When The World Food Prize Foundation awarded Israeli agriculturist Dr. Daniel Hillel last month for his groundbreaking micro-irrigation techniques, it was also in recognition of his commitment to promoting water efficiency in under-developed countries all over the world. Hillel has brought his methodologies to Jordan, Egypt and Palestinian territories (among many others), nations whose political relationships with Israel can be described as strained at best.
Hillel’s drip irrigation methods completely revolutionized the way farmers in desert regions could grow food. “Micro-irrigation” is based on the concept of providing crops in dry lands with a steady drip, instead of the prior system of cyclically flooding and drying fields. Now, instead of dumping large quantities of water onto thirsty land and hoping for the best, farmers can implement Hillel’s system to provide measured drops of water, not only conserving water, but raising yields as well. As water becomes increasingly scarce and hunger becomes more widespread, the regions relying on these methods are likely to grow rapidly.
Since Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, sent Hillel to Burma on his first agricultural mission in 1956, Hillel has traveled across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America, spreading his irrigation method to more than 30 countries and affecting the lives of millions of people, regardless of the political or religious conflicts between his country and theirs. On June 12, when the $250,000 prize was announced, The World Food Prize Foundation President Kenneth Quinn and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both emphasized this aspect of Hillel’s work.
“In an area of the world and in lands where the divides — whether they be ethnic, political, religious, or diplomatic — seem so great, here is a man who by devoting his life to this peaceful development has sought to bridge those gaps,” Quinn said.
Israel has long been a leader in making the desert bloom, and Hillel’s micro-irrigation technique is just one of many of the country’s innovations in this area. Smaller than the state of New Jersey and 60 percent desert, Israel has distinguished itself as a leader in water efficiency innovations largely because it has to in order to survive. With very limited access to fresh water, Israel treats 92 percent of its wastewater, reusing 75 percent of that in agriculture, more than any other country. Israel also houses one of the world’s largest desalination plants, the Ashkelon Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant.
Hopefully Hillel’s recognition will not only spur more scientific acheivements, but diplomatic progress as well.
Photo credit: The World Food Prize Foundation