JNF is proud to support Project Wadi Attir, a groundbreaking initiative of The Sustainability Laboratory and a Bedouin community in the Negev Desert. Project Wadi Attir demonstrates an approach to sustainable dryland agriculture that leverages Bedouin traditional values and experience with modern-day science and cutting-edge technologies. It showcases the implementation of holistic sustainability principles developed by The Sustainability Laboratory, and demonstrates an approach to sustainable development in an arid environment, valid and replicable locally as well as in other similar regions around the world.
The core of the project includes an organic farming enterprise involving animal husbandry and the production of dairy products; the cultivation of medicinal plants and the development of a related line of health products; and the reintroduction of nutritious, indigenous vegetables for everyday use. The project also includes a Visitor, Training, and Education Center with a focus on ecology, sustainability innovation, and entrepreneurship, as well as multiple educational initiatives for students of all ages throughout the region. The project site itself is supported by an integrated infrastructure of green technologies.
Like many organizations and projects throughout the world, Project Wadi Attir has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this crisis, there have been significant impacts on operations, including the temporary closure of two departments, to ensure protecting the health of our visitors, students, and staff. We are asking for your support during this challenging time. Project Wadi Attir serves as a model for hope and transformation with the Bedouin community of the Negev, and we look forward to continuing this work for many years to come.
