At the Volcani Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel, a breakthrough in citrus cultivation has been achieved with the development of over 200 mandarin orange varieties. These varieties are designed to adapt to diverse global climates without disrupting local ecosystems. Researcher Livnat Goldenberg highlighted the institute's focus on creating oranges that complement specific environmental and climatic conditions worldwide.
South Africa, a notable exporter of oranges to Zambia, obtains these specially developed mandarins from the Volcani Institute, which also distributes to markets in Europe and South America. The institute's work has significantly contributed to minimizing post-harvest losses in Israel, bringing them down to 5%, according to Daphna Gottlieb. Gottlieb further noted the universal challenge of pest-induced losses, which can range from 10% in developed regions to 50% in developing areas. The institute is actively researching sustainable pest control methods to address this issue.
Source: ZNBC