The Shocking Reason Israel is Investing in European Farmland

Israel has moved to strengthen its food security with a new partnership inked this week with Moldova, one of Eastern Europe’s leading agricultural producers.

The memorandum of understanding, signed in Chisinau during Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter’s official visit, establishes joint wheat cultivation projects combining Israeli technology with Moldovan farmland and manpower.

Under the agreement, Israel will supply advanced wheat seeds and agronomic know-how, while Moldova provides fertile soil, water resources, and labor. The project will operate as a commercial venture, marking the first agricultural accord between the two countries since Israel opened its embassy in Moldova earlier this year.

“This agreement is about more than wheat, it’s about resilience,” Dichter said after the signing ceremony. “In peacetime, diversification ensures efficiency. In emergencies, it ensures continuity. The shelves must remain full in every scenario.”

The initiative is part of the Agriculture Ministry’s long-term “Treat the Wheat” program, developed in response to the global grain crisis of 2022. The strategy includes boosting Israel’s agricultural output by 30 percent within a decade and tripling the share of domestically grown wheat from 10 to 30 percent.

Dichter praised his Moldovan counterparts, including Agriculture Minister Ludmila Catlabuga, calling the deal “the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership that serves both nations’ strategic interests.”

Moldova, often referred to as the “fruit and vegetable basket” of the former Soviet Union, remains heavily reliant on farming. Nearly 70 percent of its land is devoted to agriculture, which contributes about 12 percent of the national economy. The country is a major exporter of wheat, barley, and corn, and also boasts a thriving wine industry.

The Israeli delegation also toured Moldova’s agricultural research centers, with discussions focused on seed development and adapting crops to climate change issues seen as critical to long-term food security.

Israel has already signed similar wheat agreements with Morocco, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Romania. But officials say the new Moldova accord is particularly significant due to the scale of available farmland and the country’s deep agricultural infrastructure.

“This is a model for future cooperation,” Dichter said. “By pairing Israeli innovation with Moldova’s capacity, we are not only securing food for our people but also building a sustainable bridge of trade and knowledge.”