Eilon Gadiel, director of the Arava Research and Development Unit, was invited to take part in a conference on sustainability at the United Nations in New York. Following is his report:

During the first two weeks of May a conference on the development of sustainability took place at the United Nations Committee in the UN building in New York City. The Committee convenes once a year; every second year a decision-making conference is held, and in the year after that a conference for reports and suggestions is held.

The main subjects for the coming two years are agriculture, desertification, regional development and Africa. I was asked by the Export Institute and the Ministry of Agriculture to join the Israeli team attending the conference this year as a representative of the Arava. The team included Dr. Jorge Teretsinky of the Ministry of Agriculture, Avi Migmi from Mekorot (national water company), Miki Zeideh from the Water Authority, Natan Barak from Netafim, Ronit Golwaty from the Export Institute, and representatives from the Ministry for the Preservation of the Environment and the Foreign Ministry. The delegation was headed by Yael Shaltiel, general director of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The subject that connected all of the lecturers was agriculture in the Arava, and the Arava region as a success story. During the conference we worked in cooperation with the members of the Israeli delegation to the UN, under their direction. We participated in a study center at which each participant lectured the personnel from embassies from 30 different nations, for 40 minutes each, followed by discussions with all of the participants.

I am happy to report that all of the Israeli exhibits focused on agriculture in the Arava and its successes. The halls of the building in which the conference was held were lined with booths that included materials and information, which provided a fitting backdrop for many "water cooler chats", with representatives from African and Pacific states, among others.

The Israeli delegation to the United Nations stated that our participation in the conference was a success, and that it contributed much to presenting the "Israeli story"; subsequently our presentations were put on the UN's website.

While in New York we had an exciting meeting with JNF New York personnel, during which various interesting subjects were raised. The visit was most successful, and we hope that the connections and acquaintances that were formed will bear fruit in the future.
Eilon Gadiel, Arava R&D Director