Agriculture
Cutting-edge agricultural research
The Gilat Center for Arid & Semi-Arid Agricultural Research
The Gilat Center for Arid & Semi-Arid Agricultural Research is Israel’s premier institution for dry land agriculture, located in the Western Negev, one of the country’s most strategic and vulnerable regions.
In the wake of the October 7th attacks, the Gilat Center has emerged as a critical player in Israel’s food security and regional resilience strategy. The events of that day inflicted deep trauma on Gilat’s staff and disrupted agricultural systems across the region.
Although Gilat is the epicenter for formal desert agriculture, the campus currently lacks a single building designed for public interaction. With more than 200 public-facing events held annually, they have been hosted across various locations, including basement classrooms, labs in distant buildings, a single conference room, and costly rental tents. This fragmented setup hampers Gilat’s ability to deliver education, training, and global knowledge exchange at scale.
The Negev Foundation seeks $4 million to construct the Arid Agricultural Region Innovation Dissemination Hub (AARID-HUB)—a state-of-the-art education and conference facility at the Gilat campus.
The new 1,250-square-meter facility will include classrooms, laboratory spaces, a meeting room, reception hall, and a 260-seat auditorium, all designed to support agricultural innovation, community outreach, and regional development. Surrounded by landscaped gardens and patios, the facility will become the public-facing heart of the Gilat campus, transforming the way Israel shares its expertise in arid-zone agriculture with the world.
Project Vision
Establish a national and international center for dry land agricultural innovation, education, and collaboration—anchored at the heart of the Western Negev.
Designed for long-term sustainability, the center will host programming and generate sufficient revenue to be financially self-sustaining. It will replace inefficient workarounds and dramatically enhance Gilat’s ability to serve farmers, researchers, and communities both in Israel and abroad.
Core Components:
- A 1,250 m² facility including classrooms, labs, a 260-seat auditorium, and conference areas
- Advanced A/V infrastructure for hybrid learning and international convenings
- Landscaped outdoor learning and demonstration spaces
- Full accessibility and modular, sustainable design
Impact and Legacy
- Serve 2,500+ farmers, educators, and students annually
- Host 200+ days of programming per year
- Enable rapid response to national agricultural crises
- Position Gilat and Israel as global leaders in arid-zone agricultural resilience
AARID-HUB will fill a critical infrastructure gap at one of Israel’s most important agricultural institutions. With strong government support, clear operational sustainability, and a proven implementation team in place, this project is ready to launch. What is now needed is visionary philanthropic partnership.
The Ramat HaNegev R&D Center collaborates with local farms, universities, and global partners. Funding is urgently needed to continue this important work.