As India accelerates toward ambitious renewable energy targets while confronting mounting pressures on land, water, and farm incomes, the question of how to reconcile food security with clean energy expansion has become increasingly urgent.
Agrivoltaics—the integration of solar energy generation with agricultural production—has emerged globally as a promising response to this structural dilemma. Few countries understand this challenge better than Israel, where scarcity has historically driven innovation in water management, precision agriculture, and now, dual land-use solar systems.
In this conversation with Anoop Verma, His Excellency Reuven Azar, Ambassador of Israel to India, reflects on how Israel’s agrivoltaic model evolved out of necessity, the technological and regulatory frameworks that enabled its growth, and why he believes this approach could, over time, become a transformative pillar of India–Israel cooperation.
Ranging from policy reform and cooperative financing models to AI-enabled precision farming and climate resilience, the discussion situates agrivoltaics not merely as a technical solution, but as a strategic instrument at the intersection of agriculture, energy, and sustainability.
Edited excerpts:
Israel is regarded as a pioneer in agrivoltaics. Could you explain the core philosophy behind Israel’s agrisolar model and how it evolved in response to land and water constraints?
Israel’s journey into agrivoltaics stems from necessity. We are a country of around ten million people living in a relatively small geographical area. As our population has grown, land scarcity has become a structural constraint. At the same time, we face water limitations and a strong national commitment to renewable energy.
Solar energy is our most abundant renewable resource. However, solar installations require land—precisely the same resource agriculture depends upon. That creates a structural competition between food production and energy generation. Agrivoltaics emerged as a solution to that tension. By merging renewable energy infrastructure with agricultural activity, we create synergy rather than conflict. The same land can generate both crops and electricity.
In many parts of Israel, crops suffer from overexposure to sunlight. Carefully designed solar installations can provide partial shading, protecting crops while producing energy. Today, thanks to sustained research and development, we have around 60 different crops that can be grown under agrivoltaic systems.
One of the major concerns in countries like India is the competition for land between food and energy. How does the Israeli model address this trade-off, and what lessons are relevant for India?
India and Israel are at different stages in this competition. India still has large desert areas, such as in Rajasthan, where solar installations can be developed without affecting agriculture. But in high-consumption states—such as Maharashtra—land prices are rising as solar projects expand.
There may come a point when land values make energy production more profitable than farming. If farmers shift entirely toward solar, that could create food security risks. Agrivoltaics offers a long-term solution by allowing both activities to coexist. Perhaps this is not an immediate priority for India, but in 10 or 20 years, it could become highly relevant.
Globally, the environmental implications are profound. If densely populated countries adopt agrivoltaics, we reduce the pressure to convert forests or natural ecosystems into solar farms. We shrink the human footprint while maintaining productivity.
From a technical standpoint, what design features ensure crop health and energy efficiency simultaneously?
There are both regulatory and technical dimensions. First, governments must allow dual land use. In most countries, agricultural land is legally restricted to farming. In Israel, the Ministries of Agriculture and Energy worked together to permit pilot projects combining both functions.
Technically, we use several models. One approach involves fixed solar panels installed at a height that allows crops to grow beneath, providing partial shade. Another is more advanced: movable panels that adjust horizontally based on sunlight intensity, optimising exposure for crops.
We already use computerised irrigation systems that measure soil moisture precisely. In a similar way, we can measure sunlight exposure and integrate water and light management through AI-driven systems. Agrivoltaics is thus part of a broader precision agriculture ecosystem.
Protected agriculture—such as greenhouses and nurseries—can also integrate solar panels. Crops like vineyards, wheat, sweet potatoes, and various vegetables have shown strong compatibility.
How does agrivoltaics complement Israel’s broader water-management ecosystem?
Precision agriculture is central. When you understand exactly how much water and sunlight each plant needs, you increase efficiency. Solar panels reduce evaporation by shading crops, thereby lowering water consumption. At the same time, crops grown beneath panels cool the panels, increasing their energy efficiency. It is a mutually reinforcing system. In a country with limited land and water, this synergy is crucial.
India faces climate stress and declining farm incomes. How can agrivoltaics enhance resilience and income stability?
Heat waves or cold spells can devastate crops, especially in greenhouses and nurseries. Solar panels provide shade and, importantly, generate electricity that can be used to cool or heat facilities when required. That increases resilience against climate shocks. Beyond resilience, agrivoltaics diversifies income. Farmers are no longer dependent solely on crop yields; they also earn from energy production. Over time, that can stabilise rural incomes.
What crops and agro-climatic conditions are best suited for agrivoltaics? How adaptable is this model to India?
Every region must assess its soil, water availability, sun exposure, and crop profile. In Israel, we have identified 60 suitable crops, including vineyards, field crops, vegetables, and orchards. In India, suitability will vary by state. Regions with high solar exposure and high land values will likely adopt the model first. Adaptation requires localised research and pilot projects.
What institutional frameworks were critical in Israel, and how might India adapt them?
Regulatory reform was essential. Agricultural land had to be legally permitted for dual use. Ministries coordinated policy, and financing schemes were developed in partnership with financial institutions. In India, this will eventually require cooperation between agricultural and energy authorities at both central and state levels. Universities are already conducting research. Over time, larger farmers and energy companies may drive adoption before governments formalise comprehensive frameworks.
Can agrivoltaics become the next frontier of India–Israel cooperation?
Potentially, yes—but timing matters. At present, agrivoltaics remains expensive for small farmers. There are many lower-cost technologies that can immediately boost productivity, such as advanced drip irrigation systems and new storage technologies. However, large farmers, cooperatives, and energy companies may begin adopting agrivoltaics earlier. Over the next decade or two, as costs decline and regulatory frameworks evolve, the model could become more widespread.
How has Israel approached financing, and what role can cooperatives play?
In Israel, early adopters were cooperatives. The government permitted land-use integration, and energy entrepreneurs partnered with cooperatives to install and operate systems. Major Israeli energy firms—some publicly traded on international markets—are now investing globally in agrivoltaics. India’s powerful cooperatives, such as those in dairy and fertiliser sectors, could play a similar catalytic role. They possess organisational capacity and financial strength to introduce new technologies.
What opportunities exist for Indian startups and researchers?
There is potential for joint research. Institutions such as MIGAL – Galilee Research Institute in northern Israel are ready to collaborate with Indian universities and startups. Expanding compatibility to more crops and refining technologies for diverse climates will require cross-border innovation. Indian corporations are increasingly outward-looking and competitive globally. Agrivoltaics offers a platform for joint ventures in technology development and deployment.
Looking ahead, how do you see agrivoltaics shaping India–Israel agricultural cooperation over the next decade?
I believe this is the future. India has demonstrated extraordinary capability in digital transformation. The same ambition can be applied to agriculture, water, and renewable energy. As India advances toward a developed economy vision, it will have both the resources and technological ambition to adopt groundbreaking solutions. Agrivoltaics align with that trajectory.
How significant is agrivoltaics for Israel’s energy and food security?
The potential contribution to Israel’s energy mix is substantial—around 15% in the long term. That is significant for a small country. As solar energy expands, the competition for land with agriculture will intensify globally. Agrivoltaics provides an additional layer of preparedness. Combined with modern irrigation and productivity improvements, it can safeguard food security while advancing renewable energy goals. For India, the message is clear: agrivoltaics may not be an immediate solution everywhere, but as energy demand rises and land pressures grow, integrating food and power production on the same land could become not just innovative—but essential.
