Blue-white-red: New heat-resistant pepper variety developed in the Arava
The Yair research station in Hatzeva has developed a unique pepper variety resistant to extreme temperatures. This innovation aims to mitigate heat stress in greenhouses and ensure agricultural productivity amid the climate crisis.
With the start of the agricultural season in the Central Arava, temperatures inside greenhouses reach 45 and even 50 degrees Celsius. Due to the extreme heat, farmers are forced to work in the fields from dawn and stop their activities during the scorching afternoon hours.
To address this challenge, a new and unique pepper variety, resistant to heat of 45 degrees and higher, has been developed at the Yair research station in Hatzeva. Maayan Katron, director of Central and Northern Arava R&D, visited the test greenhouse this Thursday to inspect the new variety.
This breeding breakthrough is intended to overcome the intense heat exacerbated by the global climate crisis, thereby enabling continued food production and ensuring agricultural continuity in the region even under extreme weather conditions.
