Strategy for Sustainable Development in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

This Strategy for Sustainable Development is a sectoral document included in the policy of planning, management, performance, and evaluation led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Israel based on an awareness of the importance of conservation, management, and development of rural land, together with a commitment to sustainable development. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development works to achieve three main goals (1) food production; (2) settlement deployment; and (3) encouraging agriculture that contributes to the environment and has ecological benefits. The main goal of the Strategy is to make Israeli agriculture a multi-task and multi-functional agriculture that (i) produces and supplies fresh, healthy, high-quality food at a reasonable cost all year round; (ii) contributes to the development of additional economic circles of inputs and product processing; (iii) produces good values, protects the environment, promotes the development of the village and its surroundings. In the achievement of these goals, the document identifies the following strategic interventions (i) developing economic agricultural growth by maintaining some natural resources and the basic means of production, land, sea, and water, which are limited resources that must be preserved; (ii) strengthening the status and image of agriculture and the countryside as having social and cultural, and ecological values; (iii) promoting development of the village that includes aspects of planning, construction, and infrastructure, attracting a younger generation, providing employment, rural and agricultural tourism, and preserving unique forms of life; (iv) reducing uncertainty in agriculture, through mechanisms accepted by international organizations.
Some of the principal interventions to be conducted in the agricultural sector are (i) reform the support mechanisms for agriculture and rural development based on environmental and social standards and incentives; (ii) develop and apply agricultural knowledge and innovation, especially in the fields of biotechnology, precision agriculture, agroecology, and aquaculture; (iii) improve the quality and safety of agricultural produce, and to increase its diversity and accessibility to the public; (iv) develop the human capital and to attract a younger generation of farmers; (v) reduce the environmental impact of agriculture on climate change, biological diversity, and pollution; (vi) increase public awareness and involvement in the protection and cultivation of agriculture and the rural areas.
To improve agricultural production and consequently farmers' lives and conditions, the Strategy recommends (i) increasing investment in agricultural technology, streamlining the value chain, and enhancing global competitiveness; (ii) making Israel a leading agri-tech hub with a strong focus on technological advancements; (iii) promoting precision agriculture using sensors and robotics for crop monitoring; (iv) supporting biotechnology for higher yields and reduced pesticide use; (v) embracing digitalization to meet consumer preferences and enhance transparency; (vi) establishing a support system for new crop development; (vii) creating digital trading platforms for direct grower-buyer interactions; (viii) raising public awareness of food health and marine resource utilization; (ix) developing policies to promote sustainability, including organic farming, animal welfare, and innovation in production and marketing. The Strategy also promotes inclusiveness by providing opportunities for people from different backgrounds to participate in and benefit from the development of the agricultural sector.