Drip irrigation, celebrated for its precision and efficiency, is a game-changer for sustainable agriculture. It conserves water, cuts down on fertilizer use, and boosts crop yields, addressing some of the most pressing agricultural challenges. Yet, despite these advantages, it’s been adopted on only 4-5% of irrigated land globally. Why hasn’t this groundbreaking technology been embraced more widely?
There is nothing small about smallholder farming, neither in its numbers nor in the opportunity it presents. The 500 million smallholders across the planet produce a third of the world’s food. However, despite their significant contributions, most of these farmers struggle with limited access to essential resources like seeds, crop protection, and fertilizers, as well as agricultural expertise.
Flooding in Brazil and Texas, a brutal heat wave throughout the Philippines, record temperature in Africa and India, and that’s just in the past month! Extreme weather has devastating effects around the world, and guess who usually gets hit the hardest? Farmers! Here's where Crop Advisor comes in, a real-time irrigation decision-support system and an indispensable part of GrowSphere™.
Our recent project in Rwanda, the Gabiro Project, is a shining example of what can be achieved when diverse stakeholders come together with a shared vision – to transform lives and landscapes through sustainable agriculture. Michael Bruderli, Head of Business Development at Netafim and the Gabiro Project manager, delves into the journey of Gabiro, from inception to its remarkable impact on the local community and beyond.
Rice, one of the most important food sources for humanity, holds significant importance in cultivation areas worldwide. Rice production and agricultural yield play a crucial role in both Türkiye and the global agricultural landscape.
While there's abundant information about greenhouse gases, it's a common misconception to associate greenhouses with high greenhouse gas emissions. In reality, greenhouses enriched with carbon dioxide (CO2) enable plants to photosynthesize more effectively¹.
Sustainable agriculture's future lies at the intersection of food security and financial efficiency, driven by commercial greenhouse innovation. We believe that local, sustainable food production using as few resources as possible is the path to achieve it.
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.
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.
In the picturesque town of Pedregulho, nestled in the heart of São Paulo, Brazil, William Ferreira is writing a new chapter in the world of coffee farming. As the Manager of the Santa Maria and Jatobá Farms, part of the AGAM Group, William is on a mission to elevate coffee cultivation to new heights. His secret weapon? Netafim's cutting-edge GrowSphere™, the world's first operating system (OS) for precision irrigation and fertigation.
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!”. My personal journey to meaningful, impactful, and lasting corporate social responsibility had begun.
