In Israel, they are growing more avocados and grapes, but less chickpeas

Israel has developed an AI-based system using satellite imagery to map agricultural land. Data from 2018-2025 shows a 56% increase in avocado acreage and a 22% increase in vineyards, while chickpea cultivation dropped by 77% due to imports.

Israel has for the first time created a system based on artificial intelligence and satellite imagery for mapping agricultural land. Developed by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Volcani Institute, and Ben-Gurion University, it allows real-time monitoring. Analysis of data from 2018-2025 shows that the total area of agricultural land (about 4.3-4.4 million dunams) has not changed significantly, but the crop structure has undergone major shifts. Avocado acreage grew by 56% (to 181,000 dunams), vineyards by 22% (to 118,000 dunams), and date plantations by 9% (to 86,000 dunams). At the same time, chickpea cultivation sharply declined by 77%, mainly due to imports and low prices for foreign produce. The system, trained to recognize over 40 crops, will be available to farmers, researchers, and citizens. According to developers, it will help optimize government support and respond to crises and market changes.