The India–Israel FTA talks are an important opportunity to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and livestock. Israel has strong expertise in precision dairy farming, animal genetics, feed efficiency and water management, and these solutions can make a real difference on the ground in India. In focused Centres of Excellence, dairy yield per animal can potentially double, water usage for fodder and cleaning can come down by 40–60%, and early disease detection can help reduce animal mortality by up to 20%.
From a trade point of view, we would expect the government to address agriculture and livestock issues more deliberately so that India can expand its footprint globally. Aligning food safety and animal health standards under the FTA will be key. This can help Indian dairy, livestock and aquaculture products meet Israel’s strict quality norms and open opportunities for Kosher-certified exports. A balanced trade model, where India imports advanced technology and genetics, and Israel imports processed feed and niche meat products from India, can create long-term value for both sides.
