Dr. Yona Siderer,Interdisciplinary Centre forTechnological analysis and Forecasting,At Tel-Aviv University, Israel

and Food Product Unit, Institute forHealth and Consumer Protection,European Commission Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy

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Agro-Food Sector: Israeli Facts and Figures

2001

This presentation of the Israeli Agro-Food Sector is aimed to

serve as a part of the Compilation of the Thematic

Network on Food Production and Processing in the Mediterranean

Countries

Dr. Yona Siderer is with the Interdisciplinary Centre for Technological Analysis and

Forecasting at Tel-Aviv University, Israel

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LAND USE

The Negev Desert, located in the southern part of Israel accounts for some 50% of Israel’s national area and dominates its land use.

See Table 1.

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Table 1: Land Use in Israel

Thousands Hectares

% of total

Total area of Israel

2,245 100.0

Built-up area

200 8.9

Open Area and other uses

1,146 51.0

Naturals Parks and Forests

347 15.5

Pasture 141 6.3

Arable Land

411 18.3

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T

Two additional main features of the land use structure characterizes its impact on agriculture development:

•The very limited area

of pastures, and

•The high dependence

on Water in order to

use the arable land5

Table 2: Agricultural Use of Land by Crops

Thousands Hectares

%

Total 328.2 100.0

Thereof irrigated 192.3 58.6

un-irrigated 135.9 41.4

Orchards 84.8 25.8

Thereof citrus 25.3 7.7

Vegetables, potatoes & melons

55.1 16.8

Flowers and ornamental plants

5.2 1.6

Field Crops 183.0 55.8

Thereof cotton 29.0 8.8

wheat 86.0 26.2

A comparison of Tables 1 and 2 shows that large areas of arable land were not cultivated in 1999: Fallow Land =83,000 Hectares

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Employment

The employment structure of those engaged in agriculture reflects two basic trends:

A decreasing number of self-employed farmers, mostly members of cooperatives who have been substituted by hired workers and the increase of hired workers as additional manpower in the sector.

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Table 3: Employment in Agriculture

Thousands

1996 1997 1998 1999

Total 72.4 74.4 78.4 79.6

Self employed Farmers

26.0 24.4 22.8 22.8

Hired Workers

46.4 50.0 55.6 56.8

% of hired workers of total

64.1 67.2 70.9 71.4

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Employment (Cont.)

• About 36,000 hired workers of the total of 56,800 come from outside of Israel, this represents 64% of hired employees and 46% of total agricultural manpower.

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Agricultural Production

• During the last decade the total value of agricultural production decreased by almost 15% at real prices. However, this development represents different changes: declining prices of agricultural product prices and increasing quantities of production. The quantity index of agricultural production during the same period increased by 30%.

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Agricultural Production (continued)

• Some export crops, in particular citrus and cotton, suffered from a drastic reduction of prices and exported volume.

• In livestock products the price received by producers were far behind the cost of living index.

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Table 4: Agricultural Production of Israel by Branch, 1989-1999(US$ Millions, at 1999 Prices)

1989 1999US$

Millions% US$

Millions%

Total Value of Production

3844 100. 3279 100.

Horticulture & Field Crops total

2177 56.6 1813 55.3

Vegetables 524 13.6 585 17.8Flowers and Ornamental Plants

230 6.0 215 17.8

Citrus 387 10.1 220 6.7Other Fruits 429 11.2 452 13.8Field Crops 506 13.2 224 6.8Other Crops 101 2.6 117 3.6

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Table 4: Agricultural Production of Israel by Branch, 1989-1999 (US$ Millions, at 1999 Prices)(CONT.)

1989 1989 1999 1999

US$ Millions

% US$ Millions

%

Total Value of Products

3844 100 3279 100

Horticulture and Field crops- Total

2177 56 1813 55.3

Vegetables 524 13.6 585 17.8

Flowers &

ornamentals

230 6.0 215 6.6

Citrus 387 10.1 220 6.7

Other fruits 429 11.2 452 13.8

Field Crops 506 13.2 224 6.8

Other Crops 101 2.6 117 3.6

Livestock Total

1667 43.4 1466 44.7

Poultry 790 20.6 648 19.8

Dairy and Beef

622 16.2 545 16.6

Sheep and Goats

101 2.6 97 2.9

Fish+Other Livestock

103 + 51 2.7 + 1.3 114 + 62 3.5 + 1.9

 

Main Horticulture and Field Crops, 1999

• Most horticulture crops are based on subtropical and deciduous fruits, and large selection of vegetables are grown under plastic cover or in greenhouses as well as in open areas but mainly under irrigation. However, due to water shortage, most basic grains for human and livestock consumptions are imported.

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Table 6: Main Livestock Table 6: Main Livestock Products, 1999Products, 1999

Livestock ProductsProduction of livestock products is characterized by very intensive use of technology. As a result, very high yields are obtained in many products. For example, average milk production has increased two and a half times since the 1950s – from 3900 liters annually to an average close to 11000 liters per dairy cow in 1999.

Poultry farming which is the major supplier of meat for domestic demand has developed under extreme variations of climate. This fact necessitated the development of poultry breeds that are highly diseases resistant.

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Table 7: Selected Livestock Inventory, 1999 (Thousands, end of

1999)1999

Cattle 388

Thereof milk cows

122

Poultry

Laying eggs 7190

Broilers 20150

Turkeys 4900

Sheep and goats

Sheep 350

Goats 70

Beehives 72Source: Central Bureau of Statistics

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Table 8: Food Consumption by Main Commodities (Per capita)

Commodity Kg per year Commodity Kg per year

Cereals Meat

Wheat 104.9 Beef, fresh and frozen, carcass weight

16.1

Rice, millet 9.6 Sheep and goats 1.2

Potatoes/Flour 43.4 Poultry, slaughtered

56.7

Sugar 43.0 Eggs 14.6

Vegetables 186.8 Fish 13.4

Fresh Fruit 102.5 Milk and Dairy Products

Oils and Fats Cow’s milk 61.9

Butter 0.8 Cheese 15.9

Margarine 5.2 20

Table 9: Annual Outlay of Food 1999 (At 1999 prices, per capita)

Commodity US$ % of total

Total 1658 100.0

Processed Fruits and Vegetables

157 9.4

Tea, Coffee and Cocoa 79 4.7

Sugar and sugar products 187 11.3

Fresh Vegetables 122 7.3

Fresh Fruits 147 8.9

Edible Oils 39 2.3

Milk and Milk Products 241 14.5

Eggs 34 2.0

Fish 78 4.7

Meat and Meat Products 288 17.4

Flours and Cereals Products 287 17.3

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Food Quality: trends and policy

• According to systems introduced by FAO, a worldwide food balance is calculated in order to follow the changes in composition of the main nutrients consumed by various populations as well as to evaluate the total calorie intake.

• The World Health Organization has recommended minimum quantities of proteins, fat and calories required for the human body.

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Food Quality: trends and

policy (Continued)• Figures collected in Israel during the

period 1960-1999 show a continuous increase in the daily intake of major nutrients per capita, placing Israel among the most developed countries

• These changes represent also the structure of the Israeli food basket, which is similar in many aspects to those of other Mediterranean countries. The main features of the food consumption in this region are a high intake of fresh fruits and vegetables

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Table 10: Food Balance-Calories and nutrients, 1960-1999 (per capita per

day)

Year Calories

Index Protein(grams)

Index

Fat (grams)

Of animal orig.in

Index

Total fat

Index

Animal Origin

1960 2772 100 85.1 100 86.7 27.9 100 100

1970 2988 108 91.5 108 104.3 38.3 120 137

1980 2979 107 92.2 108 111.5 38.7 129 139

1990 3089 111 97.4 114 117.6 42.6 136 153

1999 3543 128 105.3 124 133.7 44.3 154 159

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Table 11: Main Horticulture and Fiels Crops, 1999

Commmodity Value*US$ Millions, at 1999 prices

% of Total Production

Quantity**Thousands of tons

Vegetables 2107

Potatoes 122.9 3.7 364

Edible Tomatoes 94.4 2.9 242

Peppers 61.1 1.9 102

Cucumbers 33.1 1.0 108

Strawberries 25.8 0.8 16

Flowers & Ornamental plants***

Millions of Export unit only

1435

Roses 38.4 1.2 469

Carnations 9.4 0.3 117

Gypsophila 22.7 0.7 155

Fruits 1299

Citrus 723

Oranges 58.7 1.8 204

Grapefruits 92.5 2.8 372

Easy Peelers 43.5 1.3 97

Table 11: Main Horticulture and Field Crops, 1999 (continued)

Commmodity Value, US$ millions, at 1999 pricess

% of Total Production

Quantity, Thousands of tons

Other Fruits 575

Apples 82.1 2.5 128

Apricots 44.9 1.4 46

Table Grapes 48.6 1.5 49

Bananas 52.4 1.6 118

Avocado 49.0 1.5 56

Field Crops

Cotton Fiber 34.1 1.0 25

Spices and Medicinal Plants

30.2 0.9

Groundnuts 27.3 0.8 23

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Table 12: Main Livestock

Commodity Value, US$ Millions, 1999 price

% of Total Production

Quantity, Thousands tons

1. Livestock for meat

657.0 20.0

Cattle 143.7 4.4 88

Sheep and Goats

79.5 2.4 22

Poultry 406.3 12.4 391

Thereof Broilers 258.9 7.9 260

Turkeys 130.9 4.0 125

2. Milk 418.8 12.8

Dairy (Millions liters, (ML))

401.7 12.3 1157

Sheep and Goats (ML)

17.1 0.5 29

3. Eggs (Millions units)

112.1 3.4 1640

4. Aquaculture 114.3 3.5 30

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FOOD INDUSTRY LEGISLATION

• Two ministries are in charge of food:• The Ministry of Agriculture – Raw

agricultural material.• The Ministry of Health – The public

health, foodstuffs.• A special attention is given to Food –

Chemical and Physical Testing Methods. I.e.:

• 1) “Methods of Identification of colour in food: Water soluble synthetic colour additives” (TI 1412) of 1989. re-approved 1995.

• 2)      “Analytical methods of nutritional labelling verification” (TI 1978) of 1997.

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FOOD INDUSTRY LEGISLATION (cont.)

This standard includes the following testing methods: Principles; protein content; fats content; saturated fat content; cholesterol content; moisture content; ash content; sugars

and polysaccharides content; starch content;

available carbohydrates content; content of all nutritional fibers; sodium content; other minerals content; vitamins content; ethanol content; determining caloric value.  The methods refer to AOAC – Official methods of analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists – Methods of Analysis for Nutrition Labelling. 29

FOOD INDUSTRY LEGISLATION(cont.)

 • There appears in Rashumot an

announcement that an Israeli standard was issued. The standard is a technical document, according to the rules of standards. The standards are prepared by public committees that have members of the manufacturers and consumers sectors, and members representing the state authorities, with a balance between those. The drafts of the standards are presented to the public for the public critics.

• Most of the food regulations are prepared as secondary legislation.

• Laws concerning product quality and authenticity are derived from the law of the consumer protection.  

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References

• Israel Agriculture Facts and Figures; Dr. Arieh Sheskin, Dr. Arie Regev, July 2001; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Foreign Trade Center, Foreign Relations Department

• Central Bureau of Statistics (Cited in Ref. 1)

• Free Income, Private Consumption and Food Consumption in 1986-1999; by Raphael Shternlicht, December 2000; State of Israel, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and The Jewish Agency, Department of Rural Development.

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