Reimagining Israel’s food system: balancing mediterranean diet recommendations with national food security, sovereignty and resilience

TL;DR

This study explores how Israel can align its food system with Mediterranean diet guidelines while improving food security and resilience.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel approach to food system analysis by integrating Mediterranean diet recommendations with food security and sovereignty.

Findings

Israel has high import dependency for key food groups like cereals, fish, and nuts.

The country's food supply significantly deviates from Mediterranean Diet recommendations.

Shifting to locally produced, plant-based foods could improve health, security, and sustainability.

Abstract

This study examines Israel’s food system’s security, sovereignty, resilience, and sustainability using the Mediterranean Diet (MD) lens. The current global context, marked by supply chain disruptions, climate change impacts, and geopolitical tensions, highlights the critical importance of resilient food systems. We analyzed Israel’s food system using FAO Food Balance Sheets (FBS) (2010–2020 trends) and Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) production and trade data (2021) to assess food availability, import dependency ratios (IDR), and alignment with Mediterranean Diet guidelines.

A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Semantic Scholar, EBSCO Discovery, and Google Scholar, aiming to agree on the food-based guidelines of MD and their impact on health outcomes. Studies from the past 10 years with the keywords “Mediterranean diet” and “meta-analysis” were included. The Israeli agricultural production data from 2010 to 2020 were drawn from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Import dependence was calculated by converting product quantities from tonnes to grams per person per day (annual quantity × 10 million people ÷ 365 days).

Israel demonstrates significant import dependency across critical food groups, with 90% of cereals, 87% of fish, 82% of nuts, and 65% of added fats sourced internationally. While nearly self-sufficient in poultry and dairy, chickens and cows grown in Israel depend on imported feed. Moreover, the country’s food supply significantly deviates from the MD recommendations. Notably, there is an undersupply of nature-based proteins, including legumes.

The results emphasize the advantages of shifting towards more locally produced, plant-based food and feed, especially in nature-based proteins. Embracing an MD-aligned food system would concurrently tackle the challenges of public health, food security, resilience, and environmental sustainability. These findings hold global significance for countries confronting similar issues in reconciling nutritional recommendations with food security needs. Future strategies should concentrate on policy reforms, agricultural investments, and public involvement to strengthen Israel’s food sovereignty and nutritional landscape.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13584-026-00748-1.