Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III and Israel Ambassador Ilan Fluss held a high-level meeting on 15 January 2025 to discuss strengthening ties between the Philippines and Israel.

The meeting focused on fostering collaboration in agricultural innovation, rural development and advanced farming technologies.

Estrella warmly welcomed Ambassador Fluss and highlighted the success of the agrarian reform program under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., emphasizing its impact on improving the lives of agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Fluss, while acknowledging the ongoing challenges faced by Israel due to the war in his country, shared the resilience of their agricultural sector and the importance of international partnerships from allies such as the United States, in securing food and medical aid for its citizens.

Israel’s tech dominance

The discussions centered on key areas of potential collaboration, particularly in adopting Israeli technologies in irrigation methods suitable for arid regions — a critical need for many Filipino farmers.

Both officials expressed enthusiasm for Precision Agriculture (PA), which Israel is renowned for.

Estrella acknowledged PA’s transformative potential in Philippine farming by utilizing data technology to enhance crop yield, water usage, and resource management. Fluss affirmed Israel’s willingness to share expertise in this area.

As part of knowledge exchange initiatives, Ambassador Fluss invited DAR officials to visit Israel for training by experts on farming, rural development, and climate change adaptation.

Estrella expressed his gratitude and proposed expanding the program to include agriculture graduates supported by the DAR. This initiative aligns with DAR’s goal of empowering qualified agriculture graduates by awarding them land to encourage youth participation in farming.