Agriculture and environment in a changing climate - the Israeli perspective

MASHAV – Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, and CINADCO - Center for International Agricultural Development Cooperation, in association with the ARO Volcani Center's Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences invite professionals to participate in this international course.


Date: November 27th – December 18th, 2012
Venue: CINADCO's Training Centre, the Volcani Agricultural Complex, Israel. 

About the course

Background

The increase in quantities of atmospheric greenhouse gases over the last 150 years and its influence on climate has become a major contemporary concern. In the Eastern Mediterranean, climate models predict increased temperatures and decreasing rainfall in the coming decades. This can lead to profound impacts on the environment, and requires adaptation steps in all sectors, including agriculture, to prevent detrimental results.

Israel has semi-arid and arid climates, and suffers from frequent drought years. Pressure on Israel's water resources has challenged its aquifers both in quantity and quality. In order to maintain its intensive agricultural production under these harsh conditions there has been a constant drive to (a) increase water use efficiency by utilizing improved understanding of soil properties, crop water use, and atmospheric demand for evapotranspiration, (b) to use new resources (e.g. marginal water) and (c) to develop new techniques and methodologies that enable the practice of sustainable agriculture. Solutions adopted include improved irrigation practices, replacing fresh water with treated urban/domestic sewage water for irrigation of many crops, amendment of soils with composted sewage sludge and breeding of varieties with greater resistance to marginal water. At the same time attention has been given to the environmental aspects of these practices so as to prevent contamination of soil and aquifers.

Aims

Upon their return to their home countries, it is expected that participants should be able to:

• Initiate and conduct research needed for improving crop water use and irrigation.
• Initiate and conduct research needed for optimizing the use of marginal waters (saline and treated sewage) for irrigation for a wide range of crops with minimal risks to the environment.
• Contribute to the scientific knowledge on these subjects in their home countries.
• Maintain the scientific relations formed during the course and implement combined agricultural projects and joint research between Israel and their respective organizations. 

Qualifications

The Course is designed for researchers, academic staff of agricultural research institutes and universities and senior executive staff active in areas related to the subject matter of the course. Applicants should have relevant academic degrees and at least 3 years’ experience in their work.

Application forms

Application forms and other information may be obtained at the nearest Israeli mission and at Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Completed application forms, including the medical form should be sent to the Israeli mission in your area and also faxed or e-mailed to the CINADCO Training Center in Israel: Fax no: +972 3 9485771 / e-mail: sigalp@moag.gov.il

See more information here.