Drip irrigation technology is a key component of Israel’s agricultural success, and Netafim is one of the industry’s leaders. Founded in 1965 and currently operating in more than 100 countries, the company recently received the prestigious 2013 Stockholm Industry Award.

Necessity is the greatest driver behind Israel’s drip irrigation and micro irrigation technologies, and they have exported their hard won expertise far and wide.

Netafim in particular has pioneered technology called The Family Drip System that allows small farmers to radically increase their agricultural yields while simultaneously slashing water consumption.

This in turn elevates their quality of life, which then has a ripple effect through their respective communities.

“Globally, seventy per cent of our finite freshwater is used for irrigation and with rapidly expanding demand for agricultural products there is a dire need to improve water productivity,”  said the Stockholm Industry Water Award Committee in its citation.

“Netafim’s remarkable achievements, helping farmers across the world to ‘grow more with less’, are directly contributing to a more water and food secure world.”

Currently 10 million hectares or 38,600 square miles around the globe is irrigated with Netafim’s groundbreaking technology, according to Triple Pundit, who add that estimates show that using 60 percent less water to irrigate orange groves in California’s San Joaquin Valley tripled yields.

In other words, using less water is more efficient than drowning crops; besides, in the Middle East, NASA’s satellite images demonstrate how freshwater supplies have all but disappeared in the region, so wasting water is simply no longer an option.

In order to spread this message, Netafim holds workshops – particularly in developing countries where the stakes are particularly high.

In East Africa, for example, which was struck by a terrible famine last year, and in the Sahara countries, one failed rainy season can mean the difference between life and death. Consequently, using the most efficient irrigation technology has a greater impact than it might in South American countries that receive plenty of rain.

“We are truly honoured to receive the Stockholm Industry Water Award,” said Igal Aisenberg, Netafim President & CEO.

“As the global pioneer and leader in drip irrigation, we have always focused on saving water. With water and land scarcity topping the list of today’s major global challenges, we’re leveraging our expertise and experience in drip technology to help combat food price inflation, ensure food security, and achieve water sustainability.”

Netafim representatives will receive their award September 3, 2013 in Stockholm during World Water Week.

Image of Netafim drip irrigation technology, Flickr

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