The session, held via Zoom, brought together diverse regional stakeholders – among them top academics, government officials and policymakers, as well as private sector leaders and innovators – to collaborate on solutions for “Reclaiming the Desert” to enable sustainable agriculture in desert climates.

The great challenges facing humanity today and in the coming years, are in the fields of climate, environment, and sustainability. Global warming has already had devastating consequences, while a severe reduction in rainfall has led the air to become hot and dry, causing dramatic changes in the soil. Studies show that the world’s deserts are expanding and there is a reasonable possibility that climate change may turn even humid environments into desert climates already in our lifetime.

The solution lies in two parallel streams: prevention, and preparation. To deal with the phenomenon of desertification, we must first take immediate action to stop global warming, whilst also preparing for the new reality, taking into account factors including society, neighboring countries, and most importantly - the next generations.

Tuesday’s roundtable on Desertification was the second of four such sessions focusing on shared regional challenges.

Under the auspices of the European Union, the “Regional Climate Innovation Roundtable” series facilitates regional cooperation on shared environmental challenges, through the establishment of a multi-disciplinary network for knowledge-sharing and policy recommendations, setting the foundations for broader actions in line with the EU Green Deal objectives.

EU Ambassador to Israel Dimiter Tzantchev said:

“We strongly believe that the EU can play a significant geopolitical role in steering discussions and advancing peaceful and prosperous relationships in this region through these kind of initiatives. Working together on the global climate agenda is in everybody’s interest, particularly in a region where the climate change consequences are more severe than in other regions. That’s why we are glad to partner with the Peres Center on this science diplomacy initiative, bringing together experts from different countries to exchange their views and best practices, with the possibility of establishing new cross border partnerships.”

Efart Duvdevani Director General, Peres Center for Peace and Innovation said :

“There is no doubt that the climate crisis is the greatest existential challenge facing the world today and we are honored to be partnering up with the EU to address these pressing environmental issues. Our role is threefold: to raise awareness, especially amongst the youth, to join hands with regional and international partners in the face of this crisis and to encourage innovation and startups to tackle these challenges. The Peres Center is doing all it can in this regard to bring these environmental challenges to the forefront of peoples minds and to harness Israel’s tech ecosystem to address these issues. Today, leaders, thinkers, and experts from all over the region came together to lay the groundwork for cross border partnerships to lead the way to a better tomorrow for the next generation through innovation and cooperation.”

About the European Union’s climate policies:

The EU is fighting climate change through ambitious policies at home and close cooperation with international partners. Alongside reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% to their 1990 level by 2030 and to zero net emissions by 2050, the EU is also taking action to adapt to the impacts of climate change. By 2050, Europe aims to be a climate-resilient society. Climate action is at the heart of the European Green Deal – an ambitious package of measures ranging from ambitiously cutting greenhouse gas emissions, to investing in cutting-edge research and innovation, to preserving Europe’s natural environment.

About the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation:

The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation was founded in 1996 by the Ninth President of Israel, two-time Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shimon Peres, and is dedicated to advancing his vision of a prosperous Israel within a peaceful Middle East. The Peres Center is a leading non-profit NGO that, together with local, regional and international partners, develops and implements cutting-edge and impact-oriented programs serving hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries of all ages, religions, genders and cultural backgrounds. Programs in the fields of medicine and healthcare, agriculture and the environment, education and youth leadership, business, innovation and entrepreneurship are designed to advance lasting partnerships between regional and international civil society and institutional stakeholders, fostering cooperation and joint prosperity in the spirit of Shimon Peres’ vision for peace.

About Frontier RNG:

Arising from the Israeli desert, FRONTIER, the leading desert agro-tech innovation center, is committed to making a meaningful and substantial regional impact. FRONTIER-rng was formed as a partnership between Ramat-Hanegev desert agriculture R&D center and Arieli Capital, a premier holding and investment company with offices in New York and Tel Aviv.