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Research Center for Agriculture under Climate Change | Volcani Institute
Events and seminars
Volcani Institute and Ministry of Environmental Protection Hold Joint Forum on Climate Change and Agriculture
Researchers from the Volcani Institute and professionals from the Ministry of Environmental Protection gathered this week for a joint professional forum dedicated to climate change, agriculture, and environmental research.The meeting brought together nearly 50 participants from both organizations and provided an opportunity to share ongoing research activities, discuss emerging challenges, and identify opportunities for future collaboration. The forum covered a range of topics related to climate resilience, environmental monitoring, agricultural sustainability, and the development of science-based solutions to support decision-making.As climate change continues to affect agricultural systems and natural resources, effective collaboration between researchers and government agencies is becoming increasingly important. Scientific research plays a critical role in advancing understanding of climate-related risks, while policymakers are responsible for translating knowledge into practical strategies, regulations, and management frameworks.The discussions highlighted the importance of maintaining regular dialogue between research institutions and government bodies, ensuring that scientific findings can inform policy development and that research efforts remain aligned with national environmental and agricultural priorities.The forum also created a platform for strengthening existing partnerships and exploring new areas for joint initiatives in the years ahead, with the shared goal of improving resilience to climate change and supporting sustainable agricultural and environmental management in Israel.
June 2026
Volcani Institute Researchers Present New Wheat Research at IWC2026
Researchers from the Volcani Institute recently participated in the International Wheat Congress 2026 (IWC2026) in Bologna, Italy, one of the leading global events dedicated to wheat research. The congress brought together scientists, breeders, agronomists, and industry professionals from around the world to discuss advances in wheat genetics, breeding, agronomy, sustainability, and climate resilience.
As climate change continues to challenge agricultural production systems worldwide, improving the resilience and productivity of wheat remains a major scientific and agricultural priority. At the congress, Volcani Institute researchers presented studies addressing key aspects of wheat performance under water-limited and variable environmental conditions.
Dr. Roi Ben David presented research examining the genetic and physiological basis of stem structural biomass in wheat under Mediterranean drought conditions. The study highlights how stem traits can contribute to grain filling and help maintain yield stability during terminal drought, offering insights that may support the development of more resilient wheat varieties.
Dr. Ehud Strobach presented a high-resolution coupled crop-climate modeling approach for evaluating wheat yield efficiency in Israel’s dryland regions. By integrating climate and crop models, the research provides a framework for assessing the impacts of climatic variability and supporting climate-informed, site-specific agricultural management.
Together, these studies contribute to ongoing international efforts to strengthen wheat resilience, improve productivity, and support food security under changing environmental conditions.
May 2026
Research Center for Agriculture under Climate Change Showcases Its Activities at "Zor'ot Et HaAtid" Conference
The Research Center for Agriculture under Climate Change at the Volcani Institute participated in "Zor'ot Et HaAtid", the flagship conference of Israel's Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security dedicated to promoting women's leadership in Israeli agriculture.
As part of the conference, the Center showcased its activities through a poster presenting its multidisciplinary approach to advancing agricultural research under changing climatic conditions.
The poster highlighted the Center's research platforms and ongoing efforts in areas including climate adaptation, environmental monitoring, phenotyping technologies, modeling approaches, and collaborative research initiatives that support climate resilient agriculture in Israel.
The Center brings together researchers from multiple disciplines and institutions to address some of the key challenges facing agriculture under climate change. By integrating field experiments, advanced monitoring technologies, and data driven approaches, the Center works to bridge fundamental research and practical applications that can support more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.
The conference provided an opportunity to present the Center's activities to researchers, professionals, and students from across Israel, while fostering new collaborations and strengthening connections within the agricultural research community.
Research Center Hosts Scientific Workshop on Lysimeter Systems and Plant Physiology
Researchers from across the Volcani Institute participated in a scientific workshop organized by the Research Center for Agriculture under Climate Change, focusing on the use of lysimeter systems as a research platform for plant physiology and agricultural research.The workshop presented the PlantDitech lysimeter system and its applications in studies addressing drought tolerance, plant physiological responses, carbon fixation, and abiotic stress under changing environmental conditions. Researchers demonstrated how high throughput physiological monitoring systems can support data driven agricultural research and improve understanding of dynamic plant environment interactions.Among the presentations:Dr. Dan Zeira presented research on photosynthetic stem traits in wild almond and their role as alternative carbon fixing tissues in almond tree physiology.Dr. Gilor Kelly presented research on stomatal function and plant physiological regulation.Dr. Dani Eshel presented research on sugar metabolism reprogramming in potato and its role in abiotic stress tolerance.Dr. Rakefet David Schwartz presented studies using lysimeters to investigate drought tolerance in forest trees.Karen Moshleion from PlantDitech presented the technological capabilities of the PlantArray gravimetric platform and its use for studying dynamic interactions between plants and their environment.The workshop highlighted the value of advanced phenotyping and physiological monitoring systems for agricultural research under climate change and provided an opportunity for interdisciplinary scientific discussion across research fields at the institute.
May 2026
Presentation at the EGU General Assembly 2026
Dotan Perlstein, a PhD student from the Agroclimatology Lab, presented his work at the annual European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly, held in Vienna from May 3–8, 2026.
His presentation, titled “Establishment of the Israeli Soil Moisture Monitoring Network”, focused on the development of Israel’s soil moisture and temperature monitoring network and its role in advancing agroclimatic and environmental research.
The monitoring network provides valuable long-term data for studying soil-water dynamics under changing climatic conditions and supports research related to agricultural resilience, water management, and climate adaptation.
The EGU General Assembly is one of the leading international conferences in the geosciences field, bringing together researchers from around the world to present and discuss recent scientific advances.
We are proud to see this important research presented on an international stage.
May 2026
Strengthening Collaboration Between Agricultural and Meteorological Research
On April 28 2026, the Center for Agricultural Research under Climate Change at the Volcani Institute hosted a delegation from the Meteorological Service for a professional visit.
The program included a tour of the center’s research facilities and a demonstration of the Phenomobile platform. During the meeting, Dr. Roi Ben-David presented the center’s activities and collaborations, and Dr. Ehud Strobach presented developments in high-resolution data integration and soil-based measurement networks.
The discussion highlighted the value of integrating meteorological data into agricultural research and identified opportunities for future collaboration.
April 2026
A New Drought-Resistant Wheat Variety Developed at Volcani Institute
A recent article published by The Times of Israel highlights the development of a new drought-resistant wheat variety at the Volcani Institute, created as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Israeli agriculture under changing climate conditions.
The new variety, “Ya’akobi,” was developed by Dr. Roi Ben-David and his research team. It is characterized by early maturation, resistance to drought and heat stress, and adaptation to challenging growing conditions, particularly in southern Israel. The development of resilient crop varieties such as this is becoming increasingly important for addressing the impacts of climate change on agriculture and strengthening future food security.
The variety was named in memory of agronomist Yaakov (“Ya’akobi”) Inon, who was murdered alongside his wife Bilha during the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Moshav Netiv Ha’asara. Over the years, Inon played a significant role in Israeli agriculture and field crop research, working closely with both farmers and researchers.
The development of the “Ya’akobi” variety reflects the connection between advanced scientific research and a deep commitment to Israeli agriculture and to the people who dedicated their lives to it. For the full article
April 2026
Thank You to All Participants of the Seminar:
Agriculture and Climate Change – Adaptation and Mitigation | Neve Ya’ar 2026
The seminar focused on the challenges facing Israeli agriculture under climate change, while fostering connections between applied research and adaptation and mitigation strategies.
The discussions throughout the day highlighted both the challenges and opportunities emerging at the intersection of agriculture, research, and policy, as well as the important role agriculture plays in addressing climate change.
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Webinar #2
The center’s second webinar featured Prof. Heribert Hirt, Head of the Darwin21 Desert Research Initiative at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
In his lecture, “Harnessing the desert plant–soil–microbiome for ensuring food safety under climate change conditions,” Prof. Hirt demonstrated how desert plant–soil–microbiome systems can offer innovative solutions
Webinar
On July 3, 2025, the center's first webinar took place, hosted by Prof. Senthold Asseng from the Technical University of Munich,
In the lecture “The Impact of Climate Change on Wheat"
The webinar was held in collaboration with the FCCF Consortium and was attended by researchers and professionals from a variety of fields.
2025 Agriculture-Climate Conference
On March 19, 2025, a conference was held on "Agriculture-Climate: New Research and Interfaces for Climate Challenges," initiated by extension Service at the ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Center for Agriculture under Climate Change, and in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The conference dealt with the effects of climate change on the agricultural sectors in Israel, and innovative ways to deal with environmental challenges in order to ensure food security.
During the day, current research from the field, the institute, and academia was presented, in diverse areas such as adapting agricultural interfaces to changing climate conditions, developing resistant varieties, optimized irrigation methods, hormonal applications, and more.
Opening Conference – Research Center for Agriculture under Climate Change, 2024
The conference opened with a ceremony to inaugurate the quarantine cell array.
In the presence of Mr. Oren Lavie, Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture
and representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the management of the Agricultural Research Directorate and the Plant Protection and Inspection Services.
In addition to the presentation of the center's infrastructure by Dr. Roy Ben David, director of the center.
Scientific lectures were presented in the fields of modeling and forecasting, plant protection, and climatic studies in the olive and tomato sectors in Israel.
Finally, an overview of the effects of climate change on Israeli agriculture was given by Dr. Amir Givati, Director of the Meteorological Service.
We set off.
Hoping for fruitful joint work
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