The Central Bureau of Statistics' "Food Supply Balance 2020" was recently published, the purpose of which is to formulate the situation and present to policy makers information on the amount of food supply in Israel and on the country's dependence on imports.
The data show that the State of Israel has a very problematic dependence on imported food: 97 percent of the grain supply in Israel comes from imports, as do 91 percent of the fish, 75 percent of the supply of legumes, peanuts and nuts, and 62 percent of beef supply.
These figures join two other significant events: a special report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which raised alarming findings regarding global warming and its consequences; And the reform of agriculture and the decrees planned to remove the tariffs, which are currently being promoted by the Ministers of Finance and Agriculture and which will further increase Israel's dependence on massive and unrestrained imports of agricultural produce from abroad, with fatal damage to Israeli agriculture and local farmers. To the land of apples, pears, cattle or fish, it has already been proven that the import of agricultural produce to Israel does not lower the price to consumers.
The combination of all these together will severely harm the State of Israel and its citizens.
As has been proven in the Corona crisis and in other situations in the past, in times of crisis - each country gathers within itself and takes care of its citizens first.
And now, while the CBS data indicates Israel's great dependence on food coming from abroad, and the ministers are trying to further increase dependence on imports, a worrying UN report is published, according to which food availability will be harmed, the world will run into food shortages - and every country Keep the food she produces for herself.
And if the State of Israel is going to be based on imports - what will be done in a crisis?
Is there a national emergency plan for a situation where there is a shortage of flour?
In the flesh?
In fruits and vegetables?
To this must be added the issue of food security for the citizens of Israel.
The planned reform will lead to a significant reduction in the agricultural produce produced in the country.
The owners of the chicken coops in the north of the country, the vegetable growers in the Gaza Envelope and thousands of other farmers all over the country will not be able to afford the expenses and will have to abandon the agricultural industries and seek their livelihood in other professions.
And when the global catastrophe comes, Israel will not be prepared to feed its inhabitants.
Once the State of Israel is based mainly on agricultural imports, the citizens of the State of Israel will become "captives" of the countries from which this product will come, including countries whose priorities are not, to say the least, such as Egypt and Turkey.
Can we trust these countries that in moments of economic or climate crisis, when they need to feed their residents, they will send us enough food to feed the residents of the State of Israel as well?
It is also important to learn a lesson from the ongoing corona crisis, and from the fact that the sky is no longer as open as it used to be.
I appeal to the Ministers of Finance and Agriculture: in its current outline, the reform will not lower prices for consumers and reduce the cost of living for citizens, but will eliminate local agriculture, harm the food security of us all, increase the problem of Israel's dependence on foreign countries. The locals, will hurt the security of the country - and will only enrich the retailers and importers who make us all pay an exorbitant price and make billions on the backs of consumers and growers.
We, the farmers, are not against change, and we have proved this in previous reforms, but it is important that things be done logically and by agreement, not by a unilateral assumption that harms everyone.
Instead of the existing reform, it is possible to create an infinitely good plan, which will also help lower prices, will not harm the citizens and the future existence of our country - and will also allow for a decent existence and livelihood for Israeli farmers.
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