,” Dr. Adler concludes. “ Food systems are highly complex, and constitute a key component in the national resilience and national security of the State of Israel – which must start immediately investing substantial sums in order to face the mighty challenges ahead.”
**Dr Dorit Adler, President of the Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition (a non-profit, no-budget organization, whose highly skilled members are all volunteers), co-authored the essay “Food Security and National Resilience in the Age of a Changing Climate”, together with Dr. Sigal Tepper and Dr. Asaf Tzachor”. The essay was published as part of the collection titled Environment, Climate and National Security: Israel’s New Front, by Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS).
**This article was first published in Hebrew and was translated by the author. For the original article click here.
