Israel develops Orange variety that can grow anywhere

By Paul Shalala

Israeli researchers are coming up with environmentally friendly varieties of oranges which can grow in any part of the world without harming the local ecosystem.

At the Volcani Institute, the Agriculture Research Organization of Israel which is based in the city of Tel Aviv, researchers have come up with over 200 varieties of oranges called Mandarins.

Volcani Institute Researcher LIVNAT GOLDENBERG says the varieties of oranges are being made with specific climatic and environmental knowledge so that they can suit local settings around the world.

Ms. GOLDENBERG says South Africa, which exports oranges to Zambia, has been sourcing its oranges from the Volcani Institute which also supplies to Europe and South America.

Another researcher DAPHNA GOTTLIEB says research by the institute has helped reduce the loss of harvested food in Israel to as low as 5 percent of the harvest.

Dr. GOTTLIEB says pests are the biggest threat to harvested food and they account for 10 percent loss in developed countries and upto 50 percent in developing countries.

She says environmentally friendly ways are being researched to kill pests.