Zero Waste, Maximum Luxury: The Israeli Crop Where Nothing Is Lost
- Nir Topper
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
The connection between the Land of Israel and cotton began long before modern Zionism. Remarkable archaeological findings at Tel Tsaf in the Jordan Valley, near Kibbutz Tirat Zvi, revealed cotton fibers in use as far back as 7,000 years ago! According to researchers, these fibers likely reached the region from the Indus Valley, marking the earliest evidence of cotton fiber use in the Ancient Near East and among the oldest in the world. We even encounter "Karpas" in the Book of Esther—a term etymologists link to a Sanskrit word meaning cotton, referring to garments brought from India. The Sages of the Talmud gave cotton the poetic nickname "Gefen HaTzemer"—the "Woolen Vine."
Despite these deep roots, the commercial cotton industry failed to reach industrial scales in Israel until the mid-20th century. In the 1950s, Sam Hamburg—a Russian-born Jewish farmer whose agricultural expertise flourished in California’s San Joaquin Valley—arrived in Israel to advise the Ministry of Agriculture. He recognized that the Israeli climate mirrored the conditions he knew so well in California and introduced the professional knowledge, elite cotton varieties, and advanced machinery that led to a breakthrough. The press of the time dubbed him the "Father of Israeli Cotton."
Israel grows two leading cotton varieties: Pima, known for its extra-long fibers used in luxury bedding and high-quality shirts, and a unique hybrid called "Aclapi," which combines the common Acala variety with elite Pima to produce a fiber quality superior to standard Acala. Both varieties are tested and developed annually in Israeli field trials.
Redefining Water Management
Israel doesn't just grow cotton; it redefines the relationship between agriculture and water management. The cotton industry is one of the country's major recycling enterprises. Since the fiber is not for human consumption, cotton is largely irrigated with treated effluent (reclaimed wastewater) using precision drip irrigation technology. This isn't just a matter of "summer surplus" but a smart utilization strategy: as a summer crop, cotton absorbs the effluent produced throughout the entire year at exactly the right season. This makes cotton one of the "greenest" and most sustainable crops in Israeli agriculture, fitting perfectly into the Israeli water model that leads the world in wastewater reclamation rates for agriculture.
Innovation in the Field
Cotton is harvested using massive machines called harvesters. The "Tama" company from Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek, in exclusive collaboration with John Deere, developed the TamaWrap®—a revolutionary automatic wrapping system used in the company’s advanced On-Board Module harvesters. This technology, protected by patents for both parties, allows cotton to be packed into 360-degree wrapped rolls while in continuous motion—without stopping the machine. This eliminated the need for transport wagons and separate module builders, saving immense labor and significantly reducing field waste.
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A Truly Circular Economy
What is even more impressive is that cotton is a "zero-waste" crop—every part of it is utilized. After processing at modern gins (such as the Emek Gin near Kfar Baruch), the fibers go to the textile industry, while the seeds—rich in oil and protein—become feed for beef and dairy cattle in Israel’s barns. Even the remaining fiber waste is used for cattle feed. Every part of the plant is utilized and fed back into the livestock economy, creating an exceptionally efficient agricultural cycle.
Today, the cotton industry is experiencing a massive resurgence. Cotton cultivation areas in Israel jumped from 27,000 dunams in 2021 to approximately 84,000 dunams in 2022, with a forecast reaching 90,000 dunams, stretching from the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights in the north to the Northern Negev and the Gaza envelope in the south. The entire yield is destined for export to markets in China, India, and Turkey, where Israeli cotton is highly regarded for its superior fiber quality. This is a story of relentless innovation—from prehistoric findings to the cutting-edge harvesting technologies that have made Israel a prominent player in the global industry. Truly, "White Israeli Pride."
Video: The Tama-John Deere cotton harvester that changed the face of cotton agriculture worldwide.
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