A nursery is a meticulously crafted environment where young plants are cultivated and nurtured until they reach maturity for transplanting into farms or sale. Ever wondered about the significance of nursery design and its role in agriculture? Let's look at this crucial aspect of the agricultural landscape.
In the past couple of months, our site in Bangkok has experienced a notable influx of visitors and a substantial increase in inquiries regarding precision irrigation solutions. Changing weather patterns are on everyone’s agenda as reports released by the World Meteorological Organization in March 2023, assert that the rare, three year in a row La Niña is officially over, and another cycle of El Niño is heading our way.
The global population crosses 7.7 billion, increasing pressure on food, water, and energy resources. Most people are living in urban areas, and this poses several challenges; food security will be a severe issue for the future of citizens.
The way we have been producing food was adequate but not sustainable in the long run. We created large food hubs that distribute food across the globe. Covid and transportation issues have disrupted the international market. The need for local food production is evident. However, droughts and extreme weather make growing produce in an open field difficult. Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) can offer a solution. Can we produce crops in a more personalized manner?
Soil is a vital resource for feeding the burgeoning global population which is expected to reach over 9.8 billion people by 2050. The presence of excess salts in the soil make it saline, and pose a significant threat to farm productivity, environmental health and financial welfare. Based on the FAO/UNESCO soil map of the world, the total area of saline soils is 397 million hectares (Mha) which is approximately 3.1% of the world’s land area (FAO, 2005). Moreover, future projections of climate change and human population growth suggest that the extent of saline soils will grow accordingly.
Industrialized farming has allowed us to achieve large-scale food production at low costs, distributing it efficiently across the globe. However, this approach is proving unsustainable in the face of climate change, transportation challenges, and a growing population. Agricultural practices account for a significant 70% of global freshwater withdrawals and contribute to land and soil degradation (¹) . The emerging trend of growing food locally offers a solution to these challenges by shortening supply chains, reducing transportation costs, and minimizing carbon footprints.
At the turn of the millennium, as a fresh college grad with sparkly eyes and a passion to make an impact on the world, I joined a social NGO that initiated and operated learning centers for children from low income families. My mission was to recruit the business sector to take an active part in volunteering for this cause. The search for companies who would want to involve their employees in long term corporate volunteering was a frustrating journey filled with lots of “No, thank you!” as companies for the most part were interested in a quick and immediate route to doing good and making their employees feel good about themselves. My personal journey to meaningful, impactful, and lasting corporate social responsibility had begun.
Achieving success in constructing a commercial greenhouse hinge on a methodical approach that considers crucial factors such as optimal location and cutting-edge technologies. This article will delve into the essential steps required to establish a thriving commercial greenhouse.
Rosé wines are on the rise. With its pink hue, light taste and refreshing blast of red berry flavors, rosé is a great partner for food and come summertime, pink is what you want to drink. In the past decade, rosé has been globally rebranded - with celebrities and luxury brands alike scooping up vineyards. Consumption of the pink drink has increased by 20% over the last 20 years, and is expected to rise by as much as 50% by 2035 due to growing demand.
On April 22, at the urging of the United Nations, we came together to focus on a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet. But for real sustainability, we need to better use our remaining water 365 days a year.
I just returned from Dubai, where I had the honor of speaking at the AgrIsrael conference, at the invitation of Israel’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Like most of us in Netafim, I’m very familiar with deserts. I’ve visited numerous Netafim projects in the deserts of the Middle East, and I’ve been to our projects in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Siwa and elsewhere.
But this time was different.
As an agricultural engineer at Netafim, working as Project Manager with the Africa and Middle East team, I am reminded on a daily basis how technology is fundamentally changing the field of agriculture, and in doing so, helping to drive the empowerment of women. Many aspects of agriculture have traditionally been male-dominated, from ownership to expansion to marketing and sales but technological advances, combined with changing global dynamics and awareness, are slowly transforming the field both literally and figuratively, making it more accessible to women.
As the Community Outreach and Volunteer Resources coordinator at Netafim Israel, I am privileged that my work and my passion for impacting society are in sync. Netafim’s commitment to social responsibility, applying its innovation and creativity to strengthen and empower the community and its weaker links is a principle that I have fully related to during my 25 years at the company and am now responsible for putting into action.
Once a month, I head to Tohoku, which 10 years after the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011 that followed, is still a place that’s totally transformed.
Spring frost is not a new phenomenon. A frost in the early spring season is defined as such when the temperature falls to 32°F / 0°C or and lower, and arrives at a critical temperature at which plant tissues (cells) will be destroyed. It happens when the tree is in the most sensitive phase in its stage of growth.
