Economy21:00 · 12h ago

Israeli Sesame Pilot in Hula Valley Aims to Cut Import Dependence and Boost Local Production

YnetCenter

Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba

Key points

01Israel runs a pilot growing a new mechanized-harvest sesame variety in the Hula Valley to cut import reliance.
02Over 99% of Israel’s 80,000-ton annual sesame consumption is currently imported from several countries.
03The pilot covers 140 dunams on challenging peat soil, with the first harvest set for October.
04The sesame’s strong roots may help stabilize peat soil, reducing dust and fire risks.
05The project aims to produce 15% of Israel’s sesame demand locally, improving supply chain resilience.
06Israeli sesame seeds have exceptionally high iron content and a sweeter, thicker tahini taste than imports.

In this story

People

Zvi Peleg, Assaf Avnery, Oren Hakter, Zamir Carmi

OrganizationsHebrew University, Mesik Magal, Maxum, Galilee Development Company, Kibbutz Shamir, Kibbutz Magal, Sesame Israel

PlacesHula Valley, Kibbutz Shamir, Israel, Ethiopia, Sudan, Turkey, Argentina, Oman

The story · English

A pilot project in Israel's Hula Valley is testing a new Israeli sesame variety called Mika, developed by the Hebrew University, to reduce the country's heavy reliance on imported sesame. Currently, over 99% of Israel's annual consumption of about 80,000 tons of sesame seeds comes from countries like Ethiopia, Sudan, Turkey, and Argentina. The 140-dunam (approximately 35-acre) trial is being conducted on challenging peat soils near Kibbutz Shamir, with the first mechanized harvest scheduled for October by the Galilee Development Company. This sesame variety is designed for fully mechanized harvesting using combines, unlike the labor-intensive manual harvesting common worldwide.

The project is led by Kibbutz Magal and Maxum company in cooperation with Kibbutz Shamir, based on research by Professor Zvi Peleg and agronomist Assaf Avnery from the Hebrew University. The sesame's strong root system may help stabilize the problematic peat soil, which requires constant irrigation to prevent dust pollution and underground fires. Kibbutz Shamir farm manager Zamir Carmi expressed optimism about the crop's potential to improve soil health and fit into local crop rotations.

Oren Hakter, CEO of Mesik Magal and Sesame Israel, highlighted the risks of import dependence, especially amid supply chain disruptions like those caused by the Iran conflict and Oman closing its ports. The pilot aims to produce 15% of Israel's local sesame demand. Carmi also noted the broader agricultural challenges in the region, with many traditional crops becoming unprofitable due to import policies, prompting the search for viable alternatives like sesame.

Nutritionally, the Israeli sesame seeds show remarkable iron content, 58.6 mg per 100 grams compared to 6.7 mg in imported tahini, and have a sweeter taste with a thicker texture. The project represents a potential ecological and economic breakthrough by turning a local environmental challenge into a source of valuable raw material for the tahini and oil industries.

Summary: A new Israeli sesame pilot in the Hula Valley aims to reduce import reliance by producing a mechanized-harvest variety adapted to local peat soils, targeting 15% of national consumption and offering high nutritional value. The project addresses ecological challenges and agricultural decline in the region, with the first harvest planned for October.

Read the original at Ynet