Global Leader In Drip Irrigation Receives Stockholm Industry Water Award

Netafim, a global leader in drip- and micro-irrigation solutions and water-saving technologies, was founded in Israel in 1965.  Netafim today provides equipment and services in over 110 countries that enable farmers to produce more with less water.

Netafim irrigation system being installed

Currently, more than ten million hectares of farmland are irrigated with drip irrigation, a technology pioneered by Netafim, that dramatically improves water, energy and labor productivity. The use of drip irrigation typically halves water use compared to other irrigation solutions and at the same time increases crop yields.

The Evolving Story of Netafim and Drip Irrigation - Agritech 2012

This video captured the attention of visitors at Agritech in 2012. Screened on the booth's large wall screen, it tells the evolving story of Netafim's drip irrigation technology, from the invention of the dripper in the early 1960s until today. The film also looks into the future, predicting drip irrigation to be the system of choice for basic food crops worldwide and a key enabler of sustainable productivity.

“Globally, seventy per cent of our finite freshwater is used for irrigation and with rapidly expanding demand for agricultural products there is a dire need to improve water productivity. Netafim’s remarkable achievements, helping farmers across the world to ‘grow more with less,’ are directly contributing to a more water and food secure world,” said the Stockholm Industry Water Award Committee in its citation.

Netafim irrigation systemNetafim will receive the Stockholm Industry Water Award at a ceremony on September 3 during the World Water Week in Stockholm, which will take place from September 1^st through the 6^th 2013.

“We are truly honored to receive the Stockholm Industry Water Award,” said Igal Aisenberg, Netafim President & CEO upon receiving the news. “As the global pioneer and leader in drip irrigation, we have always focused on saving water. With water and land scarcity topping the list of today’s major global challenges, we’re leveraging our expertise and experience in drip technology to help combat food price inflation, ensure food security, and achieve water sustainability. This prestigious award is testimony to our efforts and inspires our work to continue to help reduce water usage and make the world a better, more sustainable place.”

Building stronger family farms

Netafim has designed a specific solution for small holder farmers in developing areas. The Family Drip System™, a gravity-based drip irrigation system, eliminates the need for labor-intensive bucket irrigation, while also saving water. Beyond innovating technical systems, Netafim provides training, capacity building, and knowledge transfer in cooperation with local organizations to help farmers in developing countries maximize yields with existing resources.

In, Niger, for example, application of the Family Drip System enabled farmers to more than triple their production of select fruits and vegetables.

Visitors from India on a tour to Magal during Agritech Israel 2012

Mr. Sanjay Rahate from India joined Netafim's tour to Kibbutz Magal. Impressed by the Kibbutz' fields, he has decided to upgrade his existing Netafim irrigation systems and add new computerized irrigation systems.

In India, Netafim’s community irrigation systems and training programs in sustainable food production have helped over 40,000 small farmers reduce waste on their farms and increased their incomes by twenty per cent over three years.

Netafim also regularly holds seminars to educate farmers on water saving techniques in locations around the world.

Netafim's Agritech 2012 Tour: Brazil's land and climate with Israel's irrigation technology

  Mr. Clementino Coelho from Brazil, who participated in Netafim's tour to Kibbutz Magal, shared his thoughts about the Brazil's future in agriculture. During this interview he mentioned that Brazil's government is considering the wide adoption of modern irrigation technologies. "We still have a lot to learn from Israel's technologies," he commented, "we have the land and climate and you have the technology, so maybe it's a good combination."

Beyond agriculture, they are also a leading provider of water saving solutions for mining and landscaping, improving their productivity while reducing the environmental impact.

About the Stockholm Industry Water Award

The Stockholm Industry Water Award honors the business sector’s contribution to sustainable water management. It recognizes improved performance in production processes, new products, and management, as well as innovative approaches in water and wastewater technologies which together help to improve the worlds water situation. The Award was established in 2000 by the Stockholm International Water Institute in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Stockholm Water PrizeAbout the Stockholm Water Prize

The Stockholm Water Prize is a global award founded in 1991 and presented annually by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) to an individual, organisation or institution for outstanding water-related achievements. The Stockholm Water Prize Laureate receives USD 150,000 and a crystal sculpture specially designed and created by Orrefors. H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is patron of the prize.

Initially founded by the Stockholm Water Foundation to encourage research and development of the world’s water environment, the Stockholm Water Prize is additionally supported by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, International Water Association, Water Environment Federation and the City of Stockholm. The Founders of the Stockholm Water Prize are companies united in their strong conviction to push sustainability in the water sector. They are: Bacardi, Borealis & Borouge, DuPont, ERV, Fujitsu, Grundfos, HP, Kemira, KPMG Sweden, Ragn-Sells, Scandic, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Siemens AG, SJ (Swedish Railways), Snecma/Safran, Uponor, Xylem and Ålandsbanken.

This news is from SIWI the Stockholm International Water Institute, 23 May 2013.

This article is presented as part of the Supplementary Material that accompanies the book “Water and Sanitation Related Diseases and the Environment: Challenges, Interventions, and Preventive Measures,” a Wiley-Blackwell collaboration with Horizon International, written by 59 experts.  

The book’s 4 hours of accompanying DVDs are included in a large collection of interdisciplinary social science, environment and global health materials being offered free to university libraries, institutions and organizations in 138 countries. This is an initiative of The Global Development And Environment Institute (GDAE) at Tufts University, co-directed by Dr. Neva Goodwin. The resources have already been distributed to 29 countries. You can read about this initiative on the Horizon International Solutions Site in the article, “Free Scholarly Journal Articles and Global Health DVDs Offered to University Libraries, Institutions and Organizations in 138 Countries,” written by Dr. Goodwin.

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