Sustainable agriculture

Three major impacts of precision irrigation

India is confronted with 3 major challenges today. Each one of these challenges are crucial to extent that they could impact the future of the planet. And that is the reason why precision irrigation works as a solution here! It combats all three futuristic concerns through irrigation solutions that would produce higher yield, better yield, and at the same time, save water and other priceless resources.

Water scarcity and contamination

Water scarcity, due to depleting natural water resources, along with water contamination, has turned into a critical concern for Indian since the past few decades. Agriculture alone consumes ~90% of freshwater withdrawal (FAO). Besides, reducing groundwater resources have added to the critical problem that has hampered agriculture to a large extent in the country.

Rapidly growing demand for food

As India’s population mark is projected to reach around 1.7 billion by 2050, the demand for food is projected to increase by 70%. This could be concerning given the fact that the area under agriculture is constantly reducing, along with the resources that keep it alive. As against the conventional forms of irrigation, precision irrigation brings a larger area under irrigation, thus eventually increasing the quantity of yield.

The need for arable land

Land is a limited resource, and hence, we cannot afford losing it every year. India has been consistent with an average of 0.12% of the loss of arable land every year since a few decades, which could turn into a major challenge, considering the rise in food demand in the next few years. Netafim’s precision irrigation helps utilize every inch of land by bringing a larger area under the irrigation zone.

Changing the economics of agriculture

Precision irrigation is an approach to agriculture that empowers growers to produce higher yields of better-quality crops – with less resources. It increases water productivity and fertilizer-use efficiency.

Regardless of the crop, climate, soil or region, men and women can grow more food using fewer resources, use agriculture to climb out of poverty and generate more profit, and live healthier, more empowered lives.

So our goal is a simple one – to make precision irrigation the most accessible and effective solution for growers around the world.

Sustainability partners

We work with growers, companies, governments and aid organizations all over the world to make agriculture more profitable and sustainable.

Sustainable development goals

Our sustainability action plan is aligned with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which comprises 17 global goals supported by 169 targets. Right now, we’re making the biggest global impact by focusing on nine of those 17 goals:

Environmental sustainability

We’re committed to environmental sustainability in two important ways. First, by making precision irrigation the most effective way to grow, we’re empowering farmers to grow in a more sustainable way that’s also more profitable for them.

And second, we’re committed to running our own operations in more sustainable ways. That’s why we’re signatories of the UN’s CEO Water Mandate, and followers of the sustainable development goals outlined above.

Our environmental policy

Our environmental policy starts with our supply process. We always take an eco-friendly approach to product design, use minimal resources in all manufacturing and supply chain operations, reuse and recycle, and responsibly manage waste.

To do this, we document and address all environmental impacts at every stage of the supply process, while also complying with all environmental legislation and regulations wherever we operate.

Additionally, we have Environment Supervisors at all our manufacturing plants, making sure we’re always implementing our environmental policy. We also deliver training programs to our people at all levels, so they’re fully aware of our policy and actively working towards it. Plus, we set goals, targets and timetables to help monitor, control and optimize our environmental performance.

Our key environmental practices include:

Adherence to ISO Standard 14001 at key factories, with regular external audits and verifications
Environmental Impact Assessments on all Netafim products, focused on the effects of water, chemical and power consumption during manufacture and use
Environmental Risk Assessments on the environmental impacts of our production operations, from conservation and rehabilitation to waste management and pollution prevention

Women’s empowerment

The most effective way to solve poverty is already widely known – the empowerment of women. Women represent almost half of the global agricultural workforce – yet they produce far less food than men.

This needs to change.

To encourage the adoption of new technologies among women growers, we are sharing as much knowledge as we can and we are bringing the power of precision irrigation to them, so they can gain more control over their household’s income and over their own lives.

Business Conduct Policies

Netafim conducts its relations with integrity, responsibility, honesty, reliability and decency, while obeying local laws and following the rules of proper business behavior. This commitment applies to each and every one of the company’s employees and directors. We are all expected to maintain honest and moral behavior in our work practices by adhering to the Code in all our activities, whether internally with our colleagues, or externally with customers, suppliers, partners, shareholders and all other Netafim stakeholders.

Netafim strives to ensure that we all constantly adhere to the following principles as specified in the Code.

Water-use efficiency

Water scarcity has been the single biggest challenge for farmers around the world. From drought and drainage to lack of access to water reserves. Precision irrigation solves that problem by changing the way you use water – delivering higher and better yields than you’ve ever seen, with less.

Innovation by farmers, for farmers

The next 50 years of farming won’t be like the last 50. The agricultural system that served us until now needs to change. Growers need more control. We're farmers and innovators committed to bringing innovation to the marketplace, evolving together with our customers.

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