Agriculture Promotion Bill, 5786-2026

This bill aims to promote agriculture in Israel, strengthen its independence, ensure food security, increase agricultural production, preserve agricultural land, develop innovative technologies, and adapt agriculture to climate change. The law defines goals such as maintaining food security, ensuring the availability of production factors for farmers, preserving agricultural land, developing agricultural infrastructure, encouraging innovation, adapting to climate change, removing regulatory barriers, increasing production and marketing, and encouraging the integration of the younger generation into agriculture. The law expands the powers of the Minister of Agriculture. The Minister will be required to approve any change in the designation of agricultural land, its reduction or allocation, as well as changes to water tariffs for agriculture. In addition, the Minister will be required to approve decisions regarding the employment of foreign workers in agriculture. The government will formulate a multi-year plan to promote agriculture, which will include targets for increasing local produce, increasing production diversity, export targets, increasing agricultural land areas, promoting education and employment in agriculture, and promoting research and innovation. The Minister will publish the plan and update it. The Minister will also establish a database on agricultural land. It is proposed to establish an environmental innovation fund that will provide grants and incentives to farmers who use advanced ecological technologies. The law establishes a strict mechanism for changing tariffs on the import of agricultural produce. Any change in a tariff will require the approval of the Knesset Finance Committee and the Minister, following a professional assessment of the impact of the change. Considerations will include impacts on the cost of living, local agricultural sectors, farmers' livelihoods, international obligations, and environmental effects. Decisions on tariff reductions will be published to the public and will include a comment period. In cases of significant harm to local agriculture, the government will establish a support program. It is proposed to regulate the opening of import quotas, in consultation with professional bodies. The Ministry will work to reduce concentration in the agricultural produce and food market, encourage agricultural organizations, and work to reduce gaps between purchase prices from the farmer and retail prices to the consumer. Farmers will be able to set up shops to sell their produce directly to the consumer. Marketing chains and wholesalers with a significant market share will be required to report purchase and sale prices to the Ministry. The Ministry will set policy for dealing with agricultural crises, such as extreme weather, epidemics, and economic crises. It is proposed to regulate the issue of insurance for farmers, including income insurance, which will cover up to 100% of expenses in the event of a loss. Rules for fast and efficient compensation will be set. The Minister will be able to enact regulations to promote agriculture, including support for research and development, adoption of innovative technologies, dealing with climate change, and development of urban agriculture. It is proposed to establish an Agriculture Development Administration that will operate under the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture. Planning bodies will consult with the administration before making decisions regarding agricultural land. Farmers operating legally will not be sued for nuisance (noise, dust, odor) resulting from routine agricultural activity. Financial assistance to farmers will be provided as a condition for implementing reforms in the field of animal welfare.

Source: הצעת חוק לדיון מוקדם