Dr. Or Shapira

Areas of Interests:

Dr. Or Shapira is a horticultural researcher specializing in orchard crop physiology and management, with a focus on improving yield stability, fruit quality, and long-term profitability in fruit tree systems. His research addresses key challenges in subtropical and deciduous orchards through the integration of advanced irrigation strategies, rootstock selection, and improved soil–root interactions. By combining field-based measurements with applied agronomic solutions, Dr. Shapira’s work supports resilient orchard production under changing climatic conditions.

CV

EDUCATION

  • 2020-2023 Postdoc position at Volcani Institute Newe-Yaar Department of fruit trees under the supervision of Dr. Tamar Azoulay-Shamer
  • 2014-2016 Post Doc at the Ecosystem Center MBl, working with Dr. Zoe Cardon on algal photoprotection and desiccation tolerance. 
  • 2014 Post doc at the Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Science and Genetics in Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Working on the mechanism of stomatal oscillations in banana leaves and their relation to leaf hydraulics.  
  • 2001-2014 Ph.D.  At the Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Science and Genetics in Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Title of thesis: "Mechanisms of Salt Compartmentalization and Salt Exclusion in Banana Plants (Musa Cavendishi c.v. Grand Nain)". Supervisors: Profs. Amnon Schwartz and Uri Shani. 
  • 1997-2000      B.Sc with distinction in agriculture at the Robert H. Smith Faculty of     Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • 2024 – Migal Galilee Research institute. Fruit tree research.
  • 2023-2024 Research associate at Shamir Research Institute 
  • 2020-2023 Postdoc position at Volcani Institute Newe-Yaar Department of fruit trees under the supervision of Dr. Tamar Azoulay-Shamer
  • 2016 –2019 Chief Agronomist at Cropx 
Funding

Current projects

  • Increasing yield and reducing alternate bearing in ‘Or’ mandarin orchards in the Hula Valley.
  • Subtropical crops initiative: preventing avocado tree decline through the evaluation of rootstocks and the improvement of root-zone aeration.
  • National initiative to improve yield and profitability in Israel’s almond industry.
  • Prevention of parthenocarpy in mango production.
  • Improving kiwi yield through optimized irrigation regimes and crop thinning practices.
  • Measurement of evapotranspiration using the surface renewal method to improve irrigation management, increase yield, and enhance orchard profitability.