By Israel’s food security efforts are facing a significant challenge as the Finance Ministry moves to cut crucial agriculture funds. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is pushing back against the proposal to slash 105 staff positions from its Training and Professional Service division, part of a larger 2025 budget plan aimed at saving NIS 85 million over three years.
Agriculture Ministry Fights to Preserve Essential Services
The staff positions under threat play a vital role in supporting Israeli farmers. The department works with research institutions and offers courses on topics like field crops, citrus, and farm economics. Cutting these services could have long-term effects on Israel’s ability to sustain local food production.
The proposal is part of a broader plan, which has already seen the elimination of 145 jobs in the Agriculture Ministry over three years. According to the Ministry, these cuts could lead to a 20% reduction in staff, potentially undermining the country’s farming sector and leading to food shortages.
Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter has been working closely with the Tekuma Administration, a government body set up to support communities near the Gaza border. The administration’s plans include expanding farming and training new generations of farmers, but the Finance Ministry’s cuts seem to contradict these efforts.
Israel’s Food Security in Jeopardy
The proposal to cut agriculture funding comes at a time when food security is increasingly important, especially after disruptions like Hamas’s invasion in 2023 and recent export bans by Turkey, which supplies a quarter of Israel’s tomatoes.
Israel imports about 90% of its grains and other staple foods, making the country heavily reliant on external sources for critical parts of its food supply. The Ministry of Agriculture, which recently added Food Security to its title, is leading an initiative to create a 25-year national food security plan.
David Levy, the general manager of the Israel Association of Field Crop Growers, expressed concern about the growing disconnect between the government’s rhetoric on food security and its actual budgetary decisions. Levy pointed out that while there is a “listening ear” from Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, he has “no control over the money,” leaving the Ministry vulnerable to Finance Ministry cuts.
A Bleak Outlook for Israeli Farmers
Israeli agriculture has been in decline for decades, and these cuts may exacerbate the problem.
A report from HaShomer HaChadash, a nonprofit organization focused on agricultural and Zionist ideals, notes that Israel produces 90% of its fruits and vegetables locally, but imports the vast majority of grains, sugar, and fish. The number of farm owners has also dropped from 45,000 in 1990 to just 13,000 today.
Recommendations from the HaShomer HaChadash report include increasing investment in agriculture, offering state-subsidized insurance to encourage innovation, and designating more land for farming to keep pace with the country’s growing population.
Yoel Zilberman, the co-founder and CEO of HaShomer HaChadash, emphasized the existential importance of agriculture for Israel’s future. “We’ve depended on Turkey, Jordan, and Ukraine, which has put us at real risk,” Zilberman said. He added that despite the Finance Ministry’s focus on lowering food prices through imports, these policies have not benefited Israeli consumers and have hurt local farmers.
A Call for a Strategic National Food Plan
With the threat of job cuts and budget reductions looming, the Agriculture Ministry and organizations like HaShomer HaChadash are pushing for a more strategic approach to food security.
The HaShomer HaChadash report recommends a government authority specifically dedicated to food security, as well as a long-term plan that increases funding for agriculture, promotes research, and ensures the country’s agricultural future.
If Israel is to maintain its food independence and reduce its reliance on imports, it will need to invest significantly in local farming, research, and infrastructure. The proposed budget cuts put all of these efforts at risk, leading to a precarious future for Israel’s food security.