This morning, a unique delegation of United Nations ambassadors and representatives from 22 countries arrived in Israel at the initiative of Israel's envoy to the UN, Danny Danon. The delegation met with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, MK Avi Dichter, and visited the Beit Dagan Agricultural Complex to learn about Israeli agricultural innovation and Israel's advanced research and development capabilities in the area of ​​food security. The delegation included representatives from Italy, Côte d'Ivoire, Solomon Islands, Cyprus, Tuvalu, Samoa, Haiti, Malawi, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, Bulgaria, Palau, Zambia, Romania, Rwanda, Micronesia, Moldova, Albania, Paraguay, South Sudan, and Australia.

During the visit, the delegation witnessed the advancements of the Volcani Institute in a live demonstration of precision agriculture technologies, which illustrated what the fields of the future will look like. Among other things, an advanced drone for aerial monitoring of fields and orchards was presented, providing farmers with a precise view of the plants' condition: where there is a water shortage, where diseases are developing, and where pests are beginning to appear before damage is even visible; the Penomobile, an autonomous agricultural robot that scans crops and helps adapt varieties to a changing climate; advanced research in the olive oil sector; the development of date oil as a sustainable alternative to palm oil; and a citrus display featuring flavorful seedless mandarins and lemons. The ambassadors also visited an olive grove, and at the end of the tour, the delegation received bread made with traditional Khorasan wheat.

Following this, the delegation attended lectures by researchers from the Volcani Institute, who presented how Israeli research offers practical solutions to address the climate crisis, improve crop resilience, and increase yields.

Yaakov Poleg, Principal Deputy Director for Trade and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, stated: “In a complex environment like the United Nations, Israeli agriculture and technology are not only fields of excellence, but also a true political lever. Renewing and deepening professional collaborations allows Israel to strengthen its position and consolidate its image as a contributing partner in the international community, particularly in the fight against climate change through innovative technology and adapted varieties, for the benefit of food security.”