Climate Change Threatens Israel's Four Species, Agronomist Warns
Climate change threatens Israel's traditional Four Species, with agronomist Dr. Avishai Avni Meiah warning that the etrog is the most vulnerable and outlining adaptation strategies.
Climate change is posing an unprecedented threat to the cultivation of the Four Species in Israel, according to agricultural experts. In a special interview, Dr. Avishai Avni Meiah, chief agronomist at Haifa Group, detailed the severe impact of global warming on these traditional crops, highlighting the etrog (citron) as the most vulnerable.
"The desert line is not advancing all at once, but rather slowly and decisively through years of drought, prolonged heatwaves, and increased evaporation," Dr. Avni Meiah stated. He explained that while the desertification trend affects each symbol of the holiday differently, the etrog faces the highest risk.
The Vulnerability of the Etrog and Other Species
"Without a doubt, the etrog is the 'spoiled child' of the group," the agronomist noted. Originating in South Asia, it requires strictly balanced and controlled conditions. The fruit demands unprecedented precision from farmers, as any minor scratch or sunburn can render it ritually invalid for the holiday.
Dr. Avni Meiah pointed out that the Four Species essentially serve as a "living climate map of the Land of Israel," representing four distinct habitats. Regarding the date palm (lulav), he clarified that despite its hardy image, it is not water-efficient.
"To yield a commercial harvest, it requires large quantities of water. However, it has a tremendous advantage: it can utilize brackish water much better than most fruit trees," Dr. Avni Meiah emphasized.
Adaptation and Agricultural Strategies
In contrast, the willow (aravah) reacts entirely differently to field conditions. Naturally growing alongside streams and rivers in water-saturated soil, it is extremely sensitive to dryness and struggles to survive without a steady water supply. Meanwhile, the myrtle (hadas) is naturally adapted to the Mediterranean woodland, surviving prolonged dry spells and proving more sensitive to over-watering than to drought.
To safeguard these sensitive crops amidst changing climatic realities, farmers are increasingly turning to precision irrigation, adaptive strain selection, and continuous environmental monitoring to help the plants endure periods of severe climate stress.
