ICL’s Agronomy Tour: On-Site Exploration

ICL’s Agronomy, R&D, and Marketing/Digital teams recently conducted an agronomic tour in the Beit She’an Valley, located in northwestern Israel. The objective was to directly observe agricultural practices and interact with local farmers to comprehend their challenges and goals.

The Growth of Wheat, Tomatoes, and Chickpeas in Kibbutz Haftziva

The journey began at a wheat field in Kibbutz Haftziva, meeting with the supervising farmer. He shared insights into fertilization strategies for wheat, tomatoes, and chickpeas. Dr. Dvir Taler, ICL’s Agronomy Lead in Israel, illustrated how to measure nitrogen levels directly from wheat leaf sap, providing farmers with immediate data to inform their fertilization decisions.

In the region, urea is commonly used as a fertilizer for wheat fields but is susceptible to environmental losses. Dr. Ruth Fried, a Senior Manager in ICL’s R&D team, showcased “Green Urea,” an ICL innovation that includes a nitrification inhibitor to reduce nitrogen losses and improve nitrogen use efficiency.

Crop Management at Kibbutz Maoz Haim

In Kibbutz Maoz Haim, discussions with the alfalfa farmer revealed the challenges of using saline water for irrigation. Shay Mey-Tal, VP of Agronomy, demonstrated the use of NDVI maps on his smartphone, allowing precision agriculture practices that provide vital information on vegetation health and variability.

Exploring Zemach’s Experimental Station

The tour wrapped up at Zemach’s experimental station by the Sea of Galilee, where we explored banana experimental plots. The visit offered insights into research that enhances water and fertilizer use efficiency in subtropical crops such as bananas, mangoes, and avocados, and it opened the door to potential research and product development collaborations.

ICL’s agronomy tour underscores the company’s commitment to “boots on the ground” learning, actively engaging with farmers to understand challenges and unmet needs. This dedication ensures the delivery of innovative and sustainable solutions for crop nutrition management