https://agrospectrumasia.com/rssfeed/country/israel israel https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/4842/bloomx-lands-13-million-series-a-to-scale-its-automated-pollination-technology.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/4842/bloomx-lands-13-million-series-a-to-scale-its-automated-pollination-technology.html Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:15:00 +0530 BloomX, an Israeli agricultural technology company developing robotic systems for crop pollination, has raised $13 million in a Series A funding round led by Elah Fund, as growers look for more predictable ways to manage pollination in high-value crops. The round also includes participation from Rothschild, OurCrowd and Sadot, an agricultural technology investment fund established by Israel’s Granot Organization, alongside existing shareholders and new strategic agricultural partners. Three Granot-affiliated kibbutzim — Magal, Horashim and Eyal — invested separately and plan to deploy BloomX’s technology in their own orchards. The company has not disclosed its valuation or revenue. Founded in 2019, BloomX develops mechanical systems designed to replicate aspects of natural pollination. Its flagship YAHAV2400 platform is intended to support orchard-scale pollination, initially focusing on blueberries and avocados. The new funding will support closer engagement with existing customers, wider adoption of the platform and expansion into additional crops and geographical markets. The investment comes as pollination management becomes an increasingly important operational consideration for commercial growers. In crops where flowering periods are short and fruit development depends on successful pollination, disruptions during a critical window can affect fruit set and the economics of an entire growing season. Growers commonly rely on managed honeybee colonies to support pollination, but their effectiveness can vary with weather conditions, hive health and the availability of pollinators. BloomX is positioning robotic pollination as a complementary approach that gives farmers greater control over the timing and delivery of pollination services. The company combines proprietary mechanical and robotic hardware with agronomic protocols and data-driven tools. Rather than attempting to replace every function performed by bees, its technology is designed to reproduce specific pollination processes for selected crops. This crop-focused approach means that expansion into new agricultural segments will require adjustments to equipment, operating methods and pollination protocols. Blueberries and avocados are BloomX’s initial focus because effective pollination is closely linked to fruit set and commercial outcomes in both crops. By giving growers greater control over pollination schedules, the company aims to reduce dependence on the availability and performance of conventional pollination services. The participation of agricultural investors who intend to use the technology commercially adds a practical dimension to the funding round. Magal, Horashim and Eyal are expected to be among the first growers to deploy the YAHAV2400 platform in their orchards, creating an opportunity to evaluate its performance under commercial farming conditions. BloomX founder and CEO Thai Sade has emphasised the significance of growers backing both the company and its technology. Their involvement could provide a route to real-world testing and broader adoption, although the commercial case will ultimately depend on measurable improvements in pollination outcomes, operating costs and farm profitability. The company currently operates in Israel, Peru, Mexico and South Africa, giving it a presence across different agricultural regions and production calendars. This geographic spread could support more sustained equipment utilisation across seasons, but it also creates operational demands around field servicing, agronomic support and maintenance. The $13 million round follows approximately $8 million in earlier funding, bringing BloomX’s total funding to around $21 million, based on the figures disclosed. The latest capital will support research and development, commercial expansion and the deployment of its robotic pollination platform. The next stage of growth will depend on BloomX’s ability to demonstrate that robotic pollination can deliver reliable results at a competitive cost. Publicly disclosed figures on yield improvements, cost per hectare and customer retention remain limited, making independent field results particularly important to assessing the technology’s commercial potential.   ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/4307/nanovel-wins-2-5-mn-eu-grant-to-commercialise-ai-harvesting-robots.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/4307/nanovel-wins-2-5-mn-eu-grant-to-commercialise-ai-harvesting-robots.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:42:59 +0530 Precision agritech startup Nanovel has secured a €2.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, providing a significant boost to its plans to commercialise AI-powered autonomous harvesting robots for citrus orchards. The award also makes the company eligible for up to €4.3 million in equity investment, which is expected to support a broader funding round of approximately €8 million as Nanovel prepares for large-scale field validation and market entry. The funding underscores growing investor and institutional confidence in agricultural robotics as growers worldwide grapple with chronic labour shortages, rising production costs and increasing pressure to improve operational efficiency. Addressing agriculture's labour challenge For fresh fruit producers, harvesting remains one of the most labour-intensive and expensive stages of production, with seasonal labour accounting for nearly half of total production costs in many citrus-growing regions. Nanovel is developing autonomous robots designed to harvest fruit in dense-canopy orchards—an environment where automation has historically struggled because of limited visibility and the need for delicate fruit handling. The company plans to use the EIC funding to complete development of its commercial robotic platform, conduct large-scale field trials with growers across Europe, and prepare for a commercial launch in 2028, initially targeting orange and lemon orchards. The company estimates the global market opportunity for automated harvesting in these crops alone at around $1 billion annually. "Our mission is to ensure global availability for consumers and economic viability for fresh fruit growers by automating the most critical and labor-intensive part of the production process," said Isaac Mazor, Founder and CEO of Nanovel. He added that the EIC grant will accelerate the company's expansion into Europe, one of the world's largest citrus-producing regions. AI meets precision harvesting At the centre of Nanovel's technology is a proprietary harvesting system that combines computer vision, deep-learning algorithms and robotics. Its patented "Grip & Trim" mechanism uses telescopic robotic arms to identify fruit hidden deep inside tree canopies, gently grip individual fruit and cut the stem with precision to minimise damage—an essential requirement for premium fresh produce markets. Unlike conventional robotic harvesters that rely on a single manipulator, Nanovel's platform simultaneously operates multiple robotic arms coordinated through a central onboard computer, allowing higher harvesting efficiency while remotely managing an entire fleet of machines. Expanding global field trials The company is now expanding field trials across Spain, Italy, Israel, and the United States, building on successful validation work conducted in California in partnership with the Citrus Research Board (CRB) during 2025. Although the first commercial application will focus on oranges and lemons, Nanovel plans to adapt the platform for additional citrus varieties as well as high-value fruit crops including mangoes, peaches and nectarines. Agricultural robotics enters a new phase The EIC award reflects a broader shift in agricultural technology investment, where robotics and artificial intelligence are increasingly viewed as practical solutions to structural labour shortages rather than experimental technologies. With Europe, North America and other major fruit-producing regions facing persistent workforce constraints, autonomous harvesting is emerging as one of the most closely watched segments within precision agriculture. For Nanovel, the latest funding provides both financial backing and institutional validation as it moves from prototype development towards commercial deployment in one of agriculture's most technically challenging applications. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/4291/agplenus-launches-novel-ai-model-for-predicting-antifungal-potency-expanding-chempass-ai-for-ag-capabilities.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/4291/agplenus-launches-novel-ai-model-for-predicting-antifungal-potency-expanding-chempass-ai-for-ag-capabilities.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:59:19 +0530 AgPlenus Ltd., a company developing novel, sustainable crop protection products and a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd.,  today announced the launch of its Antifungal Potency Predictor (APP). This new machine learning model predicts the antifungal potency of small molecules directly from their chemical structures, expanding the capabilities of Evogene’s ChemPass AI for Ag platform by forecasting biological efficacy prior to chemical synthesis and fungal assay validation. The global fungicide market is estimated at approximately $221 billion annually. Fungal diseases cause significant crop loss worldwide, resulting in tens of billions of dollars in economic damage each year and posing a growing threat to global food security. Concurrently, the widespread and repetitive use of existing fungicides has accelerated the emergence of resistant fungal pathogens, diminishing the long-term efficacy of many commercial products. As resistance continues to spread, the agriculture industry faces an urgent need for novel fungicides with innovative modes of action (MoAs) and distinct chemical structures. The APP model, developed using advanced machine learning algorithms trained on AgPlenus' proprietary curated datasets, represents a significant milestone in the company’s AI-driven fungicide discovery capabilities. Building upon the proven success of the ChemPass AI for Ag platform in identifying novel crop protection targets and generating molecules with high target-protein affinity, the new model further extends these capabilities to predict the small molecule activity within the fungus itself. By forecasting antifungal potency during the earliest discovery phases, the model enables highly informed decision-making prior to chemical synthesis and biological testing. This approach significantly reduces the number of molecules requiring experimental evaluation, focusing resources on candidates with the highest probability of downstream development success and accelerating the discovery of next-generation fungicides. The launch of the APP model is expected to support and advance AgPlenus’ internal fungicide pipeline, which includes promising targets such as APTF-1. This target is designed to combat devastating global crop diseases, including Septoria Wheat Blotch. Additionally, the model is expected to contribute to planned pipeline expansions targeting other critical pathogens, such as Botrytis and Fusarium. Beyond its immediate application in accelerating current and future product development, the APP model lays the groundwork for additional predictive AI models that AgPlenus and Evogene plan to co-develop, aiming to forecast other critical biological attributes throughout the crop protection discovery process. Dr. Dan J. Gelvan, CEO of AgPlenus, commented: "In 2025, we demonstrated the power of the ChemPass AI for Ag platform to identify novel target proteins capable of overcoming resistance, as well as novel active small molecules combating devastating crop diseases like Septoria Wheat Blotch. Today, we are taking another major step forward with the launch of our Antifungal Potency Predictor. By enabling us to forecast antifungal potency directly from molecular structure, prior to chemical synthesis, the APP model allows us to identify and prioritize high-quality candidates at the earliest stages of discovery. I am excited to see this breakthrough model integrated into ChemPass AI for Ag, further strengthening our ability to advance current and future product development programs."  ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/3624/ibi-ag-to-develop-ai-driven-de-novo-protein-design-platform-for-bioinsecticides.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/3624/ibi-ag-to-develop-ai-driven-de-novo-protein-design-platform-for-bioinsecticides.html Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:29:23 +0530 POC included in vivo insect validation of de novo designed proteins IBI Ag Ltd. , a leader in sustainable agricultural solutions, has announced the successful completion of its proof of concept (POC) for the AI-driven platform for de novo design of novel bioinsecticide proteins. This groundbreaking advancement marks a significant step forward in the quest for innovative, environmentally friendly pest control solutions. The POC included the design of new proteins, successfully validated in insect bioassays, demonstrating their efficacy against key agricultural pests. By leveraging cutting-edge AI technology and proprietary biological data and IP, IBI Ag has developed a novel approach to computationally design bioinsecticide proteins that selectively and effectively target pests while aiming to minimize the impact on beneficial insects and the environment. This innovative methodology represents a paradigm shift in the development of bioinsecticides, offering a faster and more efficient path to market. The de novo design opens up many new markets by targeting insect challenges that were previously unattainable with naturally occurring proteins, while also optimizing commercial aspects such as lower production costs, longer shelf life, stability, and resiliency. "Completing this proof of concept is a major milestone for IBI Ag," said Arnon Heyman, CEO of IBI Ag. "To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever de novo protein design platform for bioinsecticides. It is designed to leverage the company's proprietary IP for targets in insect control. This allows us to discover and validate new proteins based on vast amounts of data which we believe is a game-changer in the industry. This advancement not only demonstrates our commitment to sustainability but also supports farmers in achieving higher yields without compromising the health of ecosystems." The successful discovery and validation of these new bioinsecticide proteins pave the way for significant expansion of IBI Ag's development pipeline, with plans for greenhouse and field trials in the coming growing seasons. IBI Ag is dedicated to collaborating with agricultural partners and stakeholders to bring these innovative solutions to farmers worldwide. IBI Ag is a pioneer in the agri-biotech industry, developing innovative and sustainable crop protection solutions. The company's proprietary nanobody technology provides a new mode of action for controlling a broad range of insect pests with minimal ecological footprint ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/3579/regrow-israel-harvests-insights-from-oracle-data-intelligence-for-agriculture-to-build-resilient-agri-businesses.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/3579/regrow-israel-harvests-insights-from-oracle-data-intelligence-for-agriculture-to-build-resilient-agri-businesses.html Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:33:48 +0530 Support Agricultural Recovery and Future Resilience: Solution integrates and analyzes vast amounts of data to provide insights into projected crop yield and possible risk factors ReGrow Israel has chosen Oracle Agriculture Data Intelligence to help restore and strengthen farming across the country. The platform integrates satellite imagery, ground data, and sensor feeds in one environment, giving ReGrow a real-time view into soil conditions, crop progress, and water use to support better, more predictable production. "From the greenhouses of the Negev to the orchards of the Galilee, our mission is to help farmers rebuild with strength and purpose," said Danielle Abraham, Executive Director of ReGrow Israel. "Israel is a global leader in agricultural innovation, and we are excited to partner with Oracle on this pioneering project. To help farmers recover and plan for the future, we must leverage data and cutting-edge solutions. By combining real-time data with local expertise, we are building a smarter, more adaptable agricultural system to support Israel's future." With powerful AI models designed for the acute challenges facing the industry, Oracle Agriculture Intelligence can forecast crop yield, detect potential threats, model impact of proposed intervention programs, and quantify risks to provide organizations and governments with the data needed to make more strategic agriculture planning and resource allocation decisions. "The past two years have had a devastating impact on the Israeli agriculture sector, highlighting both the challenges and the incredible resilience of our farmers and organizations like ReGrow Israel who are working tirelessly to help them recuperate, rebuild, and bring new innovation to market," said Yael Har-Even, general manager of Oracle Israel. "By partnering with Oracle, ReGrow gains a reliable, scalable platform that will help farmers optimize their practices and plan for more productive seasons ahead." Government Data Intelligence for Agriculture is part of the Oracle Digital Government Suite, a comprehensive set of solutions that helps governments accelerate digital transformation by addressing their most complex societal challenges with modern solutions spanning cloud infrastructure, AI, development tools, network connectivity, and applications. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/3291/israels-nrgene-announced-first-successful-commercialization-of-tobrfv-resistant-tomatoes.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/3291/israels-nrgene-announced-first-successful-commercialization-of-tobrfv-resistant-tomatoes.html Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:04:40 +0530 NRGene's High Resistance seeds now reaching farmers - offering enhanced protection and premium-quality tomatoes NRGene announced the commercial sales of tomato seeds carrying its High Resistance (HR) trait to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) developed in partnership with Philoseeds. These sales follow pilot plots and small-scale sales during the 2024-2025 season in Switzerland and Canada where plants demonstrated strong resistance to ToBRFV, along with premium fruit quality and yields. For the first time, NRGene's breakthrough resistant genetics are being adopted at commercial scale by growers. Leading the Fight Against ToBRFV ToBRFV has emerged as one of the most serious threats to global greenhouse tomato production, causing significant crop losses across key growing regions. NRGene's High Resistance (HR) trait provides enhanced and durable resistance, validated through rigorous testing and comprehensive quality checks.The trait was licensed to over a dozen companies in Europe, South Africa, and the USA, and supported by efficient DNA marker sets to accelerate its introduction into elite tomato varieties. "This milestone is more than just a first sale - it's proof that our High Resistance trait is validated, reliable, and already protecting the yield of tomato growers. By developing and applying efficient genomics markers, seed companies introduced this solution to the market faster, giving growers the confidence to keep producing despite ToBRFV," said Dr. Gil Ronen, CEO of NRGene. Voices from the Field HW Seeds is among the first to integrate NRGene's ToBRFV High-Resistance (HR) trait into its commercial tomato varieties, launching full product lines that bring verified resistance directly to growers. Now in its second year of selling seeds harboring the HR trait, HW Seeds B.V. highlighted the impact these varieties are having on growers: "Our customers are experiencing the benefits of real high resistance," said Roel Huisman, Director, HWseed. "Plants are thriving under ToBRFV pressure, yields remain consistent, and fruit quality meets the expectations of demanding markets. This is not just another resistance, it's a reliable, market-ready solution that restores grower confidence and strengthens our portfolio." PurNatur, the first grower to use HWseed's resistant seeds, reported strong performance in the field, "These tomatoes finally give us peace of mind," said Marco Stricker, Director, PurNatur. "We can see the resistance in action, plants are healthy, and fruit quality is high. This is the kind of innovation that makes a real difference on the ground, giving us a powerful tool to combat ToBRFV and protect our farms from this devastating virus."  From Discovery to Commercialization NRGene and Philoseed first announced the mapping of ToBRFV resistance in 2022. In less than four years, this trait was introduced into elite hybrid tomato varieties, tested in commercial plots, and sold to farmers, an extremely short timeline from scientific breakthrough to commercialization. More global breeding companies are following this path, and trials across Europe and the U.S. have confirmed the resistance's effectiveness. With commercialization underway, NRGene expects that more companies will adopt its HR trait, helping the industry move closer to overcoming the challenges posed by ToBRFV. NRGene is a genomics company delivering turnkey solutions to the global seed, food, and agriculture industries. Relying on a vast proprietary database and advanced AI-based technologies, NRGene offers computational tools that enable the world's largest seed and food companies to maximize crop yields while saving time and cost. Now, through its ToBRFV-resistant tomatoes, NRGene is providing a fast, proven solution to one of the industry's most urgent challenges. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/3271/plantarcbio-secures-u-s-and-south-korea-patents-for-dipper-platform-advancing-gene-editing-optimization-in-crops.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/3271/plantarcbio-secures-u-s-and-south-korea-patents-for-dipper-platform-advancing-gene-editing-optimization-in-crops.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 10:13:23 +0530 DIPPER™ platform accelerates development of drought-tolerant, high-yield, and resilient crops worldwide PlantArcBio has been granted patents in the United States and South Korea for its proprietary DIPPER™ platform, a breakthrough technology designed to optimize gene expression for gene-editing processes in crops. The DIPPER™ platform represents a significant advancement in plant biotechnology, enabling researchers and breeders to enhance the efficiency and precision of processes using gene-editing tools such as CRISPR to improve crop performance. Unlike traditional trial-and-error approaches, DIPPER™ employs a high-throughput, in planta system to systematically identify regulatory and coding DNA elements that maximize gene expression and trait performance across a wide range of crops and traits. A critical challenge in developing gene-edited crops is identifying precise DNA modifications that are required to improve plant functionality, rather than relying solely on gene deletions. DIPPER™ addresses this challenge by providing a precise method to pinpoint optimal DNA changes, shortening the trait development timeline and allowing seed companies to bring new crop traits to market faster and more efficiently, benefiting both farmers and consumers. "The swift granting of these patents underscores PlantArcBio's commitment to delivering cutting-edge, scalable solutions for global agriculture," said Dror Shalitin, CEO of PlantArcBio. "DIPPER™ is a game-changing platform that accelerates the development of traits such as drought tolerance, yield enhancement, herbicide resistance, and nutritional improvement, helping farmers worldwide meet the growing demands of sustainable food production." The patents strengthen PlantArcBio's intellectual property portfolio and highlight DIPPER™'s potential as a prerequisite for the successful use of gene-editing tools such as CRISPR in major crops including corn, soybean, wheat, rice, vegetables, and more. The platform paves the way for novel trait development and faster commercialization timelines, positioning PlantArcBio at the forefront of modern agricultural innovation. PlantArcBio is an ag-biotech company developing gene discovery and RNAi-based solutions to enhance crop traits and biologically control pests, with a vision to improve global food security and promote sustainable agriculture. The company's proprietary DIP™ and DIPPER™ platforms enable the discovery and development of novel genes and gene-editing targets, with game-changing effects on plants - including yield improvement, drought resistance, herbicide tolerance, and nutritional enhancement. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/3257/strauss-group-introduces-revolutionary-cow-free-dairy-consumables-in-israel.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/3257/strauss-group-introduces-revolutionary-cow-free-dairy-consumables-in-israel.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 10:21:59 +0530 Since the protein is structurally identical to milk protein, the products are not suitable for individuals with milk protein allergies CowFree Yotvata products and Symphony cream “cheese” based on animal free BLG protein, a protein identical in composition to one of the key proteins found in cow’s milk, produced through precision fermentation technology. By bringing Food-Tech innovation to consumers, Strauss Group reflects its purpose to "Nourishing a Better Tomorrow.". The first products set to launch in the coming weeks include CowFree "Symphony" cream "cheese" and Yotvata CowFree drink. These items are enriched with calcium and high-quality protein, providing all essential amino acids. As the protein is structurally identical to milk protein, these products are not recommended for individuals with milk protein allergies. Strauss is the first Israeli company, and among the first globally, to bring this technological innovation to the refrigerated aisle. This launch reflects the global trend of innovation and advanced nutritional technologies, making them accessible to Israeli consumers through a diverse range of high-quality, great-tasting offerings. The CowFree product line is designed to cater to diverse dietary needs. Cow-Free products cater to those who separate meat and dairy, making them ideal options for lactose-intolerant individuals. Additionally, the products provide alternatives for vegans and those reducing their consumption of animal-based foods. Ariella Schiffenbauer Weiss, GM of Strauss Dairies, added: “The launch of CowFree marks another stage in the evolution of our dairy operations. As a leading food company in Israel, we are committed to continuing to surprise and delight with tasty, innovative, and nutritious products-giving consumers true freedom of choice.” ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/3207/groundwater-is-new-gold-noa-amsalem-on-israels-blueprint-for-water-security.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/3207/groundwater-is-new-gold-noa-amsalem-on-israels-blueprint-for-water-security.html Fri, 22 Aug 2025 16:51:20 +0530 Israel’s water journey offers a powerful playbook for nations grappling with depleting aquifers. In an exclusive conversation with AgroSpectrum, Noa Amsalem, Water Attach’e, Embassy of Israel in India describes how Israel moved from groundwater dependence to “manufactured water” through large-scale desalination and recycling over 90 per cent of its municipal wastewater. She cautions that while groundwater may resemble oil in its scarcity, its true value is closer to gold — finite, irreplaceable, and too precious to be used only once. For India, Noa stresses that regulation must go hand in hand with alternatives: treated wastewater, drip irrigation, and locally adapted solutions like managed aquifer recharge. She highlights India–Israel Centers of Excellence as living labs for co-developing technologies ranging from fit-for-purpose reuse to digital monitoring of soil and water. Looking ahead, Noa bets on artificial intelligence as the backbone of groundwater governance, provided it is coupled with farmer training and inclusive adoption. Setting the Stage – The Global Groundwater Reckoning Groundwater has become the hidden engine of global agriculture, yet FAO estimates that nearly 20 per cent of aquifers are already overexploited. From Israel’s lens, do you see groundwater as today’s oil — a finite resource heading toward geo-political contestation? Unlike oil, water is not traded on global markets but tied to specific locations, which makes its overuse both a local hydrological crisis and a political challenge. Moreover, unlike oil, water has no substitute for sustaining life. From Israel’s perspective, groundwater is a finite resource, and excessive pumping leads to salinization, land subsidence, and long-term fragility of water systems. In this sense, the analogy of “groundwater as the new oil” is only partially correct: scarcity will influence geopolitics, but the way forward is not through conflict, but through creating alternatives – desalination of brackish and seawater, wastewater reuse for agriculture, and active demand management. These are “manufactured water” sources, produced through human investment and innovation, which reduce dependence on natural aquifers and seasonal rainfall. Israel’s key achievement has been precisely this shift: moving from reliance on natural water sources (groundwater and surface water) to manufactured water (desalinated seawater and treated wastewater). Strategic decisions in the early 2000s – building large-scale desalination plants and mandating wastewater reuse in agriculture – fundamentally transformed the water system. Today, aquifers are still monitored and protected, but they are no longer the sole backbone of national water security. From this perspective, a dual analogy can be made: like oil, groundwater is a limited resource whose value rises as its reserves shrink. Even more, it is like gold – a finite resource whose price is determined by its scarcity, and whose value for agriculture and sustaining life will only continue to grow. The difference is that water is too precious to be used only once. This lesson is relevant globally: sustainability does not come solely from regulation or restricting natural resources, but from investing in alternative sources that reduce the centrality of natural groundwater and mitigate potential conflicts. Israel’s Playbook – What Works, What Doesn’t Israel turned a desert into an agricultural exporter while reducing dependence on aquifers. Which single policy intervention — pricing, metering, or wastewater reuse — had the most transformative impact, and why? Also, Israel enforces mandatory water accounting and volumetric pricing. In countries like India, free electricity fuels rampant groundwater pumping. Is there a middle path between political feasibility and hydrological sustainability? Most transformative intervention: Wastewater reuse. Today Israel recycles more than 90% of its municipal wastewater – the highest rate worldwide (OECD, 2023). This has allowed agriculture to rely significantly less on groundwater, stabilized supplies, and freed natural freshwater for urban and industrial use. Pricing and metering were important, but wastewater reuse was the real game-changer. In the graph, the green line represents the recharge by rainfall, which would have allowed the population to reach a certain size—much smaller than today. The change is already visible two decades ago, with a significant increase in water availability thanks to wastewater reuse and desalination plants. Balancing sustainability and politics: Over-subsidies (such as free electricity or water) can lead to over-pumping. Israel’s experience suggests a middle path: gradually introducing volumetric pricing while providing clear alternatives – treated wastewater, local desalination, or efficient drip irrigation systems.“Gradually” means starting with low prices and increasing step by step so that farmers and the public adapt without shocks. In Israel, this model is also applied to households: a basic “lifeline” amount of water is cheap, and consumption above that is charged at higher rates. Importance of alternatives: Critical. Regulation without alternatives leads to resistance and non-compliance. In Israel, desalination and wastewater reuse gave regulators credibility – limits were enforced, but real solutions were also available. This “regulation plus alternatives” model can be applied elsewhere, provided it is adapted locally (for example, managed aquifer recharge in India). The Indian context – industrial reuse as a funding engine: A notable example comes from Chennai, where large-scale industrial reuse of water has become a major source of revenue. These funds are reinvested in upgrading water supply infrastructure, improving service for households and farmers alike. This demonstrates that industrial reuse of treated water can play a central role in financing more sustainable water systems. Technology & Innovation – The Next Frontier Drip irrigation is now globally associated with Israel. Beyond drip, what are the next big technologies — AI-driven aquifer mapping, precision fertigation, soil microbiome engineering — that could redefine groundwater use? Beyond drip irrigation, the next frontier in agriculture lies in rethinking the very sources of water that sustain it. Desalination of brackish water has already proven to be a viable solution, providing farmers in arid regions with a reliable supply. However, the most significant transformation will come from advancing the use of treated wastewater in agriculture. The future is not just about recycling water but about fit-for-purpose reuse – tailoring water quality to specific crops or agricultural applications. Leafy vegetables consumed raw may require higher-quality water than wheat or cotton. This allows smarter allocation of resources, lowers treatment costs, and reduces energy consumption. Integrating treated wastewater with digital technologies and real-time monitoring further enhances safety and efficiency. Sensors tracking salinity, nutrient levels, and contaminants can dynamically adjust irrigation practices, supporting both food safety and soil health. Another key opportunity lies in hybrid systems, where treated wastewater is combined with desalinated brackish water. Such combinations help balance salinity, reduce soil degradation risks, and create sustainable long-term agricultural practices. Finally, treated wastewater should no longer be seen as a “secondary” solution but as a cornerstone of circular agriculture. Beyond irrigation, wastewater streams provide nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus for fertilizers, and even energy from sludge – turning a waste challenge into a value-generating cycle. Looking ahead, innovation is not just about new water treatment technologies, but about the integrated cycles of water, energy, and nutrients, where treated wastewater becomes a central driver of sustainable agriculture in the decades to come. Global Cooperation and Looking Ahead How do you see the India–Israel partnership evolving in groundwater — joint pilots, technology incubation hubs, or institutional knowledge-sharing? Water alliances are emerging as a natural response to shared challenges and can strengthen regional resilience. Future cooperation is expected to focus less on maximizing supply and more on security, sustainable management, and regional stability. A concrete example is the network of Centers of Excellence established in India with support from Israel’s MASHAV – Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation. These centers operate in areas such as precision irrigation, post-harvest management, and water-use efficiency, serving as hubs for training, demonstration, and joint R&D. Indian and Israeli experts learn from each other, testing solutions on the ground before scaling up. The key lesson is clear: Israel can inspire and accelerate innovation, but solutions must be adapted to local conditions – they cannot simply be “copied and pasted.” If you had to bet on one radical solution — AI, bio-innovations, carbon markets for water efficiency, or desalination-for-agriculture — which will define the groundwater economy of 2050? Artificial Intelligence is expected to become the backbone of water management – from large-scale aquifer mapping to precise fertigation in individual fields. Yet in the Indian context, the human factor is critical: millions of farmers and water professionals need training and empowerment to work with these digital systems. The future is therefore not only AI as the “operating system” of water management, but the combination of advanced technology with India’s vast human capital, creating resilient, inclusive, and sustainable water governance. — Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/3089/the-sandbelt-revolution-how-heat-struck-nations-are-growing-their-way-out.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/3089/the-sandbelt-revolution-how-heat-struck-nations-are-growing-their-way-out.html Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:26:27 +0530 Image Source: Canva Once dismissed as fantasy, desert farming is fast becoming a frontier solution to food insecurity in a climate-stressed world. Across the UAE, Israel, and India, arid lands are being transformed by AI, desalination, and solar-powered greenhouses into hubs of high-yield, water-efficient agriculture. However beneath this promise lies a critical dilemma: Can these energy- and input-intensive systems remain sustainable under mounting climate and ecological pressures? The success of desert farming hinges not just on innovation, but on integrating traditional knowledge, conserving biodiversity, and balancing output with long-term resilience. As food geopolitics heat up, the desert may yet hold the key—if we learn to grow not just smarter, but wiser. Not long ago, the thought of harvesting tomatoes in the Negev or growing lettuce under the blazing skies of Rajasthan would’ve been dismissed as desert mirage. But that mirage is hardening into reality. From the sun-scorched dunes of the UAE to the saline plains of western India, agriculture is being reimagined without soil, without rain, and increasingly—without limits. Armed with solar panels, desalination plants, climate-controlled greenhouses, and AI-run irrigation grids, arid nations are flipping the script on food production. Deserts—once symbols of lifelessness—are now the proving grounds for the world’s most cutting-edge agricultural innovations. And behind the glistening greenhouses and vertical farms lies a deeper narrative: one of food sovereignty, climate resilience, and a reshuffling of global power in an era where who grows food, where, and how could decide the next geopolitical fault lines. The Israel-UAE-India Agri-Tech Axis At the heart of this transformation is a three-way collaboration that spans borders, ideologies, and ecosystems. Israel, long celebrated for turning its arid lands into citrus orchards and tomato farms through drip irrigation, now exports entire systems of desert-ready greenhouses. The UAE, seeking to reduce its 90 per cent dependence on imported food, has gone all-in on high-tech agronomy. India, with over 68 million hectares of arid and semi-arid land, is the newest and perhaps most consequential member of this axis. The pace of cooperation has been startling. In the past two years alone, Indo-Israeli Centres of Excellence for desert horticulture have expanded across Rajasthan and Gujarat. Israeli drip systems are now being paired with Indian solar panels in protected greenhouses spanning Bikaner to Bhuj. The UAE’s AgriTech Park in Al Ain, backed by sovereign wealth, is exporting vertical farm modules to Rajasthan, while India’s EXIM Bank facilitates tech financing under the trilateral I2U2 initiative. It’s a mutually reinforcing engine: Tech from Israel, capital from the Gulf, terrain and markets from India. Together, they’re building what the world lacks—scalable, sovereign, climate-resilient agriculture in water-stressed regions. The Thar Test: Can Desert Agriculture Future-Proof India’s Food Security? India’s deserts are often a geopolitical afterthought in discussions on food systems transformation. Yet, they may soon become the centrepiece of the country’s climate-adaptive agricultural strategy. With over 68 million hectares—or nearly 20 per cent of India’s total landmass—classified as arid and semi-arid, regions like western Rajasthan, northern Gujarat, southern Haryana, parts of Maharashtra, and the Deccan fringes represent a vast, untapped opportunity for resilient, high-tech farming. Adding another layer to India’s arid strategy is the introduction of date palm cultivation. Traditionally a Gulf crop, date palm plantations have expanded rapidly in Jaisalmer and Barmer, with the support of the Rajasthan Horticulture Development Mission and Israeli agronomists. The Department of Horticulture reports a fourfold increase in plantation area between 2017 and 2024, from 150 hectares to over 600 hectares. Preliminary harvests indicate an average yield of 8–10 tonnes per hectare, with premium Ajwa and Barhee varieties fetching Rs 250–300 per kg in urban and export markets. From Mirage to Market: The Real Economics of Farming in the Desert Make no mistake—desert farming doesn’t come cheap. Climate-controlled greenhouses, desalination units, and smart irrigation systems require substantial capital investment. However, like most frontier technologies—solar energy, electric vehicles, even early mobile telephony—the economics shift as scale and innovation converge. That convergence is happening fast. Solar energy now accounts for over 90 per cent of power in several Gulf-based agri-tech farms, slashing long-term operating costs. Meanwhile, the cost of desalinated water in the Gulf has dropped from $5.00 to below $1.20 per cubic metre over the past decade, driven by hybrid solar-thermal systems and energy recovery innovations. On the efficiency front, AI-based climate controls are cutting water and nutrient waste by up to 40 per cent, according to field trials by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture. In response, Gulf nations are now establishing agricultural free zones as well as controlled-environment export hubs designed to grow high-value crops like cherry tomatoes, edible herbs, and leafy greens. These are already being air-freighted to premium markets in Europe and Asia, where they fetch higher prices due to freshness, low pesticide load, and guaranteed traceability. In short, desert farming is evolving from proof-of-concept to proof-of-profit. For countries that can align technology, policy, and export infrastructure, it offers not just food security—but also a competitive edge in the emerging climate economy. The Desert Farming Dilemma Desert farming is rapidly gaining traction as a symbol of agricultural innovation in a climate-stressed world. From hydroponic towers in the UAE to polyhouses in Rajasthan, barren landscapes are being transformed into productive food zones. But behind this promise lies a deeper concern: the sustainability of these systems. Heavy reliance on desalinated water, synthetic inputs, and energy-intensive infrastructure can degrade soil health, intensify pest resistance, and threaten long-term land productivity. As highlighted by the FAO's Investment Days and research from ICBA, the key to sustainable desert agriculture lies not in scaling inputs but in deploying smarter ones—through precision agriculture, AI-based systems, nanotechnology, and innovations like liquid natural clay that can retain moisture and nutrients in sandy soils. These advancements, while transformative, must also be balanced with traditional knowledge—from khettara water tunnels in Morocco to taanka systems in India—that have enabled desert communities to survive for centuries. Yet, desert farming faces its biggest challenge from climate change itself. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and creeping salinization threaten to make even engineered systems unsustainable. The UNCCD warns that by 2030, desertification could displace 135 million people, making the case for sustainable intensification—growing more with less—urgent. While projects like the Sahara Forest Project in Jordan showcase integrated solutions that combine food, freshwater, and reforestation, large-scale transformation of desert land poses risks to biodiversity and fragile ecosystems. Ultimately, desert agriculture must evolve from a narrow focus on yield to a broader ethic of ecological balance. Managed responsibly, it can enhance food security and restore degraded lands. Mismanaged, it risks becoming a high-tech mirage—promising abundance but accelerating collapse. The question is no longer whether we can grow food in deserts, but whether we can do so without compromising the resilience of the very systems we depend on. ---------------- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2794/orbia-netafim-and-virridy-partner-to-launch-carbon-credit-program-in-turkey.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2794/orbia-netafim-and-virridy-partner-to-launch-carbon-credit-program-in-turkey.html Wed, 19 Mar 2025 13:04:02 +0530 Reducing carbon footprint by at least 3.5 tons of CO₂e per hectare per year Orbia Advance Corporation's S.A.B. de C.V. Precision Agriculture business Netafim, the global leader in precision irrigation technology, announced a new carbon credit program in Turkey in partnership with Virridy, a pioneer in environmental technology and a leader in water-focused carbon credit generation. The program will begin with more than 1,000 hectares of farmland in Turkey, focusing on alfalfa, corn and sugar beet crops, and has already been shown to reduce at least 3.5 CO₂e tons per hectare per year. The program incentivizes farmers to adopt sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices, such as precision irrigation along with digital farming and automation solutions, that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon sequestration. This method of utilizing carbon finance to deliver proven water and environmental benefits is a mechanism that is likely viable in other global irrigated regions as well. This partnership builds on the success of Orbia Netafim's existing carbon credit programs, including the first-ever for drip-irrigated rice that was launched in 2022—which decreased methane emissions to nearly zero while significantly conserving water, energy and fertilizers. With this partnership, Orbia Netafim is expanding its carbon programs by implementing precision irrigation on alfalfa, sugar beet and corn farms in Turkey. The carbon credits generated through precision irrigation adoption will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve water efficiency and increase crop productivity. Virridy's expertise in water-focused carbon finance, combined with Orbia Netafim's leadership in precision irrigation, ensures a powerful partnership for scaling sustainable agriculture. Virridy will lead carbon credit generation efforts by leveraging its Digital Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (DMRV) capabilities to quantify water and climate benefit with a scalable and sustainable finance model for partners. Orbia Netafim's agronomic expertise and proven precision irrigation technology will enable farmers to maximize yields while minimizing environmental impact. The program in Turkey builds on Orbia Netafim's past success, where farmers achieved at least a 25% increase in yield, along with improved water efficiency and decreased fertilizer use. In the next few years, the program will expand significantly within Turkey and potentially into other countries as well. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2745/startup-nation-central-growingil-launches-the-israeli-agriculture-food-tech-landscape-map-for-2025.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2745/startup-nation-central-growingil-launches-the-israeli-agriculture-food-tech-landscape-map-for-2025.html Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:52:39 +0530 In 2024, Isreil saw 33 funding rounds over $1 million, with over 30% of all investments going to startups in the robotics and farming equipment sectors. Israeli agrifood-tech startups are playing a pivotal role in broader emerging innovation areas, driving advancements that extend beyond agriculture and food into health, sustainability, and energy. The Israeli Agriculture & Food Tech landscape map, produced by Startup Nation Central, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Israel's innovation ecosystem globally, and GrowingIL, Israel's AgTech community, celebrates Israel's innovation and impact in food and agriculture. With a strong scientific foundation and a history of agricultural breakthroughs, this sector plays a central role in Israel's innovation legacy. In contrast to the well-established agritech sector, food tech is relatively new, but it has grown rapidly with investments reaching peak levels in 2021 and 2022. This map, curated from Startup Nation Central's Finder business platform, highlights the most impactful startups in the sector in 2024, highlighting those that secured the largest funding rounds. It offers a rich entry point for exploring Israel's innovation landscape. In Israeli agrifood-tech, 2024 was a year of dynamic partnerships, strategic acquisitions, and technological advancements despite global economic challenges and regional instability. Investment remained strong, with 33 funding rounds exceeding $1 million, and more than 30% of all investments directed toward robotics and farm equipment startups, a sector that continues to demonstrate strong growth potential. Strategic partnerships with multinational corporations played a key role in the sector's resilience, as major global players collaborated with Israeli startups to integrate advanced agritech and food solutions into their supply chains. Robotics, in particular, emerged as a critical solution to agricultural labor shortages, with new funding and partnerships accelerating the development of automation and precision agriculture technologies. Agriculture & Food Tech Landscape Map for 2025 Some of the key start-up area includes; Precision Nutrition for Chronic Disease Prevention – AI-powered dietary solutions and functional foods are being developed to combat chronic illnesses like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases, signaling a shift toward personalized nutrition and preventative healthcare. AgriTech and Clean Energy – Israeli startups are pioneering solar-powered irrigation systems and carbon-sequestering crops, contributing to the global sustainability movement by reducing agriculture's environmental footprint. Synthetic Biology and Cellular Agriculture – Lab-grown meat, engineered microalgae, and alternative proteins disrupt traditional food supply chains, addressing food security and land conservation challenges. Bioconversion and Upcycling – Startups are developing biotech solutions to transform agricultural waste into high-value products like protein powders, biofertilizers, and biofuels, reinforcing circular economy practices. Agrifood-tech in Israel continues to thrive, demonstrating its resilience through collaboration, investment, and technological advancements. In 2025, multinational companies and investors are expected to deepen their engagement in the ecosystem, reinforcing Israel's position as a global leader in agrifood technology solutions.  Startup Nation Central connects global solution seekers with Israel's innovators and expertise solutions through Finder, the business engagement platform. It provides real-time information, deep business insights, and opportunities for forming valuable business connections into the Israeli tech ecosystem. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2742/novel-bioinsecticide-platform-development-by-israels-ibi-ag-secures-6-1-million-in-funding-led-by-corteva-inc.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2742/novel-bioinsecticide-platform-development-by-israels-ibi-ag-secures-6-1-million-in-funding-led-by-corteva-inc.html Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:42:41 +0530 A revolutionary new way to protect crops from insects that offers novel modes of action IBI Ag, an Israeli bio-insecticide company developing bio-insecticides with lower ecological footprints, has closed the first part of its Series A funding round with a $6.1 million investment. A round led by Corteva, Inc., through its Corteva Catalyst platform and involving Trendlines Group, Iron Nation, Consensus Business Group ("CBG") and the Israel Innovation Authority underscores IBI Ag's strategic importance in helping farmers grow more food by protecting their crops and the global food chain through innovative biological and naturally-inspired solutions. IBI Ag has developed technology that leverages single domain antibodies, to produce highly effective crop protection solutions with a low ecological footprint. This technology—adapted from pharma and modified to fit the agricultural market—provides novel modes of action and represents a revolutionary new approach for protecting crops from insects. The products under development target a broad spectrum of insects, both sucking and chewing insects with minimal impact on non-targeted organisms. The company is targeting high value crops to start and will follow with row crop solutions. "We are thrilled to have the support of our existing and new investors, led by Corteva through their Corteva Catalyst platform," said Arnon Heyman, Chief Executive Officer, IBI Ag. "This investment will help us to accelerate the development of our single domain antibody technology, providing farmers with sustainable and effective crop protection solutions. We believe our single domain antibody technology is a game changer for driving agricultural productivity while preserving the environment, and the investment announced today is a significant step towards delivering this innovation to farmers across the globe." "We see considerable potential for IBI Ag's bioinsecticides to be a smart solution for farmers to tackle devastating insects while minimizing environmental impacts," said Tom Greene, Senior Director at Corteva Inc. and Global Leader for Corteva Catalyst.  A pioneer in the agricultural biotechnology industry, IBI-Ag's investment aligns with the company's commitment to putting cutting-edge technology into farmers' hands. The company's strategic focus is on accelerating the development of next-generation biological and naturally inspired crop protection solutions as well as developing innovative and sustainable crop protection products. Through its proprietary technology platform, the company creates biological insect control solutions that are effective, selective, and safe using nanobodies - antibodies. The breakthrough technology can help farmers protect their crops with a lower environmental footprint and transform the agricultural industry by offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides, which will protect the global food chain. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2732/worlds-first-hybrid-irrigation-dripline-unveiled-by-israels-orbias-precision-agriculture-business-netafim.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2732/worlds-first-hybrid-irrigation-dripline-unveiled-by-israels-orbias-precision-agriculture-business-netafim.html Mon, 17 Feb 2025 14:34:52 +0530 Combining an integral dripline with a built-in outlet, the Hybrid Dripline delivers unmatched irrigation performance and efficiency Orbia Advance Corporation's S.A.B. de C.V. Precision Agriculture business Netafim, the global leader in precision irrigation technology, announced the launch of its patented Hybrid Dripline system, the world's first and only integral dripline with a built-in outlet. This proprietary technology brings together the benefits of integral and on-line dripper systems into a unified leak-free, clog-resistant and labor-saving solution for growers around the globe. Orbia Netafim's Hybrid Dripline system simplifies irrigation operations with a pre-assembled outlet that eliminates some of the most labor-intensive tasks of greenhouse crop, orchard and vineyard care like the need for manual hole-punching or fitting migration rings by maintaining a fixed dropping point, to accommodate different tree growth stages. Initially launched within the UniRam™ dripline range, Hybrid Dripline technology will soon be expanded across Orbia Netafim's Heavy Wall Driplines portfolio to meet the needs of growers worldwide. "The Hybrid Dripline comes after years of development and represents an exciting leap forward in precision irrigation technology," said Abed Masarwa, VP Products at Orbia Precision Agriculture (Netafim). "This innovation saves farmers time, labor and resources while delivering superior irrigation results. By integrating two distinct systems into one seamless solution, we are proud to be redefining efficiency, reliability and performance for growers, helping them achieve optimal yields even with challenging water quality." The uniqueness of the Hybrid Dripline lies in its built-in outlet, which allows an inline dripline to function with the efficiency and adaptability of an on-line system. This innovation delivers diverse and targeted benefits to growers across vineyards, greenhouses and orchards by ensuring consistent water distribution while reducing labor-intensive tasks. In vineyards, the built-in outlets eliminate the need for the manual placement of migration rings by preventing water drop migration and keeping the dropping point fixed. For orchards, the outlets can be easily adjusted—plugged or unplugged—to accommodate different tree growth stages. In greenhouses and protected crops, the design enables seamless connection to irrigation emitters like NetBow™ and drop leading stakes for substrates, simplifying operations and significantly reducing labor requirements. Tavo Acosta, a vineyard grower from Los Alamos, CA. "Orbia Netafim's Hybrid Dripline has provided a substantial savings over utilizing the traditional tubing and button dripper installation. This new process delivers the same drip pattern that is required on sloped ground while achieving a substantial labor savings. This saves us countless hours due to the ease of deployment and installation with one pass down the vine row." With its integrated dripper featuring superior clogging resistance, the Hybrid Dripline provides a reliable solution for growers using low-quality water sources, ensuring consistent and uniform performance across all conditions. This transformative technology empowers growers with efficient and adaptable irrigation solutions. Beyond agriculture, the Hybrid Dripline also significantly improves irrigation processes in mining operations by enhancing mineral extraction efficiency and system longevity. For heap leached mines, Netafim ensures precise irrigation across pads and slopes minimizing labor costs and installation errors while improving mineral recovery rates by preventing drop migration along driplines. Orbia Netafim plans to roll out its Hybrid technology across its entire Heavy Wall Dripline portfolio improving irrigation efficiency and performance for growers worldwide. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2719/agritask-israels-crop-supply-intelligence-company-is-rebranding-as-acclym.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2719/agritask-israels-crop-supply-intelligence-company-is-rebranding-as-acclym.html Mon, 10 Feb 2025 09:22:43 +0530 Crop supply intelligence company rebrands to lead food and beverage market into the next stage of sustainable sourcing and procurement innovation Agritask, a crop supply intelligence company, unveiled a rebrand and a new company name, Acclym. As Acclym, the company officially marks a significant evolution by offering data-led agricultural sourcing solutions for food and beverage companies, advancing beyond its initial roots in crop management. Amir Lehr, CEO of Acclym, formerly Agritask says "By combining our deep agricultural and data expertise with cutting-edge risk prediction technology, we create an all-in-one platform that enhances crop quality, quantity, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness." Acclym collects and analyzes real data related to food and beverage companies’ crop yield threats and projections, regenerative agriculture performance, and sustainable regulatory compliance. The platform aggregates inputs from multiple sources – such as mobile apps, remote sensors, satellites, ERP systems, and more – feeding it through an advanced processing core of proprietary models. Displayed on an intuitive dashboard, the insights can then be used for environmental impact assessments (ex. deforestation), supply chain emissions calculations, crop yield risk predictions, and the like. “Today, companies make critical sourcing decisions without reliable data,” says Lehr. “Our platform changes that by providing real-time insights that let companies anticipate risks and optimize procurement strategies, transforming guesswork into informed decision-making.” Acclym’s technology is currently deployed across more than 6M hectares of land in 39 countries, serving leading food and beverage companies such as AB Inbev, General Mills, McCain Foods, and more. Leveraging augmented on-ground data, AI/ML, and data analytics, Acclym equips food & beverage enterprises with invaluable insights and cutting-edge tools. Acclym helps enterprises achieve and quantifiably measure their sustainability goals and optimize supply operations while mitigating risks across globally distributed ecosystems. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2694/israels-pluri-secures-6-5m-strategic-investment-enters-cacao-market.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2694/israels-pluri-secures-6-5m-strategic-investment-enters-cacao-market.html Mon, 27 Jan 2025 11:54:09 +0530 According to reports. Global cacao market value was $13.5 billion in 2023, and is expected to grow by 8.2% to $23.5 billion by 2030 Pluri Inc., a leading biotechnology company with its proprietary platform for cell-based solutions, announced a $6.5 million strategic private investment led by global investor Alejandro Weinstein, who will serve on Pluri's board. Pluri is also acquiring 71% of Kokomodo Ltd., a company specializing in cultivated cacao production, for $4.5 million in common shares. With the investment and the Kokomodo Transaction, Pluri is uniquely positioned to extend its leadership in sustainable food technologies and to strengthen its strategic growth and operational capabilities. The Investment consists of the issuance and sale of 1,383,948 Common Shares at a purchase price of $4.61 per Common Share, pursuant to a securities purchase agreement between the Company and the Investor. Pluri received warrants to purchase up to 84,599 Common Shares at an exercise price of $5,568 per share, and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 26,030 Common Shares at a price of $0.0001 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $6.5 million. Working capital and general corporate purposes will be funded by the net proceeds of the Investment. Pre-Funded Warrants and Common Warrants are subject to Pluri shareholder approval prior to exercise. Subject to certain customary closing conditions, the Investment is expected to close on or about January 31, 2025. Through the acquisition of a majority stake in Kokomodo, an Israeli company that crafts climate-resilient cacao using cellular agriculture technology, Pluri's financial position will be strengthened and its expansion into the cultivated cacao market accelerated. Global cacao market value was $13.5 billion in 2023, and is expected to grow by 8.2% to $23.5 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. Key Highlights of the Transactions: $6.5 Million Equity Investment: The capital infusion will support Pluri's ongoing innovation and strategic growth across its mobile technology platform. Strategic Acquisition: The acquisition will enable Pluri to capitalize on the growing demand for sustainable food technologies by leveraging Kokomodo's innovative cultivated cacao solutions. Board Representation: On closing, the Company will appoint Mr. Weinstein to its Board of Directors, and his right to serve shall continue so long as he holds 10% or more of Common Shares. Regulatory Approvals: The consummation of the Kokomodo Transaction and the exercise of the Common Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants sold in the Investment are also subject to Pluri shareholders’ approval. Yaky Yanay, Chief Executive Officer and President of Pluri said "We believe that the synergy between Kokomodo’s advancements in cell line development and Pluri’s industrial-scale production creates a strong foundation for innovation, positioning the company to lead the field of cultivated cacao and set new benchmarks in cultivated cacao technologies.” Mr. Weinstein added that, “Pluri has already demonstrated the great potential of cell-based technologies to drive innovation forward in both the regenerative medicine and AgTech space. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to Pluri’s growth as I believe that sustainable and scalable food production is a global priority. I believe that these Transactions mark the beginning of a powerful partnership.” Mr. Weinstein is a seasoned global investor and entrepreneur with over 20 years of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and sustainable technology sectors. His collaboration with Pluri underscores his commitment to advancing innovative technologies that address critical global challenges, including sustainable food production. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2473/israels-icl-launches-new-food-specialty-plant-in-china-making-a-significant-expansion.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2473/israels-icl-launches-new-food-specialty-plant-in-china-making-a-significant-expansion.html Thu, 07 Nov 2024 10:23:00 +0530 Company hosts top food industry customers for innovation workshop and other events ICL a leading global specialty minerals company, has opened a new food specialty plant in China, designed to help customers easily partner with ICL to create novel and innovative food offerings tailored to Chinese consumers’ palates. The facility will manufacture specialty food solutions in the meat, poultry and seafood segments, such as texturants and marinades, among other offerings, and was built in the thriving Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone, which is located in the heart of the Greater Shanghai area. ICL will leverage the new facility to continue serving its established customer base in China, while actively pursuing growth opportunities with new customers. ICL’s commitment to innovation and excellence is part of a strategic initiative designed to empower its customers in China to meet their growth objectives. Rado Sporka, vice president of ICL Food Specialties Commercial Business. “Not only does this new facility bring us one step closer to the end consumer, it is also another step forward in ICL’s long-term commitment to contribute to food security around the world.” As part of a series of groundbreaking events, ICL hosted more than 30 of its top customers from the Chinese food industry for an overview of its portfolio of premium products and their functional properties. The company also provided details on its robust R&D capabilities and product application support network. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2470/israels-dairyx-crafting-next-gen-casein-micelles-using-precision-fermentation.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2470/israels-dairyx-crafting-next-gen-casein-micelles-using-precision-fermentation.html Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:13:43 +0530 Paving the Way to Making Stretchy, Protein-rich, Dairy Cheese – Cow-free DairyX Foods Ltd. announces a major advancement in creating authentic milk proteins without cows, using precision fermentation. The food-tech start-up has developed a method to produce casein proteins that can self-assemble into micelles. Micelles are the primary building blocks of dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt. DairyX has also refined a complementary technology to enhance the gelation of its casein micelles, considered the holy grail of the industry. DairyX’s gelating micelles enable manufacturers to produce firm, stretchy and creamy products using their traditional dairy-making processes. Galit Kuznets, Head of Strain Development and Fermentation discusses DairyX's proprietary technologies and protocols, saying, “We have achieved several key objectives with our solutions. Our biological design genetically manipulated yeast to produce functional caseins that we organized into micelles. We developed a fast-tracked screening process that simulated evolution to locate super-producers of protein from among millions of yeast strains. Our machine-learning models simulated fermentation to determine optimal fermentation conditions. We have proven our ability to create a gel from reconstituted casein micelles. All these ingenuities have helped us work smarter and faster to create highly functional micelles.” Creating a smarter casein with precision fermentation Casein micelles are key to the appealing sensory profile of dairy products. DairyX’s precision fermentation technology uses microorganisms (specifically yeast) to produce smart casein proteins. “Not all caseins produced using precision fermentation are alike,” explains Maya Bar-Zeev, PhD, Head of Product Development and Downstream Processing. “We trained yeast to produce the next generation of casein. DairyX's patent-pending casein is an advanced form created to precisely and effectively organize into micelles.” “The industry knows quite well that caseins are extremely hard to produce using precision fermentation, so our initial goal was to solve this problem. Once we successfully crafted caseins, the next major challenge was to upgrade caseins so they could self-assemble into gelating micelles to produce the dairy properties manufacturers are seeking,” explains DairyX CEO and founder Arik Ryvkin, PhD. DairyX casein eliminates the need for hormones and antibiotics applied in dairy farms and Maximizes efficiency Currently, manufacturers of animal-free dairy products use additives, like stabilizers, emulsifiers and thickeners, which don’t perform as well as cow’s milk and can add unpleasant aftertastes. These fail to satisfy consumer cravings for a real dairy experience. “DairyX caseins have amino acid sequences identical to those of their animal counterparts, making them, in fact, non-genetically modified,” explains Galit Kuznets, Head of Strain Development and Fermentation. DairyX addresses taste with its innovative caseins while also making non-animal dairy affordable. The company is creating yeast strains that produce exceptionally high casein yields in short timeframes. This approach ensures that DairyX's ingredients are cost-effective – a crucial factor for adoption by dairy manufacturers. “Another significant challenge that dairy companies face is adapting their production facilities to use new ingredients,” Bar-Zeev explains. “This is why we created a drop-in replacement for milk that does not require process changes or retooling.” ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2396/global-firm-rivulis-redefines-farming-with-advanced-ai-technology.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2396/global-firm-rivulis-redefines-farming-with-advanced-ai-technology.html Wed, 21 Aug 2024 11:14:41 +0530 AI renaissance "Rivulis AI" leverages tailored solutions for advanced irrigation systems Rivulis, the leader in innovative micro-irrigation solutions, has launched AI technology, "Rivulis AI", designed to provide farmers and irrigation professionals with specific tailored, and credible information to solve their problems. Joining the AI renaissance, this advanced system leverages field-trusted innovation to provide accessible, expert-written content tailored to the needs of modern agriculture and irrigation solutions. “Rivulis AI underscores our commitment to innovation and adds to our already market-leading ‘Knowledge Hub’ packed with insights and information from our 80-year history in the irrigation industry. Rivulis AI has been carefully trained and refined by our team of experts, ensuring that users receive accurate and specifically relevant information to their unique questions. Embedded in the ‘Knowledge Hub’ the technology is equipped with our quality stamp, guaranteeing the highest standards of reliability and performance,” says Eran Ossmy, President of Micro Irrigation Division, Rivulis. The globe faces a transformative era, with AI technology playing a pivotal role in enhancing productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. Rivulis AI shapes the conversation around agriculture and micro-irrigation, applying context and refining responses to deliver specific, detailed information. Its intuitive function allows it to ask clarifying questions, ensuring it finds the most accurate information to address each user’s needs. “It has a conversational nature, like having a brain, that enables it to provide insightful, context-aware responses. Rivulis AI continually evolves, learning from interactions and growing in capability, to remain at the forefront of technological advancements”, shares Igor Goldfeld, Head of Global Digital Marketing, at Rivulis. Key Benefits of AI in Micro-Irrigation: Enhanced Decision-Making: The Rivulis AI bot provides farmers with precise data and actionable insights, aiding in better decision-making. Increased Efficiency: It offers predictive analytics, creating time savings and leading to more efficient resource utilization and cost savings. Sustainability: AI technology supports sustainable farming practices by optimizing water usage, reducing chemical inputs, and enhancing soil health. Customized Solutions: The bot’s ability to engage in detailed conversations allows it to provide highly customized solutions. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2172/vietnam-is-exploring-investment-cooperation-opportunities-in-japan.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/2172/vietnam-is-exploring-investment-cooperation-opportunities-in-japan.html Wed, 29 May 2024 11:14:31 +0530 Plant molecular farming delivers a new way to produce scalable, profitable animal-free cheese that fulfills authentic cheese cravings Rehovot, Israel - Food-tech start-up NewMoo, Ltd. makes its debut in the “happy cow” space by using plant molecular farming (PMF) to produce casein proteins for making cheese. Caseins comprise about 80% of the proteins in dairy milk. The resulting product allows cheesemakers to deliver the same genuine cheese experience as traditional dairy cheese via a cost-effective, animal-free, and sustainable pathway. Until now, cheese alternatives have struggled to offer consumers the real cheese experience, nutrition, and price. Cheese analogs do not contain the key dairy proteins, caseins, necessary to precisely recreate the sensory properties of dairy cheese. Creating dairy, without the cow The scientists at NewMoo discovered a way to express casein proteins in plant seeds that can grow abundantly through traditional field agriculture. After three years of stealth, NewMoo unveils  proteins that match dairy proteins in nutrition, composition, and function. The start-up’s technology and concept are built on exclusive research and intellectual property derived at the Weizmann Institute of Science, in Rehovot, Israel. The innovation allows for the expression of two or more caseins within a single plant via a novel approach to plant molecular farming. The seeds are then sown in outdoor fields. After harvesting the plants, the NewMoo casein liquid base is produced through a unique development process that yields a hormone-free liquid casein naturally free of lactose and cholesterol and that replicates the functionality of dairy cheese. “Our animal-free liquid casein mimics all the functional traits of real milk protein for crafting cheese the traditional way,” explains Daphna Miller, NewMoo co-founder and CEO. “This means it can seamlessly replace dairy milk in any dairy cheese manufacturing facility without the need for any special equipment or reconfiguration of existing equipment. NewMoo’s caseins can form the basis for a cheese that has the exact melting and stretching behavior as animal dairy cheese, and delivers the typical aroma, flavor, and texture that cheese eaters crave. Our animal-free proteins are literally identical to animal-derived caseins.” NewMoo allows for a highly efficient, cost-effective process that sets the cow free from the industrial milk production process and sequesters carbon during natural cultivation. This makes for a more sustainable source of milk proteins. Caseins are considered the “holy grail” of milk structure by the dairy industry. By developing animal-free caseins through plants instead of cows, it is possible to make almost any dairy product, starting with cheese. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1836/lahakx-and-aerosystems-west-partner-to-swarm-heavy-payload-spraying-drones.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1836/lahakx-and-aerosystems-west-partner-to-swarm-heavy-payload-spraying-drones.html Thu, 15 Feb 2024 08:35:00 +0530 U.S.-Israeli BIRD Foundation awarded companies to build, license, and commercialize the innovative solution in agriculture and firefighting applications LahakX, an agricultural spraying drone technology builder and operator, and AeroSystemsWest, a U.S. manufacturer of heavy lift multirotor platforms, has announced a technological and commercial partnership. The two companies will collaborate to launch an autonomous swarm of heavy-payload spraying drones. ASW will focus on building the new drone, while LahakX will concentrate on assembling swarming planning and autopiloting to the new drones. In addition to technology development, the companies will regulate the new drones in California and sell a ready-to-fly solution to their current and new customers. The US-Israeli BIRD Foundation will provide partial funding for the entire project. LahakX is attempting to cover more acres and spray more gallons by Swarming and Heavy-payload drone. Dr. Itzik Turkel, LahakX Co-Founder and CTO said "We were deeply impressed by ASW drones, and we look forward to leveraging the BIRD Foundation resources and jointly developing new technologies and introducing them to the market ASAP." Danny Neal, Aero Systems West CTO said “We are grateful to have been awarded BIRD Foundation resources for this project, and are excited to continue our partnership with LahakX in the development of heavy lift, swarming drones." An autonomous fleet of heavy-payload spraying drones that can be assembled in a variety of configurations results in significantly improved performance. This technology can potentially revolutionize the agricultural and fire/wildfire prevention markets by covering vast areas quickly and dispensing a large quantity of liquid per acre. Lettuce is one example of a low canopy crop that requires frequent spraying, typically in medium-sized blocks. According to the US Department of Agriculture, lettuce is harvested on 180,000 acres in California, generating approximately $6 billion annually for growers. LahakX is an AgTech company developing and operating autonomous drone technology for agricultural applications. LahakX serves growers and applicators by operating a self-flying fleet of spraying drones that makes crop protection sustainable, precise, safe, and affordable. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1781/israel-u-s-binational-industrial-rd-foundation-to-invest-9-6-million-in-10-new-projects.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1781/israel-u-s-binational-industrial-rd-foundation-to-invest-9-6-million-in-10-new-projects.html Fri, 02 Feb 2024 08:25:00 +0530 The approved projects, with an overall budget of $24.5 million, involve innovations in the areas of Agrotech, Biotechnology, Electronics, Energy, Foodtech, Healthcare IT, and Life Science The Board of Governors of the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation has approved $9.6 million in funding for ten new projects between U.S. and Israeli companies. In addition to the grants from BIRD, the projects will access private-sector funding, boosting the total investment in all projects to $24.5 million. The decision was confirmed on late Dec, 2023, at  Washington D.C., and announced lately. The BIRD Foundation promotes collaborations between U.S. and Israeli companies in various technological sectors for joint product development.  In addition to providing conditional grants of up to $1.5 million, the Foundation assists by working with companies to identify potential strategic partners and facilitate introductions. The submitted projects are reviewed by evaluators appointed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Israel Innovation Authority. The ten projects approved by the Board of Governors are in addition to the over 1000 projects that the BIRD Foundation has approved for funding during its 46-year history. To date, BIRD's total investment in joint projects is over $390 million, helping to generate direct and indirect sales of more than $10 billion. The projects approved are: Celleste Bio (Misgav, Israel) and Mondelez International (Chicago, IL) to develop and produce on-demand non-fat cocoa solids and cocoa-based powder using cell-based technology. CENS Materials (Beer Sheva, Israel) and LiCAP Technologies (Sacramento, CA) to develop a dry electrode process with carbon nanotube technology dispersion to advance EV battery capacity and performance while lowering production costs.   Diptera.ai (Jerusalem, Israel) and Vectech, Inc. (Baltimore, MD) will utilize advances in artificial intelligence to build a process and system to monitor and control the Anopheles Stephensi mosquito, a highly competent malaria vector. Greatnix, dba Opmed.AI (Herzliya, Israel), and Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) to advance the development of an AI-driven Planner that optimizes procedure scheduling, enhances operating room efficiency, and maximizes resource utilization. Hypervision (Yokneam Illit, Israel) and Light Polymers (Santa Clara, CA) will develop a liquid crystal-based polarized coating technology, methods & systems tailored for Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality optics. Imagindairy (Haifa, Israel) and Ginkgo Bioworks (Boston, MA) to develop and manufacture non-whey dairy proteins at scale and cost parity for novel food products. Israel Aerospace Industries (Lod, Israel) and MELD Printworks (Christiansburg, VA) to develop and approve large civil aviation components utilizing Additive Friction Stir Deposition technology. LahakX (Ramat Hasharon, Israel) and Aero Systems West (San Martin, CA) to develop a heavy payload spraying drone swarm for agriculture and fire prevention. Sheba Medical Center (Ramat Gan, Israel) and Serpin Pharma (Manassas, VA) will perform a Phase II clinical trial to provide a targeted therapeutic to restore immune balance for patients with acute myocardial infarction. Tissue Dynamics (Rehovot, Israel) and ATCC, (Manassas, VA), will develop an advanced organoid kit for cardiac toxicity assessment. The deadline for submission of Executive Summaries for the next BIRD cycle is March 7, 2024.  Approval of projects will take place in June 2024. The BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Foundation encourages and facilitates cooperation between U.S. and Israeli companies in a wide range of technology sectors and offers funding to selected projects. The Foundation supports projects without receiving any equity or intellectual property rights from the participating companies or the projects themselves. BIRD funding is repaid as royalties from sales of products that were commercialized as a result of BIRD support. The Foundation provides funding of up to 50% of a project's budget, beginning with R&D and ending with the initial stages of sales and marketing. The Foundation shares the risk and does not require repayment if the project fails to reach the sales stage. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1776/nrgene-establishes-supree-a-food-tech-company-developing-self-drying-fruits-and-vegetables.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1776/nrgene-establishes-supree-a-food-tech-company-developing-self-drying-fruits-and-vegetables.html Wed, 31 Jan 2024 10:14:13 +0530 Supree™ develops innovative fruit and vegetable varieties designed to naturally dry on the vine while preserving high vitamins and nutrient levels, and rich taste Israeli AgTech firm, NRGene Technologies Ltd. has introduce Supree (Supree-Zanim), its newly established FoodTech subsidiary, specializes in innovative fruit and vegetable varieties that naturally self-dry on the vine while maintaining nutritional value and flavor. Supree is an Israeli food-tech company specializing in the production of self-drying fruits and vegetables. Leveraging NRGene's genomics and AI technology, Supree aims to bring new naturally dried fruits and vegetables to the market, enriching food with tasty, healthy, and long shelf-life products. For more information, visit the company's website: Supree's first product line is a unique semi-dried tomato varieties that stand out for their delicious taste, high nutritional value and one year frozen shelf-life. The uniqueness of these varieties is in their skin's structure that is filled with microcracks which enables natural moisture evaporation. This natural drying process preserves the rich taste, vibrant color, vitamins, and antioxidants, resulting in a superfood that loses about 80% of its original weight when ripe, intensifying flavor and nutritional concentration. Emerging Competator in B2B marketing Presently, Supree is targeting premium B2B markets in Israel, Europe, and the Middle East, including restaurants, hotels, catering companies, and food manufacturers. Leading chefs, such as Chef Ran Shmueli from the Claro restaurant, Tel Aviv, have tried Supree's semi-dried tomatoes. The potential market size for Supree's tomatoes is estimated to reach USD 1.5 billion by 2030. Supree anticipates that its semi-dried tomatoes will create a new category within the USD 16 billion market for dried tomatoes. Additionally, the tomatoes may serve as a substitute product for the USD 10.2 billion dried fruit market, the USD 4.4 billion frozen fruit market, and the USD 60 billion superfood market. Our projections consider the market shares of these segments and take into account market education and penetration rates.  Elevating sustainability and cost efficiency, Supree's tomato varieties enable optimal seasonal growth, eliminating the need for artificial heating or cooling. Immediate post-harvest drying, packaging, and freezing significantly reduce fruit loss along the supply chain. In addition, mechanical harvesting is planned and is expected to bring substantial savings in labor cost, ultimately reducing tomato prices. To facilitate the production and processing of the first product, Supree has signed a partnership agreement with Tzabar Tech, which strengthens the agricultural foundation and promotes technological innovation in agrifood-tech. Together, the companies will establish a joint venture, with Tzabar Tech providing its expertise in farming and trading of agricultural produce to support the unique growing and post-harvesting processes of the tomatoes. Tzabar Tech's CEO, Gilad Mintz, stated, "The collaboration between Tzabar Tech and Supree presents an excellent opportunity to integrate innovative growth technologies, while allowing farmers to improve work processes and achieve more profitable yields." ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1730/adama-launches-5-innovative-formulation-cereal-fungicides-in-europe.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1730/adama-launches-5-innovative-formulation-cereal-fungicides-in-europe.html Wed, 17 Jan 2024 10:42:58 +0530 Deliver Excellent Results and Respond to Diverse Farmer Needs ADAMA Ltd. , a leading crop protection company, has announced the launch of five new cereal fungicide products across Europe to tackle the most serious diseases impacting farmer yields at each stage of the crop's reproductive phase. Together, these products offer ADAMA's customers a comprehensive portfolio of innovative solutions designed to deliver excellent results in the field and address different application stages (T1, T2, and T3) and various value segments.  With the launch of these new products ADAMA will have one of the most robust portfolios in the industry for cereal disease control in Europe. The five products are based on a leading DMI molecule, cementing them as the foundation for treatment of cereal diseases after the regulatory phase-out of other key active ingredients in the market.  The company also introduced its novel and proprietary Asorbital® Formulation Technology to enhance the activity of its products, delivering improved penetration, excellent systemic movement in the leaf tissue, improved and long-lasting disease control, and excellent rainfastness. "Our new, enhanced cereal fungicide portfolio is a powerful demonstration of our ability to deliver value and innovation through enhancing the performance of existing molecules with proprietary formulation technologies and delivering products to our customers that provide excellent disease control, keep the crop safe and address the different value segments in the market." said Alex Mills, Head of Global Fungicides at ADAMA. ADAMA's European cereal fungicide portfolio includes: Soratel®, a versatile and broad-spectrum solution powered by ADAMA's proprietary Asorbital® Formulation Technology, which can be used in various segments alone or in a mixture. Maxentis®, is a broad-spectrum, multi-crop, convenient and easy to use fungicide with flexible timing that can easily be plugged into any wheat spray program as a T1 or T2 application. Forapro®, is a broad-spectrum fungicide powered by Asorbital® Formulation Technology that controls all the major T1 diseases in wheat such as Septoria, Rust and Powdery Mildew. Maganic®, powered by Asorbital® Formulation Technology, is a T3 fungicide that protects wheat against all ear diseases including Fusarium spp. resulting in lower mycotoxin levels and higher quality grain. Avastel®, is ADAMA`s premium T2 broad-spectrum fungicide with both curative and preventative disease control, powered by Asorbital® Formulation Technology delivering a new standard of efficacy and long-lasting protection. "We set a strategy 10 years ago to invest in Europe's cereal growers given the anticipation of the regulatory phase-out of key active ingredients in this market. We devised a plan to ensure farmers have the products they need today to address rising disease pressure, new agronomic challenges, and an increased focus on sustainability. Our enhanced portfolio with five new products ticks all of these boxes," said Sergio Dedominici Paz, EVP EAME at ADAMA. ADAMA began rolling out its new cereal fungicide portfolio in 2023 with the introduction of Soratel® in the UK, and the launches will continue across the continent, UK, and Ireland throughout 2024. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1691/israels-steakholder-foods-launches-industry-first-3d-printed-eel.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1691/israels-steakholder-foods-launches-industry-first-3d-printed-eel.html Fri, 05 Jan 2024 10:55:15 +0530 Revolutionizing Seafood Production: Steakholder Foods' 3D Printed Eel - A Game-Changer for Fish and Seafood Producers Steakholder Foods, a pioneer in the 3D meat and fish printing technology and cultivated cell innovation, has launched the world's first plant-based, 3D-printed eel. This breakthrough highlights Steakholder Foods' remarkable capability to accurately replicate the complex texture of eel, achieved through precision layering and a unique combination of materials in Steakholder Foods' proprietary 3D printing technology. The Company's eel is currently based on plant materials, and is expected to include cultivated eel cells in the future, as economies of scale allow price-competitive cell development. Steakholder Foods' unique printing process enables it to significantly reduce the amount of ingredients used in its 3D printed product relative to typical plant-based alternatives, potentially positioning Steakholder Foods' plant-based, 3D-printed eel at the forefront of the industry. Steakholder Foods is exploring collaborations to commercialize its plant-based, printed eel by offering them proprietary 3D printers and ink, capable of generating revenues in the short term. Based on Steakholder Foods' current technology capabilities, it estimates that its partners and customers will be able to mass-produce 3D-printed eel at a competitive price range, enabling them to tackle the cost challenges linked to the current global prices of eel. The global eel market, valued at $4.3 billion in 2022 and growing at a CAGR of 2.19%, primarily relies on wild eel. This industry faces several critical challenges, including overexploitation and the risk of extinction, particularly in Japan which accounts for a major portion of global eel consumption. Breeding difficulties in farms due to the complex life cycle of eels, regulatory challenges, and issues like poaching and black-market trading further exacerbate the situation, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. Arik Kaufman, CEO of Steakholder Foods says: The launch of our printed eel marks a pivotal moment in the seafood industry, showcasing the vast potential of our DropJet technology – Steakholder Foods' solution for fish and seafood printing. This technology is designed to enable partners to generate products on a potential industrial scale of hundreds of tons monthly, not only at lower costs compared to wild eel, but also with the flexibility to create a variety of printed products using the same production line. Such versatility could significantly boost profitability for food companies and lead the way to a shift towards more efficient and sustainable practices in the industry. This product exemplifies the broader possibilities our technology offers our partners. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1611/volcani-international-and-western-negev-farmers-launch-regrow-israel-emergency-fund-to-rebuild-war-destroyed-agricultural-communities.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1611/volcani-international-and-western-negev-farmers-launch-regrow-israel-emergency-fund-to-rebuild-war-destroyed-agricultural-communities.html Thu, 14 Dec 2023 09:35:59 +0530 Israel's leading Agricultural NGO, Volcani International Partners and Western Negev Farmers launched ReGrow Israel – an Emergency Fund to restore and rebuild farming communities hardest hit by the October 7th terrorist attacks. The initiative seeks to raise $50 million that will be immediately distributed to farmers to address the significant losses: More than $500M in income More than 100,000 acres of agricultural land Equipment such as tractors, plows, fertilizer spreaders, combines, planters Infrastructure and irrigation systems Restoration of this area within the next six to twelve months is critical to the entire country's food and economic security. The Western Negev distributes a substantial portion of staples like potatoes and tomatoes, produce and dairy to the Israeli population. The 45 Kibbutzim and Moshavim communities that live and farm in the Western Negev region will lead the assessment of needs and allocation of dollars with support from scientists, applied R&D experts and agronomists and technology leaders from around the world. "These pioneering, passionate farmers are already getting creative in finding solutions to use what's left of their land and resources to feed the Israeli population," says Danielle Abraham, CEO, Volcani Partners International. "Investing in the rebuild of the Western Negev is critical to ensuring the immediate safety and security of all Israeli people as well as the world's food and Agriculture system." "The Western Negev farming communities are sought by governments, corporates and non profits around the globe for their ability to turn minimal arable land bordering desert terrains into a world-renowned agricultural powerhouse region," said Arbel Levin, Chief Business Development Officer at Mishkey HaNegev. "Israel has been making significant contributions to the world's agriculture system for 70 years, and the ReGrow Israel fund will invest in building this region back even better for the future." ReGrow Israel has generated support from leaders around the world such as former US Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman who serves as an advisor to the fund. He underscores the importance and urgency of ensuring the stability of Israel's food supply and the country's continued contributions to a more sustainable food system. "The Kibbutzim and moshavim farmers pioneered innovations including drip irrigation, wastewater recycling, biofertilizers and precision agriculture; and export nearly $2.5 billion in crops annually," says Dan Glickman, former US Secretary of Agriculture. "This conflict has revealed the fragility of farming and importance of ensuring this region can build back better for the future as unpredictability and uncertainty become more common in Israel and around the world." ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1544/thailands-rise-and-israels-ourcrowd-launch-rocx-exponential-fund.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1544/thailands-rise-and-israels-ourcrowd-launch-rocx-exponential-fund.html Wed, 15 Nov 2023 11:18:09 +0530 Bangkok’s first Israel-focused VC fund investing in cutting-edge technologies aims to impact industries across ASEAN OurCrowd, a leading global digital investment platform, and RISE, the corporate innovation powerhouse based out of Southeast Asia, has announced the launch of the ROCX (Rise OurCrowd Exponential) Fund. The $50 million fund is Thailand’s first Israel-focused VC fund and will invest in early-stage deep technologies in cybersecurity, AI, HealthTech, semiconductors, quantum computing, ClimateTech, AgTech, FoodTech, and more. Dr. Kid Parchariyanon, Co-founder and CEO of RISE said, “RISE is dedicated to fostering the growth of corporate innovation and global startups by facilitating powerful collaborations with leading corporations across Southeast Asia, creating mutually beneficial partnerships that drive growth and market expansion. This new fund in partnership with OurCrowd will invest in the most cutting-edge deep technologies both Israel and Asia have to offer and put them to work in creating maximum impact and changing lives, from life sciences to agriculture, from artificial intelligence to cybersecurity and beyond.” OurCrowd Founder & CEO Jon Medved said, “The partnership between the ROCX Fund, RISE and OurCrowd will create an unprecedented bridge between Thailand, greater Southeast Asia, and emerging Israeli technologies. OurCrowd is Israel’s most active early-stage investor with a 10-year track record of fostering collaboration between hundreds of portfolio companies around the world with thousands of multinational corporations across dozens of countries. The new joint capacity unleashed by the ROCX Fund has the exponential potential to leverage the innovation from Startup Nation for the benefit of Thailand and the regional ecosystem to generate a double bottom line of GDP growth and social impact across Southeast Asia.” The ROCX Fund, anchored by a major Thai institution and managed by an experienced team of VC experts from both Thailand and Israel, will begin investing by the end of 2024. and the fund plans to deploy tens of millions of dollars over a 2-3 year period into 20-30 companies with a promising track record and the capacity to develop and deploy solutions with proven product-market fit, providing them with the capital to scale up their commercial growth with leading corporations across Southeast Asia. RISE is a leading corporate innovation powerhouse based in Southeast Asia with the mission to raise regional GDP by 1 percent. RISE works closely with Fortune 500 companies, large family businesses, and government agencies across Southeast Asia to set up and scale innovation initiatives through 5 corporate services: Corporate Innovation Consulting, RISE University, SeaX Ventures, and Athena. OurCrowd has grown rapidly into the world’s leading online venture investing platform with $2.2 billion capital deployed into more than 420 portfolio companies and 50 funds in five continents across dozens of major technology sectors. OurCrowd’s award winning FinTech platform leverages artificial intelligence and advanced automation tools to identify world-class startups, empower hundreds of thousands of accredited investors, corporate VCs, and family offices to discover and participate in exclusive investment opportunities, and rapidly realize commercial connections between the portfolio companies and major corporations worldwide, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars of contract value. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1442/singapore-becomes-aquaculture-technology-hub-for-israeli-firm-tiran-group.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1442/singapore-becomes-aquaculture-technology-hub-for-israeli-firm-tiran-group.html Fri, 06 Oct 2023 09:44:06 +0530 Aims to meet Asia’s seafood gap extending reach to China, Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Brunei and more, Israeli firm Tiran Group is using Singapore as a base to drive the use of technology and innovation to help meet Asia’s demand for food security and clean water, as reported by Singapore's local media The Straits Times. Apart from moving up to 70,000 ship containers annually from Turkey to Israel and back, Tiran is also involved in the aquaculture of red tilapia fish in Israel and freshwater prawns in Asia, namely China and Vietnam. Haim Avioz, the founder of Tiran Group, during a visit to Singapore in mid-September said that the global demand for seafood continues to rise, led by consumers in Asia, home to 60 % of the world’s population.  There is now a global crisis in fisheries caused by over-fishing and climate change. Aquatech, or farming using innovative technology, can plug this gap and is projected to be the primary source of seafood in the future. “We are already active with prawn farms in China, Vietnam and Singapore. We are already selling our products to Cambodia, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Brunei and more, and are looking into the Indonesia, India and Philippines markets” said Avioz, chief executive of Tiran and New Horizon. In Singapore, Tiran is working with Opal Resources Farm to breed and sell broodlings of its freshwater prawns that produce only male prawns, which are larger. The technology, which does not use hormones or chemicals and does not involve genetic modifications, produces higher yield of male-only prawns with a very low mortality rate. Tiran Group began as a shipping and logistics firm in 1997, ventured into aquaculture about a decade ago under a unit called New Horizon. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1377/israels-largest-cannabis-farm-harnesses-technology-to-boost-year-round-yield.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1377/israels-largest-cannabis-farm-harnesses-technology-to-boost-year-round-yield.html Mon, 11 Sep 2023 05:59:00 +0530 Green Fields Uses Fluence VYPR Lighting Fixtures to Produce High-Quality Crops An Israeli producer operating Israel's largest cannabis farm has partnered with Fluence, a leading global supplier of energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for commercial cannabis and food crop production. Green Fields' 42,000 square meter facility has increased yields, improved THC and terpene content, and achieved consistent crop growth throughout the year with Fluence's technology. Green Fields collaborated with REMY, Fluence's Israeli distribution and integration partner, to select VYPR 3p lighting fixtures. Featuring BROAD R3 spectrum technology, these provide a spectrum designed to enhance and reproduce natural sunlight in greenhouses. Combined with the facility's F-CLEAN™ technology – a fluoropolymer sheet that transmits the full spectrum of natural sunlight during the day – the VYPR 3p devices allow Green Fields to maximize lighting conditions to achieve maximum growth whatever the season. Each zone of the Green Fields model greenhouse is equipped with a special air handling unit that stabilizes humidity, temperature and air circulation to reduce microclimates and improve uniformity. The responsible team uses innovative monitoring technology to control other critical aspects of the crop, including root zone management and irrigation. REMY experts and Fluence's in-house team of horticultural lighting experts help the Green Fields agronomic team adjust and optimize light intensity, photo-acclimation, pest control, irrigation strategies and processing of mother plant stocks. Green Fields greenhouses are equipped with the largest agronomic lighting system ever installed in Israel. Since deploying Fluence lamps, Green Fields harvests 15 to 18 tons of cannabis per year. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1287/revolutionary-therapy-by-mileutis-to-enhance-dairy-cows-health-and-milk-quality.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/1287/revolutionary-therapy-by-mileutis-to-enhance-dairy-cows-health-and-milk-quality.html Fri, 11 Aug 2023 11:02:08 +0530 Imilac™, therapy to completely substitute the routine use of antibiotics at dry-off in the dairy industry Mileutis, an Israeli-based biopharmaceutical company conducted clinical trials in seven large Israeli dairy farms, in collaboration with Strauss Health (partially owned by Groupe Danone), demonstrated that Mileutis can effectively substitute the major use of antibiotics in the dairy industry. Milk derived from cows treated with Mileutis' Imilac™ non-antibiotic, non-hormonal therapy exhibited a 7.2% increase in protein content, 4% increase in fat content, and an increase of 957 kg (8.6%) in energy corrected milk yield per cow over 305 days. The trial paves the way for superior milk production performance for dairy farmers while improving the well-being of the dairy cows. Designed to replace the routine use of antibiotics administered at dry-off once a year, Imilac™ has exhibited game-changing results in the clinical trials, paving the way for a transformation in the dairy sector and leading the dairy industry into a sustainable future. In addition, the study revealed that Imilac™ is further impacting milk nutritional characteristics – a breakthrough that was patented by Mileutis. The trial was carried out in dairy farms providing milk to Israel's two largest dairy product providers – Yotvata Dairy, part of the Strauss Health Group, partially owned by Danone, and Tnuva, Israel's largest dairy company. David Javier Iscovich, CEO and co-founder of Mileutis: "Consumers can anticipate a future where they will enjoy better milk, produced by healthier cows, and with superior nutritional values". Mileutis is leading the dairy industry and animal health into a sustainable future, has completed a rigorous, randomized, case-controlled, multi-center, clinical field trial. The trial was conducted at seven different commercial dairy farms and involved over 500 dairy cows. The results of this trial provide further conclusive evidence of the ability of Imilac™, therapy to completely substitute the routine use of antibiotics at dry-off in the dairy industry. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/989/israels-steakholder-foods-unveils-3d-bio-printing-model-for-cultivated-meat.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/989/israels-steakholder-foods-unveils-3d-bio-printing-model-for-cultivated-meat.html Fri, 26 May 2023 10:12:39 +0530 The business model will focus on selling 3D bio-printers and bio-inks designed to develop delicious, nutritious, safe, and consistent cultivated meat from ethically harvested cells Steakholder Foods Ltd. an international deep-tech food company at the forefront of the cultivated meat industry, today announced that it has focused its business model to target B2B meat manufacturers and cultivated meat producers, by offering manufacturers the ability to produce a cultivated meat product that aims to closely mimic the taste, texture, and appearance of traditional meat. The Company intends to monetize its 3D printers and bio-inks that are needed to support printer operation. The Company's competitive advantage lies in its top-of-the-line expertise in 3D bio-printing technology and its ability to create highly–sophisticated, structured end products that aim to closely mimic real meat in terms of taste, texture, and appearance.   3D bio-printersThe Company's 3D printers are state-of-the-art technology designed to produce cultivated meat products that mimic the texture, taste, and appearance of conventional meat. The Company is developing two types of printer platforms: Ready to Cook (RTC) printerThe flagship product, the RTC printer, produces a hybrid cultivated meat product made from a mixture of cultivated and plant-based ingredients. The Company plans to offer lab- and industrial-scale printers using one of two types of technology to produce different end products. DropJet technology, based on drops of gel-based materials to create a 3D structure, is ideal for producing fish and seafood products, while for all other meat products, Fusion technology extrudes paste materials through a narrow nozzle, enabling the creation of fiber texture that best simulates conventional meat fibers. 3D printer for incubated productsThe Company's innovation team is developing a 3D printer for an incubated product, such as tissue-engineered steak, considered the holy grail of the industry.  Bio-inksBio-inks are an integral part of the Company's 3D printing technology. Steakholder Foods' bio-inks are made of plant-based ingredients and cultivated cells. They are developed to ensure the production of tasty, safe, and consistent products. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/953/ai-to-reduce-production-costs-and-shorten-time-to-market-for-cultivated-meat.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/953/ai-to-reduce-production-costs-and-shorten-time-to-market-for-cultivated-meat.html Thu, 18 May 2023 09:15:53 +0530 Israeli firms Aleph Farms and Enzymit are co-developing novel insulin substituents in microorganisms that can fulfill the function of proteins found naturally in animals Enzymit, a bioproduction platform company developing enzymatic manufacturing technology, has successfully developed insulin substitutes, in partnership with food technology company Aleph Farms, that can reduce the cost and development time for producing cultivated meat at scale. One of the most prohibitive expenses in scaling up cultivated meat production is developing non-animal-derived serum protein mimetics that promote and support cell growth. Such proteins are not widely available in the current market at the quantity, quality and cost necessary for large-scale production. Israeli firms Aleph Farms and Enzymit are co-developing novel insulin substituents in microorganisms that can fulfill the function of proteins found naturally in animals and do so with greater desired activity per molecule. "This innovation, combining Enzymit's outstanding protein design and experimental capabilities with our team's expertise in cellular agriculture, is helping to build the foundations for our sector to achieve cost-efficiency and long-term impact. Developing more suitable processing aids for the production of cultivated meat is imperative for driving economies of scale and taking cultivated meat mainstream" says Neta Lavon, PhD, CTO of Aleph Farms. The success of this collaboration opens the door to additional benefits, far beyond the cultivation of cow cells. As insulin is a highly conserved protein across mammals and other species, it has the potential to similarly influence the production of other cultivated meat types, such as porcine, ovine and poultry. "Aleph Farms has been an invaluable partner for this initiative, which can pave the way for more cost-efficient production of cultivated meat," said Gideon Lapidoth, PhD, CEO of Enzymit. "With recombinant proteins currently accounting for the overwhelming majority of cell culture costs, creating highly stable and more active insulin substituents can markedly reduce the cost of growth media and increase efficiency in producing cultivated meat at scale." Utilizing its proprietary computational design algorithms and high-throughput testing capabilities, Enzymit was able to quickly develop a variety of insulin substituents and experimentally assess their functionality. All those selected were soluble proteins expressed in E. coli and purified without requiring refolding, complex purification steps, or other treatments. Further screening resulted in several leading candidates exhibiting superior results in activity for cell culturing and requiring minimal concentration for activation. These new proteins, which demand notably fewer downstream purification and maturation processes, dramatically reduce production time and costs. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/949/start-up-nation-central-partners-with-microsoft-to-promote-israeli-agrifood-tech-startups.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/949/start-up-nation-central-partners-with-microsoft-to-promote-israeli-agrifood-tech-startups.html Thu, 18 May 2023 07:39:00 +0530 Collaboration aims to integrate innovative agricultural data companies with core technologies of AI, Cloud & Machine Learning with Microsoft's AI tools to develop models for optimal, sustainable agriculture across the value chain Start-Up Nation Central has collaborated with Microsoft to promote Israeli AgriFood Tech startups in the international marketplace. The collaboration focuses on connecting AI, data, cloud, and machine learning technologies from agricultural information to Microsoft's AI tools. In the first phase of the collaboration, Start-Up Nation Central and Microsoft will promote a series of tech challenges to propel mapping Israeli startups and relevant technologies within the AgriFood Tech sector. Together, Start-Up Nation Central and Microsoft will work to identify global AgriFood Tech challenges, with an emphasis on connecting AI technologies that can help develop durable models for optimal and sustainable agriculture across the entire value chain. Led by Microsoft AgriFood CTO Ranveer Chandra, the collaboration will identify relevant innovative companies in Israel that are using agricultural data for cutting edge applications. It will also examine how these technologies can be integrated into Microsoft's cloud-based agriculture-focused business tools. Israeli AgriFood Tech entrepreneurs will benefit from exposure to global opportunities through Microsoft's network of connections. Potential opportunities include collaborations with strategic partners, access to new markets, and showcasing market-ready technologies on a global scale. Start-Up Nation Central CEO, Avi Hasson said "Israel boasts over 250 leading cloud agriculture startups that offer fertile ground for innovation in this rapidly developing sector. The Israeli AgriFood Tech industry is well advanced in data, software, and connectivity, and offers incredible potential for Microsoft in the growing field of data-driven agriculture". The first two tech challenges are already underway with a focus on water management and sustainable agriculture. As part of these challenges, over 40 relevant Israeli startups were mapped, and two Israeli AgriFood-Tech companies– Projini (developers of innovative pesticide solutions) and Saturas (developers of a breakthrough sensor-based precision system for optimized irrigation) – were selected to collaborate with Microsoft at this event and have the opportunity to collaborate with Microsoft's global technology and investment teams. Start-Up Nation Central is a non-profit organization that connects Israeli innovation to the world in order to help international entities solve global challenges. Supported by the Israeli technology ecosystem, the organization provides a platform that nurtures business growth and generates partnerships with corporations, governments, investors, and NGOs to strengthen Israel's economy and society. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/929/urban-medical-cannabis-cultivation-with-its-led-solutions-to-hit-global-market.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/929/urban-medical-cannabis-cultivation-with-its-led-solutions-to-hit-global-market.html Sun, 14 May 2023 08:14:00 +0530 Fluence's partnership with Israel-based Trichome demonstrates efficient and standardized vertical cultivation model Fluence, a leading global provider of energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for commercial cannabis and food production, has successfully cultivated premium quality medicinal cannabis in association with Israeli firm Trichome. The innovative facility grows world-class medicinal cannabis using two-tier vertical farming in an urban center. To successfully launch an urban vertical growing facility in Qiryat Gat, Israel, Trichome is collaborating with the right solution partners to maximize space and optimize quality and automation. For designing the compact, intricate indoor environment and tiered growing systems in accordance with the complexities involved, Trichome turned to Fluence for its market-leading LED lighting solutions, local service capabilities through Fluence’s Israeli distribution partner, REMY, and in-house horticultural experts to assist with planning, installing and managing the deployment of integrated lighting technology. Trichome has installed Fluence lighting throughout its fully standardized medicinal cannabis facility. REMY, Levi, and the Trichome team worked closely with Fluence to understand the facility's constraints as a result of a reduction in space between crops and artificial lighting. Fluence designed a bespoke system comprising its SPYDR 2i, SPYDR 2x and RAZR Modular series for Trichome. Trichome has completed 17 full crop growing cycles, all with superior to expected results using Fluence lighting—including above average yields, higher than expected terpene levels, and high cannabinoid content. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/894/the-agfunder-grow-impact-accelerator-announces-2023-cohort-of-agrifoodtech-startups.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/894/the-agfunder-grow-impact-accelerator-announces-2023-cohort-of-agrifoodtech-startups.html Mon, 08 May 2023 09:00:00 +0530 The 10 chosen startups focus on a range of themes including food as medicine, climate-smart agriculture, food system decarbonization, agri-fintech for financial inclusion of farmers, and planetary health. GROW, the Singapore-based agrifoodtech ecosystem builder backed by agrifoodtech investor AgFunder, has unveiled the 10 startups participating in the 2023 AgFunder GROW Impact Accelerator. The accelerator launched in 2019 with the aim of supporting the growth of emerging technologies in the agrifood space while strengthening their efforts towards sustainability.   GROW chose this year’s startups from its largest-ever pool of applicants: 600 companies from 82 countries applied to the program, nearly double the number received for the previous cohort. The 10 chosen startups focus on a range of themes including food as medicine, climate-smart agriculture, food system decarbonization, agri-fintech for financial inclusion of farmers, and planetary health. Half of the startups are led by women founders or have women in leadership roles. Chosen startups are:  AgriFi (India): Digital credit platform increasing financial inclusion for smallholder farmers and reducing lending risk for institutions. Amatera (France): Accelerating the breeding of climate-resilient perennial crops, starting with coffee and woody crops. CarbonFarm (France): Providing satellite-verified carbon credits to help rice farmers accurately quantify their emissions and fund their transition to sustainable practices. DHF Platforms (Vietnam): Smallholder-driven fresh produce platform delivering traceability, transparency and tech-optimized logistics to reduce waste. Exosomm (Israel): Improving health with a novel bioactive food ingredient containing natural miRNA, milk exosomes. FaunaTech (India): Novel smartphone-based diagnostics platform for rapid testing of milk and bovine health at the farmgate. IIF (Australia): A platform enabling everyday folks to invest in agriculture without owning a farm. The Kawa Project (US): Upcycling coffee waste to create valuable, less-toxic cocoa powder alternatives. NTP Technologies (US): Enabling on-site, salt-free, sustainable and organic nitrogen fertilizer production.  OlsAro (Sweden): Developing salt-tolerant crops using AI-enabled trait discovery.  Participation in the 20-week programme comes with a $100,000 investment in each company from AgFunder along with access to AgFunder’s co-investors and GROW’s network.  “GROW Impact Fund's vision is to attract the smartest, most innovative entrepreneurs with a passion for revolutionizing the food system. With climate change beginning to materially impact crop production, animal health and productivity, fisheries and water availability, particularly in emerging markets, we have no time to waste in accelerating these potentially transformative technologies” says AgFunder’s founding partner Michael Dean.  The programme’s demo day will coincide with the Singapore International Agri-Food Week which will run from 30 October to 3 November, 2023.  ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/880/exosomm-introduces-new-bioactive-ingredient-for-medical-food-space.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/880/exosomm-introduces-new-bioactive-ingredient-for-medical-food-space.html Wed, 03 May 2023 09:03:32 +0530 EXOSOMM introduces proprietary immune supportive natural exosomes from upcycled whey Jerusalem headquartered, Israeli BioFoodTech start-up EXOSOMM, Ltd., has explored the natural mechanisms inherent in human breastmilk to create a novel bioactive ingredient that can potentially support millions of adults with inflammatory disorders. Based on its scientific findings EXOSOMM developed an innovative technology that isolates exosomes—natural particles in maternal milk that play an important role in the healthy development of the immune system. EXOSOMM upcycles byproducts of the traditional cheese making process to create this potent functional ingredient. While still a young start-up, it has already reached commercial production capacity of its patent-protected exosomes for the medical food space. “Exosomm’s technology is based on cutting-edge scientific discoveries and is inspired by the virtues of mother’s milk and its unique health properties,” enthuses Reif. “We believe adults, can benefit from exosomes as a valuable nutrient to help better manage chronic metabolic inflammatory disorders and to boost overall well-being. Further clinical research is in the pipeline, and we currently are focusing our studies on the role of exosomes in managing IBD conditions, such as Crohn’s and Colitis.” Maternal milk is recognized as the key vital resource for infants to provide them with the essential elementary nutrients needed to promote optimal growth and wellbeing. It has been linked to protection against various diseases, such as infections, inflammation, and obesity, and plays a crucial role in developing the immune system. Scientific inquiry attributes these benefits predominantly to the presence of exosomes. Exosomes are small nanoparticles produced by the body’s cells that naturally accumulate at high concentrations in mother’s milk. They contain beneficial microRNAs: small, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules shown in studies to have a significant impact on early child development and also on the infant’s future health. The Exosomm research team were astonished to find that different mammals (human, cow, or sheep) share similar exosome composition, indicating the evolutionary importance of exosomes in offspring. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/871/israel-approves-animal-free-milk-protein-products.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/871/israel-approves-animal-free-milk-protein-products.html Tue, 02 May 2023 08:18:46 +0530 Remilk secures first-of-its-kind regulatory approval from the Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) for the marketing and sale of non-animal milk products and boosts alternative protein industry Israel has become one of the first countries in the world to offer real dairy products made without cows and free of lactose, cholesterol, antibiotics, and growth hormones.  Remilk, a global leader in the development and production of animal-free dairy protein has received a first-of-its-kind approval from the Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH). This historic regulatory event clears a path for the marketing and sale of non-animal dairy products made with Remilk for Israeli consumers. "Israel becomes on of the first in the world to recognize the significance of precision fermentation in global alternative protein industry" said Aviv Wolff, CEO and co-founder of Remilk. Remilk is a world leader in the development of animal-free milk proteins produced through a proprietary fermentation process. The Ministry of Health approval follows Remilk's receipt of an FDA "No Questions Letter," confirming FDA acceptance of an expert panel's conclusion that Remilk's animal-free protein can be safely used in food products under its GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) standards, as well as a recent regulatory clearance from the Singapore Food Authority. Remilk has raised more than $130M to date and signed deals with leading players in the global food industry. Last year, Remilk, which is already producing its protein at industrial volumes in facilities around the world, announced a large-scale commercial agreement with the Central Bottling Company (CBC Group), the exclusive Israeli franchisee of Coca-Cola, and one of the largest food companies in Israel, to launch a line of dairy products made with Remilk's protein, for the Israeli market. The product launch planned with the Central Bottling Company is on the horizon of Remilk. "Remilk non-animal milk protein is thoroughly tested by MOH and found to be safe, of high-quality, and identical to its cow-derived counterpart," said Dr. Ori Cohavi, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and co-founder of Remilk. "The opening of the Israeli market to real, animal-free dairy products will place Israel not only at the forefront of global food-tech research and development, but also as a leading market in the world for new food consumption. It opens the door for the introduction of high-quality and nutritious animal-free dairy products" he added. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/866/israels-pluri-launches-plurimatrix-to-empower-cellular-food-tech-agri-tech-operations.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/866/israels-pluri-launches-plurimatrix-to-empower-cellular-food-tech-agri-tech-operations.html Tue, 02 May 2023 07:01:00 +0530 Cell manufacturing pioneer from Israel, Pluri unveils a breakthrough system foindustrial scale cell production to power a broad range of cell-based products for industries including pharma, biologics, foodtech and cellular agri-tech Pluri Inc., a leading biotech company that transforms cells into solutions that promote wellbeing and sustainability, has unveiled a breakthrough in cell manufacturing that potentially solves one of the biggest hurdles facing cell-based industries: cost-effective, industrial scale cell manufacturing. PluriMatrix, built upon Pluri’s platform 3D cell expansion technology, significantly scales high-quality cell production, potentially having a catalytic impact across numerous industries that require mass-scale cell production including pharma, biologics, foodtech, agri-tech, and beyond. The patented technology offers Pluri and its subsidiaries unparalleled advantages in developing and producing cell-based products. PluriMatrix draws on the unique expertise in cell-based manufacturing that Pluri has developed over the last two decades. It enables industrial scale production of cell-based products by using a packed-bed system design in which cells expand as tissue on scaffolds, increasing surface area and providing a uniquely effective growth environment. Cells can either be harvested as single cells or used along with the scaffolds as completed tissue. The system also enables the simultaneous expansion of various cell types within the same platform, giving each cell type its own growth space. PluriMatrix’ state-of-the-art mass scale, highly scalable, modular cell production system enables a smaller infrastructure by reducing the size of the manufacturing facility compared to other existing methods, significantly reducing cost and ecological footprint. Pluri’s majority-owned subsidiary Ever After Foods, a joint venture with Tnuva Group, Israel’s largest food producer, is using PluriMatrix to produce cultivated meat and expects a 700% increase in productivity over other cultivated meat technology platforms. Pluri CEO and President, Yaky Yanay says “We’ve evolved our original healthcare-focused technology to potentially serve a multitude of other industries where efficient, cost-effective, industrial-scale cell production will be a core competitive advantage. PluriMatrix unlockes tremendous value and expect to capitalize on it in conjunction with industry-specific subsidiaries and strategic partners.”   ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/863/aleph-farms-launches-new-product-brand-aleph-cuts.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/863/aleph-farms-launches-new-product-brand-aleph-cuts.html Fri, 28 Apr 2023 14:15:49 +0530 The world’s first cultivated steak is anticipated to launch in Singapore and Israel later this year Aleph Farms, an Israeli food technology company announced the launch of its first product brand, Aleph Cuts. Under the Aleph Cuts brand, the company will market its first product, the Petit Steak, the world’s first cultivated steak anticipated to launch in Singapore and Israel later this year, pending regulatory approvals. Developed in partnership with brand and experience design agency, BOND, this branding initiative distinguishes Aleph Farms’ products and builds momentum ahead of commercialisation and subsequent engagement with customers and end consumers. “With the launch of Aleph Cuts, we are introducing our product through an epicurean lens to connect people to our incredible ‘new take on steak,’ sharing what this choice means in an engaging and authentic way,” said Nicky Quinn, VP of Marketing at Aleph Farms. “Iconic brands aren’t built overnight or by one person or team. We look forward to co-creating our brand over time with consumers, so we can best serve their evolving needs.” The visual identities for Aleph Farms and Aleph Cuts are part of a unified system designed to support the scale of Aleph Farms’ growing product portfolio. The brands are related through visual elements such as the wordmark, icon, and colour palette but evoke different aspects of the Aleph ethos: Aleph Farms is more pragmatic and focuses on technology and innovation, while Aleph Cuts is more emotional and focuses on educating about the product and celebrating culture through the lens of food. They share a new icon inspired by the company’s previous ox head symbol, reflected in the letter A in Aleph but flipped, creating a mirror effect that compels the viewer to see familiar things in a new way. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/818/israeli-prime-minister-visits-steakholder-foods-to-experience-cutting-edge-3d-printing-technology.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/818/israeli-prime-minister-visits-steakholder-foods-to-experience-cutting-edge-3d-printing-technology.html Fri, 21 Apr 2023 12:15:10 +0530 Became the first Prime Minister to ever taste 3D-printed cultivated fish Steakholder Foods Ltd, an international deep-tech food company at the forefront of the cultivated meat industry, announced that it was proud to host Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, who explored the latest advancements in cultivated meat and 3D bio-printing and tasted 3D-printed cultivated fish and meat products at the cutting edge of food tech. During his visit, the Prime Minister had the opportunity to tour the company's facilities, see firsthand how Steakholder Foods' industrial-scale 3D bio-printer works, and learn about its potential to print tons of cultivated meat per day. He said that there is a global revolution in how humanity is producing food, and emphasised that his government is working to help companies move forward in order to maintain a technological lead. He then tasted a 3D-printed cultivated fish fillet, printed with Steakholder Foods' customised bio-inks using Umami Meats' fish cells. The tasting also included Steakholder Foods' beef product grown with ethically harvested cells in the Company's facilities. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/731/israeli-scientists-develop-drought-resistant-tomato-variety.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/731/israeli-scientists-develop-drought-resistant-tomato-variety.html Thu, 06 Apr 2023 11:36:39 +0530  Scientists identified interactions between two areas of the tomato's genome that lead to increased yield and resistance to dry conditions. Israeli researchers Shai Torgeman and Professor Dani Zamir from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed a new tomato variety that is more resistant to drought conditions and could help with the destructive impact of climate change. The scientists crossbred two species of tomatoes, a wild variety from the deserts of western Peru, with a common commercial cultivar that is widely available. They identified interactions between two areas of the tomato's genome that lead to increased yield and resistance to dry conditions. The study found that these specific areas in the plant's genome led to a 20 per cent-50 per cent increase in the overall yield in both regular and dry conditions. The scientists also observed that plant size improved. According to the researchers, their findings show that using wild species is an effective way to enhance agricultural output. They could also prove to be widely applicable to other plants in the future. “The new tomato breed being developed in Israel could help soften the blow. It is expected to hit supermarket shelves in the near future and likely will be used as a processing tomato in the production of ketchups and sauces”, Torgeman said.  Torgeman also added that we’re now in the stage of cultivating the first crossbred species for commercial purposes and I believe that this will be available on the market in the next 2-3 years. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/721/adama-announces-steve-hawkins-as-president-and-ceo.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/721/adama-announces-steve-hawkins-as-president-and-ceo.html Wed, 05 Apr 2023 12:30:09 +0530 Hawkins succeeds Ignacio Dominguez, who has elected to retire from the company after serving in a series of senior roles at ADAMA.  Israel based ADAMA Ltd.  a leading crop protection company, announced that its board of directors has appointed Steve Hawkins, currently ADAMA’s Senior Vice President, Americas, as its President and Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2023. Hawkins succeeds Ignacio Dominguez, who has elected to retire from the company after serving in a series of senior roles at ADAMA, including as a key member of its Management and Executive Committee for more than a decade. Erik Fyrwald, Chairman of ADAMA Board and President and CEO of Syngenta Group, said: “Steve brings extensive international leadership experience to his new role, having worked across many markets and businesses in a broad range of leadership positions. He will report to me as a member of the Group Leadership Team as we work together to maintain the momentum of our strategy andaccelerate ADAMA’s transformation to an even more prosperous future.” Hawkins has spent his entire career in agriculture, beginning in sales with GROWMARK in Canada before joining one of Syngenta’s legacy companies, ICI Canada, nearly three decades ago. He has held a number of senior roles during his time with the company, including Regional Director EAME, Head of Sales CP & Seeds USA, Head of Commercial Operations for NA Corn & Soya Seeds, Country Head for Japan and South Korea, and Regional Director APAC for both CP and Seeds. As ADAMA’s Senior Vice President, Americas since 2021, he has overseen its North American and Latin American businesses, as well as its Consumer and Professional (non-crop) businesses globally. Under his leadership, the team delivered strong business performance in 2022 while making significantprogress in transforming the product portfolio, advancing the company’s go-to-market strategy and powering business development.  Hawkins holds a Diploma in Agriculture and an Executive MBA in Food and Agribusiness, both from the Ontario Agricultural College, at the University of Guelph, and has a bachelor’s degree in Administrative Studies from Toronto’s York University.  Fyrwald also thanked the outgoing Mr. Dominguez for his exemplary work at ADAMA, where he started in 2001: “As a key member of ADAMA’s Management and Executive Committee for more than a decade, Ignacio has been instrumental in crafting and implementing its global strategy. As its CEO since 2020, he guided the organization through many changes, including through it becoming a distinctive member of Syngenta Group while strengthening the collaboration with the different Syngenta Group Business units, as well as some important leadership changes. He did this while combining the courage to drive change, a sharp focus on delivering results, and attention and care for our people and culture.”  Dominguez will work closely with Hawkins in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/712/rivulis-completes-acquisition-of-iib.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/712/rivulis-completes-acquisition-of-iib.html Tue, 04 Apr 2023 11:03:34 +0530 With this acquisition, Rivulis will lead the mass adoption of modern irrigation solutions and digital farming by growers and business partners to create an irrigation and climate leader globally Rivulis Pte. Ltd. (Rivulis) has announced that it has received full regulatory approval for the acquisition of multiple overseas subsidiaries which comprise the International Irrigation Business (IIB) of Jain Irrigation. With this acquisition, Rivulis will lead the mass adoption of modern irrigation solutions and digital farming by growers and business partners to create an irrigation and climate leader globally. The acquisition has been finalised after all government authorisations and the precedent conditions required by the Share Purchase Agreement have been obtained and completed. Rivulis will finance the acquisition with additional investment from Temasek as well as newly issued shares to Jain India; In addition, debt issuances of Jain USA and NaanDanJain will be refinanced immediately post-Closing through a syndicated facility signed with leading banks including HSBC, Rabobank, State Bank of India, ING, Bank Leumi and the First International Bank of Israel. Richard Klapholz, Rivulis CEO, said, "As mentioned during the deal announced last June, we are thrilled to have both companies join forces to build a long-lasting, purpose-led company, spearheading the transformation of agriculture through its focus on accessibility, innovation and sustainability. We will also benefit from the most comprehensive micro irrigation and digital farming offering and most importantly from a fully committed, diverse employee base. I, wholeheartedly, welcome the Jain USA, AVI, IDC and global NaanDanJain teams and am certain that, as one company, we will become a formidable force as we establish ourselves as a global irrigation and climate leader. Together with our two shareholders, Temasek and Jain Irrigation, Rivulis' next chapter will be an exciting one as we realise our GROW BEYOND mission to help growers achieve sustainable livelihoods and to become a global sustainability champion." ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/708/tel-aviv-university-develops-super-seaweed.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/708/tel-aviv-university-develops-super-seaweed.html Mon, 03 Apr 2023 13:01:11 +0530 The findings may serve the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food, and nutritional supplement industries After developing an innovative technology that enables the growth of seaweed enriched with proteins and minerals such as zinc, iron, iodine, magnesium, and calcium for humans and animals, researchers from Tel Aviv University's School of Zoology at The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences and the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research Institute (IOLR) have made a new advancement. Researchers succeeded in significantly increasing the ability of seaweed to produce healthy natural substances, focusing on enhancing the production of bio-active compounds that offer medical benefits to humans, such as antioxidants - the concentration of which was doubled in the seaweed; natural sunscreens - its concentration tripled; and unique protective pigments of great medical value, the concentration of which increased by ten-fold. The study was carried out with the innovative and sustainable approach of integrated aquaculture, which combines seaweed with fish cultivation, upgrading the seaweed while at the same time helping to purify the seawater and minimising negative environmental impacts. According to the researchers, these findings may serve the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food, and nutritional supplement industries.   The new development was led by Doron Ashkenazi PhD student of Tel Aviv University and the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research Institute, under the guidance of Prof. Avigdor Abelson of Tel Aviv University’s School of Zoology and Prof. Alvaro Israel of the IOLR in Haifa, in collaboration with other leading researchers from Israel and around the world, including Guy Paz from IOLR; organic chemistry expert Dr Shoshana Ben-Valid; Dr Eitan Salomon from the National Centre for Mariculture in Eilat and Prof. Félix López Figueroa, Julia Vega, Nathalie Korbee, and Marta García-Sánchez from Malaga University in Spain. The article was published in the scientific journal Marine Drugs. Doron Ashkenazi explains that “seaweed, also known as macroalgae, are marine plants that form the basis of the coastal marine ecosystem. The seaweed absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen into the environment. They purify the water and provide food, habitat, and shelter for numerous species of fish and invertebrates. Not many know that seaweed also produce a wide variety of distinct bio-active compounds that are beneficial to humans. The seaweed living in the intertidal zone face extreme stress conditions, which include changes in salinity, temperature, desiccation [loss of moisture] conditions, changes in the availability of nutrients and high exposure to solar radiation, especially in the ultraviolet (UV) range." "Not many know that seaweed also produces a wide variety of distinct bio-active compounds that are beneficial to humans." Doron Ashkenazi To survive, seaweed has developed a unique set of chemical defence mechanisms – natural chemicals that help them cope with these harsh environments. They are highly efficient natural factories that produce valuable substances that may offer significant benefits to humans. In the current study, they sought to examine whether and how it is possible to increase and maximise the seaweed’ production of bio-active compounds, and secondary metabolites, that offer significant health benefits. These substances include antioxidants, protective pigments, and natural UV radiation filters. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/697/israels-start-up-nation-embraces-innovative-agrifood-tech-initiatives-to-advance-commercialization.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/697/israels-start-up-nation-embraces-innovative-agrifood-tech-initiatives-to-advance-commercialization.html Fri, 31 Mar 2023 10:17:00 +0530 Start-Up Nation Central and SVG would collaborate on long-term programs in Israel and the USA to build closer links among the two agrifood innovation ecosystems through co-marketing efforts, events, ecosystem access, and business opportunities. Leading AgriFood innovation and investment platform SVG Ventures|THRIVE will collaborate with Tel Aviv-based Start-Up Nation Central to create an Israel – North America bridge to support the mutual growth of both countries’ AgriFood Tech ecosystems and the connections between them.   SVG Ventures|THRIVE, a leading AgriFood Innovation and Investment platform headquartered in Silicon Valley, and Start-Up Nation Central, a nonprofit that promotes the Israeli innovation ecosystem around the world, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining a strategic collaboration to connect and support the AgriFood tech sectors in both countries.  The collaboration between Start-Up Nation Central and SVG would include long-term programs in Israel and the USA pursuing opportunities to build closer links between the two agrifood innovation ecosystems using co-marketing initiatives, events, ecosystem access, and business opportunities. Through the collaboration with SVG, Start-Up Nation Central aims to solidify relationships with the global AgriFood tech community, particularly in North America, to help Israeli startups scale faster in international markets and increase access to high-value Israeli innovation technology. Start-Up Nation Central provides a platform that connects Israeli innovation to the world, nurtures business growth, and generates partnerships to strengthen Israel’s economy and society. SVG Ventures|THRIVE is an established leader in the agrifood tech sector and has developed an expansive global ecosystem of startups, corporate partners and a multitude of industry associations, producer co-ops and investment and government partners. Through this collaboration both partners will leverage their platforms to drive innovation and create unparalleled access for entrepreneurs to scale globally to solve the biggest challenges facing the food and agriculture industries.  “Our platform delivers incredible opportunities for startups and we are excited to partner with Start-Up Nation Central to support and accelerate innovative Israeli companies focused on advancing a more sustainable future for the global food and agriculture industries” said John Hartnett, Founder and CEO SVG Ventures|THRIVE Director of Global Partnerships at Start-Up Nation Central, Emma Vardimon: “We are happy to team up with SVG, a leading partner in the AgriFood tech innovation ecosystem, to promote joint initiatives for this sector. This partnership will allow us to expand our global connections for the benefit of Israeli tech and propel deal flow opportunities to the SVG innovation platform. The mutual commitment to promoting the AgriFood ecosystem and finding opportunities will allow us to promote leading Israeli technological solutions to address a common global challenge”.   ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/684/israel-hosts-african-agricultural-experts-to-collaborate-on-climate-change.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/684/israel-hosts-african-agricultural-experts-to-collaborate-on-climate-change.html Wed, 29 Mar 2023 08:39:10 +0530 Israel hosted a group of African agricultural experts to help combat desertification and drought in the Sahara region. The delegation, through Israel’s DeserTech program, was in the country last week and aimed to gain tools to assist in developing what is known as the “Great Green Wall,” a pan-African initiative designed by the UN. The 8,000-km. “wall” is meant to span 11 countries and include planting new trees to restore more than 100 million hectares of degraded land. DeserTech promotes the development, adaptation and commercialization of technologies that enable sustainable living in arid climates while simultaneously turning Beersheva and the Negev region into a global entrepreneurial hub for these technologies. It is a joint initiative of the Merage Foundation Israel, the Israel Innovation Institute, the Environmental Protection Ministry and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The Foreign Ministry made the connection between DeserTech and the UN initiative. “Desertification and climate change pose a danger to many countries. Israel is fighting this threat at home and is providing its experience and capabilities to benefit Africa,” Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said. “We will continue to deepen and strengthen our ties with countries that want to do so for prosperity and to build stability in the region.” The delegation was invited to Israel to receive assistance in identifying and mapping the challenges in their region, as well as in finding solutions that combine Israeli knowledge and technologies, which have proven successful in the past in the fight against desertification in Israel. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/661/adama-posts-16-sales-growth-in-fy2022.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/661/adama-posts-16-sales-growth-in-fy2022.html Thu, 23 Mar 2023 14:07:35 +0530 The growth for the whole year which was led by Brazil and China reflected strong market demand for crop protection products. Israel based agrochemical major ADAMA Ltd. has reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and twelve-month period ended December 31, 2022.In the full year 2022, sales of the Company reached a record high of RMB 37.38 billion (USD 5.57 billion) million, up by 20 per cent in RMB terms and 16 per cent in USD, driven by a 16 per cent increase in prices and a 4 per cent growth in volume. The growth for the whole year which was led by Brazil and China reflected strong market demand for crop protection products. The Company reported an EBITDA of RMB 4.88 billion (USD 730 million), with a growth rate of 28 per cent in RMB and 23 per cent in U.S. dollars on a year-on-year basis. The significant increase in prices as well as the growth of sales volume for the full year outweighed the negative impact of higher costs for procurement, production and logistics, unfavourable exchange rate fluctuations and escalating operating expenses due to intensifying inflation pressure. Full Year 2022 Highlights: Sales up 16 per cent to a record-high of $5,570 million (+20 per cent in RMB terms; +19 per cent in CER terms), driven by 16 per cent higher prices and 4 per cent volume growth Improvement of Opex/Sales ratio of 19.9 per cent vs. 20.5 per cent in 2021; Adjusted operating income up 8 per cent to $458 million (RMB: +11 per cent) Adjusted EBITDA up 10 per cent to $740 million (RMB: +14 per cent) vs. $671 million in the full year of 2021. Adjusted net income amounted to $118 million; Reported net income nearly tripled to $96 million Fourth Quarter 2022 Highlights: Sales down 2 per cent to $1,312 million (+9 per cent in RMB terms; +1% in CER terms), 6% higher prices and 6 per cent decrease in volume Adjusted EBITDA amounted to $129 million vs. $207 million in Q4 2021 Adjusted net loss of $42 million; Reported net loss of $22 million Ignacio Dominguez, President and CEO of ADAMA, said, "As we enter the year of 2023, we reflect on the remarkable year that was 2022. This was a year in which the crop protection market experienced exceptional growth, both in volumes, and especially in prices largely aimed to offset increases in costs. I am happy to say that ADAMA grew with the market reaching record sales and EBITDA in 2022. "As 2022 proceeded, crop commodity prices came down from their peak, maintaining historically elevated levels. This has continued into 2023, while fertilizer and energy prices declined at a slower pace, leading to lower but still historically high farmer profitability. With high inventories in the market, we anticipate a gradual return to normalization in the crop protection market towards the second half of 2023. "We believe that in 2023 farmers will continue to invest in crop protection products that bring them incremental value. In 2022 ADAMA introduced many differentiated products to the market, optimizing its offering to farmers around the globe while maintaining simplicity in doing business, and intends to continue to do so in 2023." ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/620/israels-cropx-connects-to-talgil-precision-irrigation-controllers.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/620/israels-cropx-connects-to-talgil-precision-irrigation-controllers.html Wed, 15 Mar 2023 11:59:41 +0530 This digital connection will allow CropX users to access their Talgil controllers from within the CropX system for remote irrigation applications Israel-based CropX, a global leader in digital solutions for agronomic farm management, announced that it has completed an API integration with Talgil, a global producer of irrigation control systems with customers in over 80 countries. Connecting the CropX agronomic farm management system to Talgil controllers allows users to streamline their irrigation management process without having to handle several different user interfaces. Talgil irrigation controllers can be used on many types of irrigation systems. CropX connects data from the soil to the sky to provide advanced artificial intelligence (AI) agronomic insights and advice on irrigation, disease control, nutrition, leaching, and more through a mobile and desktop app. This digital connection will allow CropX users to access their Talgil controllers from within the CropX system for remote irrigation applications. From one digital platform, the CropX system advises when, where, and how much to irrigate, and Talgil users can schedule that irrigation. As-applied irrigation data can then be imported into the CropX system for record keeping. "Knowledge is power, and CropX makes that power even more potent when it can connect immediately with the irrigation system to put that knowledge into action. This is the latest connection in a broad strategy to connect machine data and activate it for the benefit of the grower," said Matan Rahav, Vice President of Business Development at CropX. "Integrating CropX's decision support system with Talgil Computing & Control irrigation control systems leads to precise and efficient use of water resources, cost savings, and improved sustainability. It empowers farmers with real-time data and predictive analytics to make informed decisions about when and how much to irrigate, optimising crop yields and mitigating environmental impact," said Yosee Ochman, Deputy General Manager at Talgil. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/619/pelemix-announces-acquisition-of-even-ari-green-ltd.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/619/pelemix-announces-acquisition-of-even-ari-green-ltd.html Wed, 15 Mar 2023 11:44:35 +0530 The acquisition of Even-Ari Green is important for Pelemix as it helps deepen its footprint in the Israeli market Pelemix Ltd. announced that it has acquired Israeli-based growing media manufacturer Even-Ari Green Ltd. (EAG). The deal will see EAG's employees joining Pelemix's growing global team. Danny Levinson, founder and CEO of EAG, will be remaining with the new company as CEO of the EAG division, reporting to Tal Brod, Pelemix global CEO. "The acquisition of Even-Ari Green is important for Pelemix as it helps us deepen our footprint in the Israeli market," notes Brod. "It provides us with an opportunity to expand on our ability to serve a variety of customers in both the hobby and professional grower segments. EAG's experience in the hobby and professional horticulture nursery market is a significant strength to add to Pelemix's already strong brand." EAG is a growing media market leader both in terms of quality and manufacturing technology. Pelemix's coir substrates are used worldwide as a growing media for hydroponic crops, plant propagation, fruit and vegetable production, cannabis cultivation, potted plant and bedding plant production and are focused primarily on the professional grower's market. "We're excited for the opportunities that this merger will represent for both brands," stated Levinson. "The opportunity to expand EAG in Israel, using Pelemix's advanced technical knowledge, provides great potential for both brands in the years to come." ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/525/new-adama-plant-in-brazil-to-manufacture-key-fungicide-active-ingredients-ais.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/525/new-adama-plant-in-brazil-to-manufacture-key-fungicide-active-ingredients-ais.html Mon, 13 Feb 2023 14:05:51 +0530 The New Multi-Purpose Plant (MPP) in Taquari (Brazil) intend to be a leading global producer of Prothioconazole in the crop protection industry ADAMA, one of the world's leading crop protection companies, has opened a new multi-purpose plant (MPP) in Taquari, Brazil. The new plant produces key active ingredients (AIs) for the crop protection industry, including Prothioconazole, an important fungicide which protects Brazil's soybean crops against Asian Soybean Rust.  In the global fungicide market, Prothioconazole accounts for $1.2 billion in sales. Over $50 million has been invested in ADAMA's new plant, of which approximately 30% went to implementing sustainable practices. With its global Prothioconazole manufacturing facilities, ADAMA is one of the top global producers and suppliers of this important molecule. With the MPP facility, ADAMA intends to launch a variety of prothioconazole-based products in Brazil within the next five years. The new plant has the capacity to fully supply its global future pipeline of Prothioconazole-based products. ARMERO, one of ADAMA Brazil's leading products, is already in production.  Bruce Morris, Head of Active Ingredients Manufacturing & Sourcing explains, "The in-house production of this key active ingredient provides ADAMA a competitive advantage in Brazil, and reduces import. Our competitive, backward-integrated capability allows us to engage in new partnerships as a major supplier in the global Prothioconazole market".  In recent years, ADAMA Brazil launched several leading products including Armero™ (fungicide); Araddo® (herbicide) and Arremate® (herbicide for pasture).  ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/514/israel-to-import-40-mn-eggs-from-5-countries.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/514/israel-to-import-40-mn-eggs-from-5-countries.html Thu, 09 Feb 2023 15:05:54 +0530 The Ministry of Agriculture approved the opening of import quotas for customs duty-free eggs in order to meet the growing demand for eggs prior to the upcoming festival Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture is opening quotas for the import of eggs with exemption from customs duty to authorised marketers from countries from which the Ministry has approved imports, in order to increase the supply of eggs and to meet the growing demand prior to Passover. The opening of imports at this time will allow importers to organise themselves so that they can import eggs in preparation for the increase in demand for the festival, as is the case every year.  In general, the State of Israel produces the vast majority of eggs consumed in Israel, amounting to approximately 2.2 billion eggs per year. However, as is the case every year in the run-up to Passover, as well as the Tishrei [September / October] festivals, the demand for eggs increases. Therefore, again this year the Ministry approved import quotas of an amount of 40 million eggs, with exemption from customs duty, which will supplement the local production. Currently, egg imports are approved from five countries Spain, Italy, Ukraine, Poland and Argentina. According to the estimates of professionals, the importers will only import eggs in accordance with the local demand, as is the case every year, certainly in light of the global price of eggs, which has risen significantly over recent months.  Professional echelon officials at the Ministry of Agriculture continue to monitor, and as necessary, will act to increase egg import quotas in accordance with supply and demand in the local market. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/503/israel-embarks-upon-a-professional-training-program-for-a-reform-of-the-overseeing-of-edible-fish-in-israel.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/503/israel-embarks-upon-a-professional-training-program-for-a-reform-of-the-overseeing-of-edible-fish-in-israel.html Mon, 06 Feb 2023 12:53:42 +0530 EU invests 250,000 euros for the development of official guidelines for the inspection of fish and fish products The European Union invested 250,000 euros in full funding of a new training program for the development of the official guidelines for the inspection of fish and fish products and the overseeing thereof, starting from the rearing stage, the entry of the fish into Israel, the laboratory tests and the marketing methods. The purpose of the program, piloted by the Veterinary Unit of the Food Service at the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, is to improve the overseeing of the safety and quality of raw fish for food and fish products, throughout the shelf life thereof, which includes importing, marketing and exporting and this in accordance with the study of the work procedures applied and accepted in the European Union. The program will commence this week. The program will last eight months, during which there will be professional training for the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture staff, the drafting of the guidelines, trainings as part of symposiums for practitioners in the field, and according to the need for legislative updates. Pnina Oren Schneider, Head of the National Food Service at the Ministry of Health, stated. “Inspecting the food products that arrive in Israel, including fish and fish products, is intended to protect public health and ensure that the imported food that reaches the consumer will be of high quality and safe for consumption. The need to draw up uniform procedures and guidelines based on internationally accepted norms, will improve the procedures for receiving shipments to Israel and make it easier for all those involved in the field, whether veterinarians or importers and marketers.” ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/486/simpliigood-haifa-group-co-pioneer-spirulina-production.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/486/simpliigood-haifa-group-co-pioneer-spirulina-production.html Wed, 01 Feb 2023 17:02:55 +0530 The companies have signed a multi-faceted long-term collaboration agreement destined to transform the entire spirulina market. Israel’s International plant nutrition leader, Haifa Group and food-tech innovator, SimpliiGood by AlgaeCore Technologies have joined forces to optimise the SimpliiGood spirulina supply chain while promoting their net zero goals. This partnership delivers benefits to both companies' products and bottom lines in the short term. It also positions them to create a sustainable circular carbon economy within the next several years. SimpliiGood grows and markets, fresh and frozen spirulina, cultivating this nutrient-rich microalga under ideal controlled conditions. This start-up is culturing concentrated functional ingredients and producing a range of nutritious foods that are breaking new ground in the plant-based protein sector.  Under development is the first smoked salmon alternative made nearly entirely from a single ingredient: whole fresh spirulina. The companies have signed a multi-faceted long-term collaboration agreement destined to transform the entire spirulina market. The alliance will enhance sustainability and reduce the environmental footprint of both partners. A cornerstone objective of this partnership is to optimise upstream spirulina operations – perfecting production input for enriched output. "This important milestone demonstrates the maturity and potential of the entire sector, not just of our company," says Baruch Dach, SimpliiGood founder and CTO. "It will boost our supply chain efficiency, reliability and scalability, making our spirulina an even more affordable, resilient and trustworthy food source for the future of food. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/474/israel-launches-tool-for-flood-management.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/474/israel-launches-tool-for-flood-management.html Fri, 27 Jan 2023 15:56:48 +0530 The Ministry has allocated a sum of NIS 30 million spread over 3 years Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is launching an innovative digital tool which for the first time will help the drainage and streams authorities as well as decision-makers in the planning field, to form basin plans and manage risk floods, using a ‘step-by-step’ approach. For the formation process of these plans, the Ministry has allocated a sum of NIS 30 million spread over 3 years. Through the website, from now on, each citizen or authority, interested in the information, can now understand where flooding might happen, what is the scope of the expected damage, in which location development should take place and to which risk-free areas it should be moved. Basin plans for managing flood risks serve as a strategic means for preparing towards climate change, and their purpose is to form a data-based action plan, in order to tackle basin flooding risks and to develop viable solutions, such as nature-based ones, to strengthen Israel’s climate resilience. In light of their importance, the Ministry of Agriculture is encouraging the drainage and streams authorities to approach these plans from a fresh angle, including amongst others, budget subsidies and digital accessibility. The digital tool is the result of cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the Agma Centre for River and Streams Runoff Basins, which was established by inter-ministerial collaboration and philanthropic support, aiming to make accessible the information and knowledge of floods, streams and surface water runoff. The new website standardises all the relevant information and know-how relating to flood risks and transforms complex hydrological language into one that is user-friendly and intelligible, by utilising unique visual and graphic tools. The digital tool accompanies the planning authorities and professionals in designing ‘step-by-step’ plans for managing flood risks, starting from the initial charting and ending with offering a feasible response, in line with the new national methodology. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/472/israels-betterseeds-develops-first-cowpea-suitable-plant-for-mechanised-harvesting.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/472/israels-betterseeds-develops-first-cowpea-suitable-plant-for-mechanised-harvesting.html Fri, 27 Jan 2023 14:57:49 +0530 The gene edited Cowpea is set to be field tested in the USA in spring 2023. The first Cowpea plant made suitable for mechanised harvesting is being developed by Israel-based BetterSeeds, an Agri-Tech company that genetically enhances agricultural crops by using its proprietary genome editing technology. BetterSeeds is set to plant its enhanced Cowpea seeds in the United States in the spring of 2023, in order to test its potential for mass-scale cultivation. Cowpea, also called Lubia or black-eyed peas, is the most ancient crop known to have been farmed by man. Due to its high protein content, heat tolerance and highly efficient water and fertilizer consumption, Cowpea is an exceedingly sustainable legume with enormous nutritional and agronomic value. Soybean, the most abundantly grown legume, requires large quantities of water and fertilizers and grows well only in a temperate climate, and as such its yield is forecasted to decline by 30 per cent in the upcoming decade due to global warming. Thus, Cowpea, as a sustainable food and plant-based protein source, is a leading legume candidate to fill the gap in Soybean yield due to climate change. Before BetterSeed’s successful gene editing achievement, Cowpea's plant architecture and fruit appearance were not fit for mechanised harvesting and therefore could not be grown at scale. The Cowpea, an indeterminant plant that sprawls on the ground with the gradual appearance of pods, could only be harvested by hand and is grown in developing regions where labour is less expensive. BetterSeeds redesigned Cowpea by targeting the gene which alters the plant's architecture into a determinant and erect plant with simultaneous pod appearance, thus fitting Cowpea for mechanised harvesting by a combine – just like Soybean! With this redesigned Cowpea farmers can both increase their versatility of legume cultivation, utilise their land all year round and also ensure the market of sustainable supply of plant-based protein. Ido Margalit, BetterSeeds CEO said, "If I had to choose one crop to focus on, it’s Cowpea, since we are facing a huge shortfall in the supply of plant-based proteins, namely Soybean, due to climate change. Cowpea has the capability to fill in this gap pending its redesign to make it fit for mass-scale cultivation which is exactly what BetterSeeds is doing. Cowpea will help to feed the world!" ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/464/azelis-acquires-israels-lidorr-elements.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/464/azelis-acquires-israels-lidorr-elements.html Wed, 25 Jan 2023 11:56:23 +0530 The acquisition expands Azelis’ footprint in Israel, further building on its growing network in the region following the acquisition of Orokia in 2020. Azelis (Brussels AZE), a leading global innovation service provider in the speciality chemicals and food ingredients industry, announces that it has signed an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of the shares of Lidorr Elements (Lidorr), one of Israel's leading speciality chemical distributors in crop-protection, industrial materials, and care & nutrition. The acquisition expands Azelis’ footprint in Israel, further building on its growing network in the region following the acquisition of Orokia in 2020. Lidorr’s wide portfolio of hundreds of products significantly strengthens Azelis’ lateral value chain in the Agricultural & Environmental Solutions as well as in Advanced Materials & Additives market segments. Ami Lidor, CEO of Lidorr Elements, comments, “We are delighted to join Azelis and bring over 50 years of excellence to the Israeli market so that we can prosper together. By accessing Azelis' technical and digital capabilities, we will be able to further develop and promote innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers. Joining the Azelis family offers many opportunities for synergies that will enable us to serve our customers and principals better, and outperform in the future.” Anna Bertona, Regional CEO Azelis EMEA adds, “The acquisition of Lidorr Elements is a great opportunity for Azelis to strengthen its presence in Israel in our common markets of agriculture, industrial materials and personal care. This transaction will not only provide us with many business opportunities in crop protection, polymers, and care and nutrition but also reinforce our relationships with our long-lasting and historical principals within EMEA.” ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/461/land-bank-israel-embassy-explore-a-partnership-to-boost-agri-development.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/461/land-bank-israel-embassy-explore-a-partnership-to-boost-agri-development.html Tue, 24 Jan 2023 13:56:41 +0530 Israel’s modern technologies and best practices for possible adoption in the Philippines, are to be supported by LANDBANK’s expertise in agriculture. The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and the Israel Embassy explored possible areas of collaboration to advance economic development in the country. Ilan Fluss Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines paid a visit to Cecilia C. Borromeo LANDBANK President and CEO at the LANDBANK Plaza. The principals discussed Israel’s modern technologies and best practices for possible adoption in the Philippines, to be supported by LANDBANK’s expertise in agriculture and development financing. “LANDBANK continues to explore strategic partnerships to help advance national development. We look forward to collaborating with the government towards the adoption of innovative technology and approaches, especially in the agriculture sector,” said Cecilia Cayosa Borromeo LANDBANK President and CEO, who was joined by Senior Vice President Elcid C. Pangilinan and Assistant Vice President Edgardo S. Luzano during the meeting. Ambassador Fluss was joined by representatives from AgroStudies, an international training centre in Israel which offers agricultural internships to students from developing countries, led by its CEO Yaron Tamir and Deputy Inbal Shoval. A potential partnership to endorse qualified Filipino students to undergo advanced learning and skills development training in agriculture technology and innovation in Israel was also discussed, aimed to help develop a more sustainable agriculture sector in the country. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/445/casterra-announces-agreement-with-energy-company-for-biofuel-production.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/445/casterra-announces-agreement-with-energy-company-for-biofuel-production.html Thu, 19 Jan 2023 18:14:48 +0530 The new agreement has significant potential for future growth and strengthens our position in the castor biofuel market. Israel-based Casterra Ag, the integrated castor cultivation solution company and a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd, announced that it has entered into an agreement with one of the world's leading energy companies, whereby Casterra will provide its unique castor varieties and its broad know-how in the cultivation of castor at a commercial scale for biofuel production. Under the framework of the agreement, the initial focus is the purchase agreement of castor seed varieties from Casterra for growing castor in specific African territories and the provision of technical support. The agreement also allows for the potential for long-term cooperation in castor cultivation between this customer and Casterra, with the potential for expansion into additional territories on the African continent.  Biofuels have significant advantages over conventional petrochemical fuels, primarily being a renewable source and biodegradable, with significantly less negative environmental impact than other alternative fuel sources. Under the carbon life cycle, castor is considered a carbon–neutral fuel, since the emissions linked with its combustion are comparatively similar to the carbon dioxide emissions absorbed during the growth of the source plants. Technically, castor has other important advantages such as inherent lubricity, low toxicity, superior flash point, negligible sulphur content and cleaner exhaust emissions. Oil derived from the castor bean has further advantages as a source of biofuel and other vegetable oils, due to its higher proportion of energy-rich, fatty hydroxy-acids. Additional advantages making it industrially useful include a low melting point and low solidification point, and the castor has the most stable viscosity of any vegetable-derived oils. Furthermore, castor as a crop, poses minimal competition for land with conventional food crops or edible oils, due to its hardiness and tolerance to stresses, and can be cultivated on marginal land areas which otherwise would not be used.  Eyal Ronen, CEO of Casterra, commented, "We are very proud to be supporting a major multinational energy company, one of the world's seven supermajor oil companies, by providing our advanced castor seed varieties and guiding their activities in the castor cultivation arena. We strongly support biofuel production based on castor oil, which has been proven to be a highly clean and effective source of renewable energy. This new agreement has significant potential for future growth and strengthens our position in the castor biofuel market." ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/442/israel-joined-the-united-nations-treaty-for-the-conservation-of-genetic-diversity.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/442/israel-joined-the-united-nations-treaty-for-the-conservation-of-genetic-diversity.html Thu, 19 Jan 2023 13:24:14 +0530 The Treaty focuses on steps and actions for the preservation and cultivation of 64 specific plant crops defined as having a special benefit to human health and food security. The State of Israel, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and in collaboration with the Volcani Institute, joined the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). This Treaty is aimed at serving as a platform for global cooperation, in order to preserve genetic sources for plant food crops of special nutritional importance and to encourage the cultivation of a variety of species resistant to extreme climate conditions. This, in order to ensure the continuation of production, improvement and maximisation thereof, is a tool to establish a regular supply of fresh plant-based food even under the reality of an extreme and changing climate. The Treaty focuses on steps and actions for the preservation and cultivation of 64 specific plant crops defined as having a special benefit to human health and food security, such as Wheat, carrots, chickpeas, lentils, oats, etc. As part of the Treaty, the participating countries undertake to act to preserve biodiversity, which helps in cultivating food sources, at two key levels: Preservation within the genetic bank as plants growing in the fields, and preservation outside the site. In this manner, access is provided to those genetic sources for research and cultivation purposes, which allows work to be done towards reducing the continuous erosion of these sources, in conjunction with the expansion of the genetic pool of the crops through gene banks from all over the world, and the promotion of cultivation processes that will minimise the sensitivities of certain crops and genetic dilution (erosion), as a result of climate change. The Ministry of Agriculture explains that the State of Israel's joining this Treaty will first and foremost allow researchers, developers and farmers to gain access to central genetic resources for the development of varieties adapted to climate change, through collaborations between the Israeli Gene Bank and various genetic repositories from all over the world, in parallel to fostering the State of Israel's position as a key actor in globally gearing up for climate change. Yakov Poleg, Senior Deputy Director General of the Centre for Foreign Trade and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said "The signing of the Treaty is another important milestone in the gearing up on the part of the State of Israel for the climate crisis and it expresses our commitment in the matter of the preservation of the genetic diversity found in the sovereign domains of the State of Israel." Dr Einav Maizlish-Gati, Director of the Israeli Gene Bank at the Volcani Institute, stated, "The signing of the Treaty will allow us, at the national level, access to additional genetic sources in order to increase the range of attributes available to us when we come to deal with climate change and to ensure food security for the residents of the State of Israel. Our joining the Treaty is of additional importance in making the unique biological diversity, that exists in Israel, accessible to our partners in the world in a manner that will allow us to maintain sovereignty over the local genetic sources." ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/435/icl-signs-strategic-partnership-agreement-with-general-mills.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/435/icl-signs-strategic-partnership-agreement-with-general-mills.html Tue, 17 Jan 2023 15:17:11 +0530 The long-term agreement will begin in June of 2023 and will initially be focused on supply in North America. Israel based ICL, a leading global speciality minerals company, announced it will be the strategic speciality phosphate solutions supplier to General Mills. The long-term agreement will begin in June of 2023 and will initially be focused on supply in North America, with the potential for international expansion. “Our focus is always on the customer and on delivering best-in-class products, quality and service. We’re pleased General Mills appreciates our efforts and is also dedicated to providing best-in-class products to their customers,” said Phil Brown, president of ICL Phosphate Specialties and managing director of North America for ICL. “We’re looking forward to working with their R&D team to find new ways to support their product development and are excited to turn to our global innovation team for support.” “As part of our strategy to develop long-term partnerships with key suppliers, we’re excited to work with ICL and leverage their technical expertise to support our business growth plans,” said Sebastiao Pinho, global sourcing director for General Mills. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/420/ottopia-announces-14-5m-series-funding-round.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/420/ottopia-announces-14-5m-series-funding-round.html Fri, 13 Jan 2023 10:51:09 +0530 Ottopia's mission is to enable autonomy in multiple industries such as agriculture, mobility, logistics, freight, and last-mile delivery. Israel-based Ottopia announced that it has raised $14.5 million in its Series a funding round. It includes participation from ComfortDelGro, one of the world's largest public transport companies, AI Alliance Fund, and existing investors such as MizMaa Ventures, IN Venture and Next Gear Ventures. This marks the largest Series A in the history of teleoperation companies. Ottopia's mission is to enable autonomy in multiple industries such as mobility, logistics, freight, last-mile delivery, agriculture, and construction. Its teleoperation software enables autonomous vehicles and machines to do things they otherwise cannot while allowing their developers to dramatically cut R&D costs, commercialise faster and comply with regulatory requirements for deployment. With Ottopia's product, humans in a remote centre can safely monitor, guide and even directly control vehicles' fleets in a safe and cyber-secure manner. Ottopia's patented technology is built upon numerous innovations in the domains of networking, video, user experience, cybersecurity, and integration with the autonomous ‘brain’. Their software has been tested and deployed in a variety of environments, making it an essential tool for enabling the widespread adoption of autonomous technology. "We've always believed in the potential of Ottopia. The team's unwavering dedication and drive have consistently impressed us, and we've been honoured to support them every step of the way," said Aaron Applbaum, Partner at MizMaa Ventures. "Ottopia's successful Series A is a triumph that showcases their hard work and vision. They are solving for a key missing link in the future of connected, autonomous everything." Cheng Siak Kian, Group CEO of ComfortDelGro said: "This investment in Ottopia is an important cornerstone of our future-proofing plans. Having teleoperation capabilities which will enable us to intervene and operate an AV remotely whenever needed, is critical in our future operational plans." With this new funding, Ottopia plans to accelerate the roll-out of its teleoperation software to fulfil its mission of enabling autonomy in all industries. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/411/a-second-avian-influenza-outbreak-flash-point-detects-in-israel.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/411/a-second-avian-influenza-outbreak-flash-point-detects-in-israel.html Wed, 11 Jan 2023 13:11:16 +0530 The farm has three infected buildings, containing 21,500 heavy-breeding poultry. Israel Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development detected a second occurrence of the H5N1 strain of bird flu at Moshav Be'er Tuvia, about 350 meters away from the outbreak flash point that was detected last week. The farm has three infected buildings, containing 21,500 heavy-breeding poultry. The Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture continue to actively monitor all the poultry coop farms in the area. In order to prevent the spread of the disease, the Ministry of Agriculture operates in accordance with the regular work procedures related to the handling of bird flu. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture has informed the Ministry of Health and the Nature and Parks Authority on the subject and is in contact with them regarding increased vigilance with respect to the transmission of the disease through wild birds. The Ministry of Agriculture reiterates that it is possible to continue to consume poultry and eggs, but care must be taken to purchase eggs only at organised sales and marketing outlets. The eggs must be marked and packed in cardboard or wrapped in plastic on all sides. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture emphasizes that eggs and poultry should only be consumed after they have been well cooked, baked or fried.  The Ministry of Agriculture also calls on the breeders of ornamental birds and backyard poultry, as well as free-range chickens, to keep the birds inside buildings and to prevent them from roaming in the open, thereby reducing the risk of infection from wild birds. It would be prudent to note that the Ministry of Agriculture has concluded the handling of the previous avian flu outbreak flash points that were detected last month at Moshav Shluchot, Moshav Beit Heirut, Moshav Beit Halevy, Moshav Kfar Monash, Kibbutz Mishmar Hasharon, Kibbutz Hatzor, Kibbutz Ein Tzurim, Kibbutz Magal and Moshav Be’er Tovia. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/410/israel-presents-a-proposal-on-food-security-and-water-technologies.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/410/israel-presents-a-proposal-on-food-security-and-water-technologies.html Wed, 11 Jan 2023 12:29:30 +0530 The two days Negev Forum summit was held in Abu Dhabi and brought together Israel and Arab states. Kaufman Pess, Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Israel has presented a proposal for four strategic core areas for the stability of food systems and water technologies in the region, on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Water Authority at the Negev Forum.  The two days Negev Forum summit was held in Abu Dhabi, and brought together Israel and Arab states, with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Egypt and the United States.  Na’ama Kaufman Pess, Director General, in partnership with her Moroccan counterpart, has spearheaded the discussions on food security and water technologies.  The Israeli delegation has, for the first time, presented a series of proposals for cooperation and applied projects at the local and regional level, based upon the perception that the countries of the region share similar challenges and that Israel has broad knowledge that it can share with the other countries of the region. Solving common challenges will lead to the prosperity of all the members of the Forum, including overcoming diseases and pests that know no borders.  This summit is the professional meeting of the multi-country work teams and is a continuation of the Negev Forum held in March 2022 all the members of the forum participate in it, including Israel, the USA, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Egypt. The selected fields represent significant challenges to local and regional food security against the backdrop of the climate crisis and include concrete proposals with the aim of establishing a regional platform for optimal coordination of joint actions to deal with them. From the four proposals, two fields of action are expected to be chosen for which concrete and in-depth work plans will be formulated. The plans will be approved within a few months at the annual Ministerial Summit of the Negev Forum and, in the process, will become the first work products of the historic forum. The Negev Forum was established by former Foreign Minister Yair Lapid to deepen and expand regional cooperation under the Abraham Accords. It first met in Sde Boker, a small village and conference centre in the south of Israel where the country’s first Prime Minister David Ben Gurion lived his last years. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/398/avian-flu-hits-two-cities-in-israel.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/398/avian-flu-hits-two-cities-in-israel.html Mon, 09 Jan 2023 14:55:43 +0530 The Ministry of Agriculture imposed a closure on all poultry coops within 10 km. Israels' Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development located two new flashpoints of H5N1 bird flu disease. at Kibbutz Magal, in the Mehashe Regional Council, approximately 25,000 fattening turkeys were located in three buildings and at Moshav Beer Tuvia, another flashpoint was identified with another 25,000 heavy breeding chickens in three buildings. The Ministry of Agriculture imposed a closure on all poultry coops within 10 km. עIn order to prevent the spread of the disease, the Ministry of Agriculture operates in accordance with the regular work procedures related to the handling of bird flu. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture has informed the Ministry of Health and the Nature and Parks Authority on the subject and is in contact with them regarding increased vigilance regarding the transmission of the disease through wild birds. The Ministry of Agriculture reiterates that it is possible to continue to consume poultry and eggs but care must be taken to purchase eggs only at organised sales and marketing outlets. The eggs must be packed in cardboard or plastic and be marked on all sides. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture emphasizes that eggs and poultry should only be consumed after they have been well cooked/baked/fried.   Also, the Ministry of Agriculture calls on the breeders of ornamental birds and backyard poultry as well as free-range chickens, to keep the birds inside buildings and to prevent them from roaming about in the open, thereby reducing the risk of infection from wild birds.  It should be noted that the Ministry of Agriculture has concluded the handling of the previous bird flu outbreaks that were discovered last month on Moshav Shluchot, Moshav Beit Heirut, Moshav Beit Halevy, Moshav Kfar Monash, Kibbutz Mishmar Hasharon, Kibbutz Hatzor and Kibbutz Ein Tzurim. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/393/steakholder-foods-receives-grant-of-1mn-to-develop-3d-printed-structured-eel.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/393/steakholder-foods-receives-grant-of-1mn-to-develop-3d-printed-structured-eel.html Fri, 06 Jan 2023 11:35:53 +0530 The initiative is being funded by a grant from the Singapore Israel Industrial R&D Foundation. Steakholder Foods an international deep-tech food company at the forefront of the cultivated meat industry has received its first grant to develop 3D-printed structured eel and grouper products with Singaporean cultivated fish and seafood company Umami Meats. The initiative is being funded by a grant from the Singapore Israel Industrial R&D Foundation (SIIRD), a cooperation between - Enterprise Singapore (ESG) and the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA). Steakholder Foods' partnership with Umami Meats offers a unique opportunity for market entry in the only country in the world where cultivated meat has regulatory approval. The collaboration aims to develop a scalable process for producing structured cultivated fish products. Steakholder Foods will use its newly developed technology for mimicking the flaky texture of cooked fish that was recently submitted for a provisional patent application. The project's first prototype, a structured hybrid grouper product, is expected to be completed by Q1 2023. The product will be printed using Steakholder Foods' proprietary 3D bio-printing technology and bio-inks that will be customized for Umami Meats' cells. Yair Ayalon, VP of Business Development, Steakholder Foods said, "Industry collaborations are a critical aspect of our long-term business strategy. Our partnership with Umami Meats is especially meaningful following our recent patent application for fish texture and because it is being supported by a joint Israeli/Singaporean government initiative of which we are very proud to be a part." Mihir Pershad, CEO and Founder at Umami Meats said, "We are thrilled to be combining our deep knowledge and experience in cultivated seafood with Steakholder Foods' innovative 3D bio-printing technology. We believe this partnership will help us advance our vision of a new, more sustainable food system for preserving our marine ecosystems while delivering exceptional, high quality seafood to meet growing consumer demand." ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/380/village-farms-international-commences-shipping-cannabis-to-israel.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/380/village-farms-international-commences-shipping-cannabis-to-israel.html Wed, 04 Jan 2023 12:01:27 +0530 Sales to Israel via Pure Sunfarms Further Expand Village Farms' International Cannabis Presence. Village Farms International, Inc. has announced further progress on its international cannabis strategy. Recently, the Company's Canadian Cannabis business, through its subsidiary, Pure Sunfarms, commenced shipping cannabis products for the Israeli medical market under an exclusive three-year supply agreement with Israel-based Dr Samuelov Importing and Marketing Ltd., doing business as Better Pharma. Founded in the early 1990s, Better Pharma is a highly respected importer of pharmaceuticals and related products for the Israeli market with longstanding relationships with Israel's retail pharmacies and an extensive sales force and distribution capabilities, covering over 95 per cent of Israeli independent pharmacies, as well as retail drug stores. "Commencing shipments to Israel is another milestone in our global cannabis strategy, building on our successes in Canada and Australia," said Michael DeGiglio, Chief Executive Officer, Village Farms. "We are proud and privileged to partner exclusively with Better Pharma for the significant medical cannabis opportunity in Israel and are confident that Pure Sunfarms unique ‘Everyday Premium’ positioning, which has proven so successful in Canada and Australia, will be differentiated in the Israeli market, and well-received by patients." "Our agreement with Better Pharma marks the first time Pure Sunfarms branded flower, inclusive of Canada's top-selling Pink Kush, makes its way to consumers internationally," said Mandesh Dosanjh, President and CEO, Pure Sunfarms. "We're confident that Better Pharma, an organisation that shares our belief in a brand-led consumer approach, will help patients in Israel come to know and appreciate Pure Sunfarms high-quality, BC grown strains as much as Canadians have." "We are proud and honoured to exclusively partner with Pure Sunfarms, Canada's No.1 flower brand and market leader, for medical cannabis products," said Ran Samuelov, Chief Executive Officer, Better Pharma. "We are confident we will be able to leverage our knowledge and expertise in international brand management for Pure Sunfarms to become one of the leading medical cannabis brands in Israel. We are looking forward to delivering Pure Sunfarms unique and differentiated ‘Everyday Premium’ brand proposition to Israeli medical patients and pharmacists." Sales of Pure Sunfarms products to patients in Israel are expected to commence later this month. Initial strains offered will include Pink Kush, Jet Fuel Gelato, and Sakura Punch (sold as Black Cherry Punch in Canada). Village Farms continues to execute its global cannabis strategy, which includes accelerated sales to the Australian medical market and plans to launch in the German medical market.  ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/375/israel-to-pilot-a-project-to-support-pond-fishing-industry.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/375/israel-to-pilot-a-project-to-support-pond-fishing-industry.html Tue, 03 Jan 2023 15:17:13 +0530 The Ministry of Agriculture is primarily interested in finding solutions to increase transparency. In order to support the pond fishing industry in Israel, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will hold, an exposure event, on January 26, for the first public participation of the pond fishing industry, in cooperation with the Fish Breeders Organization, the Nature and Parks Authority and the Kinneret Innovation Centre. The participants will be asked to formulate solutions to two prominent challenges in the field: Marking fresh fish marketed without packaging and increasing transparency, alongside developing solutions for collecting fish carcasses in ponds. The event is part of the Ministry’s support for the industry in light of the lowering of the customs duty and in order to help upgrade the industry, as well as to encourage the purchase of local produce by marking the country of origin of the fish. As at this point in time, fresh fish sold in Israel without packaging on the ‘Fishing Countre’ shelf are not marked with any information about them, so Israeli consumers are deprived of the ability to identify the country of origin, the area of cultivation and the method of cultivation. A survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development confirms this claim and indicates that there is great confusion about consumerism in this field and that the public is interested in making more informed decisions when purchasing. Thus, 45 per cent of the respondents to the survey answered that they do not know the place of production of the fish they purchase at the time of purchase and about 60 per cent of them were interested in obtaining information about the country of origin. 21 per cent of respondents would prefer to purchase locally farmed fish if the information was available to them. In the public participation process, the Ministry of Agriculture is primarily interested in finding solutions to increase transparency in the retail trade in fresh fish and thereby increase the marketing value of fish of Israeli origin. This is a threefold challenge to finding a technological-marketing solution for the marking of the fish sold in bulk, at the retail points of sale and for the type of information that the marking will present and reflect the needs. The goal is to find ways to strengthen the fish farming industry conducted in the local ponds. The requested solution for marking the fish should allow consumers to receive information about the fish in an efficient, fast and reliable manner and take into account the economic viability of the breeder and marketer, the health of the consumer and the quality of the product. Another challenge that will be presented to the participants of the public participation event is the challenge of collecting fish carcasses from the ponds. The current alternative used today is manual picking which requires permanent and expensive labour. The requested solution should be effective and easy to implement, taking into account the internal facilities in the breeding pond, and the breeding area, avoiding the creation of hazards, the well-being of the fish, the safety of the workers and more. As part of the public participation event participating in small teams, the Ministry of Agriculture wishes to harness the Israeli innovation community through a holistic approach that connects experts from various disciplines, including from the fields of programming, engineering, economics, biotechnology, health and marketing to promote innovative and ground breaking solutions to the industry’s challenges. In order for the participants to understand the challenges and the solutions sought, the event will be held at the fish pond of Kibbutz Nir-David. At the final event to be held in early March 2023, the participants will present their solutions to each of the challenges before a professional team of judges. The winning solutions will be evaluated as a pilot program and will receive a monetary award. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/332/israel-to-conduct-cattle-census-in-january.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/332/israel-to-conduct-cattle-census-in-january.html Wed, 21 Dec 2022 10:30:26 +0530 This move is necessary in order to give breeders modern tools to carry out operations independently, while controlling the number of cattle and their location, and to enable the reduction of the spread of diseases. Israel’s Agriculture Ministry will be conducting a cattle census in early January 2023. The census will be carried out over the month and will be used to document and register the heads of cattle living in the State of Israel. The census will be done using a form that will be sent to each breeder, containing the current documentation that exists in the system, and the breeder will update the form according to the changes in the herd. According to the ministry, more than 710,000 cattle in Israel, out of which 300,000 cattle live in dairy farms, 295,000 are imported for fattening and slaughter and around 110,000 heads graze in pastures. Each breeder is obligated to pay a separate fee for every government processing of his or her cattle (marking, registration, and transport permits). The ministry wants to reduce red tape and collect a unified, fixed fee for the services it provides, based on the number of cattle heads owned by each breeder. A breeder who does not participate in the census will be forced to pay the fee according to the most recent government registration of the herd. Dr Tamir Goshen, Director of Veterinary and Health Services at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said, "This move is necessary to give breeders modern tools to carry out operations independently, while controlling the number of cattle and their location, and to enable the reduction of the spread of diseases. Through this move, the bureaucracy involved in raising cattle in the State of Israel today will be reduced, which will facilitate their daily conduct, without compromising public health and the health of the animals." ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/330/israeli-cows-to-get-biometric-id-cards.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/330/israeli-cows-to-get-biometric-id-cards.html Tue, 20 Dec 2022 17:09:42 +0530 Real-time monitoring of the cows in the barn will be created out of the need to monitor and document the feeding times and location of each individual cow. A new facial recognition and the biometric system will be introduced in various dairy farms in Israel. It will be used to identify complications of the animal. These data, new studies and a lot of information about the industry will be presented at the annual cattle and sheep science conference which is taking place soon. The conference is organised by the Department of Cattle and the Department of Sheep in the Training and Professional Service (SHAM) with the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation and the Directorate of Agricultural.  Real-time monitoring of the cows in the barn will be created out of the need to monitor and document the feeding times and location of each individual cow. In the precision livestock farming lab at the Volcani Institute Precision Livestock Farming Lab (PLF), Prof. Noam Bergman together with Prof. Yitzhak Itzhaki from Ben Gurion University, and Prof. Ilan Halhami are developing an innovative biometric identification system, Which can use as a unique and fast AI algorithm for facial recognition of cows. Cameras will be installed in barns. Each camera is able to monitor up to eight cows eating at the same time. In this way, the system can break down each video file into individual frames and within each frame identify with great precision the face of each individual cow by itself. In addition, the system is able to identify each cow using biometric characteristics based on its face alone. The system’s unique characteristics offer high precision at maximum speed.Real-time monitoring of the cows in the barn was created out of the need to monitor and document the feeding times and location of each individual cow.  These data can contain insights into the well-being of cows, prediction of distress situations, different eating behaviours, estimates of food consumption and more. Another advantage of the state-of-the-art system is that all the execution of its operations takes place remotely - that is, without any physical means on the cow itself, and in fact without her knowledge at all. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/329/bird-flu-detected-at-a-turkey-farm-in-israel.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/329/bird-flu-detected-at-a-turkey-farm-in-israel.html Tue, 20 Dec 2022 15:09:11 +0530 The outbreak occurred in a coop of about 20,000 turkeys in the village of Beit Halevi located in the Hefer Valley. The pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been detected at a turkey farm in central Israel, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. According to the official statement, the outbreak occurred in a coop of about 20,000 turkeys in the village of Beit Halevi located in the Hefer Valley. In response, the ministry quarantined all coops located within the 10 km boundary of the outbreak site and began active monitoring of all chicken farms in the area. The ministry called on the public to purchase only labelled and packaged eggs and suggested consumers well cook, bake, or fry eggs and chicken before eating. In addition, poultry breeders were asked to keep birds indoors to prevent infection from wild birds. Two previous bird flu outbreaks were detected at turkey farms in Israel last month. However, no epidemiological linkage was found between the three outbreaks.  ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/317/israel-express-interest-in-agricultural-cooperation-in-kerala.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/317/israel-express-interest-in-agricultural-cooperation-in-kerala.html Mon, 19 Dec 2022 10:41:30 +0530 Tammy Ben Haim informed Pinarayi Vijayan Chief Minister that Israel would like to cooperate in Kerala’s agriculture and tourism sector. After Jammu and Kashmir Israel has expressed interest in agricultural cooperation in one more Indian state Kerala. An Israel delegation headed by Tammy Ben Haim Consul General of Israel to South India recently visited Kerala. During the visit, a meeting was held at the chief minister’s office, an official statement was released. Tammy Ben Haim informed Pinarayi Vijayan Chief Minister that Israel would like to cooperate in Kerala’s agriculture and tourism sector, the statement said. Haim assured that she would discuss with the Ministry of Tourism in Israel to see how cooperation in the tourism sector can be taken forward. According to the statement, the Consul General also said, for cooperation, she will discuss with Israeli companies for signing of the MoU. CM Vijayan welcomed the Consul General's assurance of cooperation. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/267/israel-seizes-200-kg-smuggled-strawberries-from-gaza.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/267/israel-seizes-200-kg-smuggled-strawberries-from-gaza.html Tue, 06 Dec 2022 13:28:34 +0530 The Ministry of Agriculture strongly reiterates that marketing agricultural produce that has not been properly supervised is a violation of the law. Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture has seized 200 kg of strawberries which was smuggled from Gaza. The supervisors from the Central Investigation and Enforcement Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Israel Border Police, have tracked and prevented the sale of 50 cardboard units of strawberries, at a total weight of about 200 kg, grown in Gaza, which were intercepted at the tunnels’ crossing in the area surrounding Jerusalem. The supervisors reached the place, following a report by the crossing’s combat soldiers. The entire merchandise found was transferred for destruction under a medical decree. The initial investigation indicates that the goods were intended to be marketed in the Jerusalem region. During the initial investigation, the questioned driver admitted to the charges against him. The Ministry of Agriculture strongly reiterates that marketing agricultural produce that has not been properly supervised is a violation of the law, which jeopardizes public health and may also cause significant damage to the flora in Israel The Ministry of Agriculture invests great effort in eradicating the attempts to smuggle agricultural produce from Gaza in general, and strawberries during the winter, in particular. Accordingly, the ministry takes action from to time to raise awareness of the guidelines pertaining to signs indicating smuggled merchandise. In this instance, an attempt to smuggle and market about 200 kg of strawberry produce from Gaza has been prevented. The merchandise, which was visible inside the vehicle that was caught, was transferred for destruction under a   medical decree. During the initial investigation, the suspect admitted to the charges against him and legal proceedings have been initiated.  ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/233/israel-bans-fish-exports-from-gaza.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/233/israel-bans-fish-exports-from-gaza.html Tue, 29 Nov 2022 11:42:35 +0530 The ban was imposed after a truck transporting fish from Gaza was intercepted at the Rantis checkpoint. Israeli Ministry of Agriculture has banned the export of fish from the Gaza Strip to the occupied West Bank under the pretext that attempts have been made to smuggle fish into Israeli markets. According to the ministry, the ban was imposed after a truck transporting fish from Gaza was intercepted at the Rantis checkpoint on its way from the West Bank to Israel. This smuggling attempt included about 8.5 tons of fish and seafood that have not been monitored and may pose a real danger to public health. It is suspected that the fish were destined for sale to restaurants in the city of Haifa. seafood, which is not under any monitoring procedure, including Amberjack, White Grouper, Spanish Mackerel, sea bass and black tuna. Israel authority approved 40 tons of fish to import from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank, about two months ago, in a manner that allows for overseeing and ensuring that unmonitored produce does not spill over and harm the health of the public, animals and plants in Israel. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/228/adama-bags-crop-science-award-for-araddo-herbicide.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/228/adama-bags-crop-science-award-for-araddo-herbicide.html Thu, 24 Nov 2022 12:37:33 +0530 The company plans to expand into additional markets across Latin America, following Araddo® successful 2021 launch in Brazil. Israel-based crop protection company ADAMA was recently recognized for its innovative Araddo® herbicide, winning the prestigious award for Best Formulation Innovation at this year’s IHS Markit Crop Science Forum and Awards. The news comes as ADAMA registers Araddo® for sales in Paraguay and plans to expand into additional markets across Latin America, following its successful 2021 launch in Brazil. Farmers in Latin America are increasingly concerned about the spread of three weeds – Conyza, Sourgrass, and Goosegrass – which are advancing across agricultural areas and showing signs of resistance to glyphosate and other herbicides. Araddo®, a pre-crop, burndown dual-mode herbicide, effectively controls grasses and broadleaf weeds such as these and helps overcome the growing resistance problem. This innovative mixture for soybean, corn, and wheat crops, enables farmers in Brazil, and now Paraguay, to achieve higher crop yields. “We are thrilled to be recognized for our ground-breaking Araddo®, which is the first to combine ACC’ase Inhibition and Auxin herbicidal modes of action, overcoming the chemical degradation between the two active ingredients. Our focus on cutting-edge formulation technologies enables us to bring differentiation to our portfolio and add value to the farmers,” said Alexandre Pires, Head of Marketing of ADAMA Brazil. Previously, the common use of Auxins required a safety interval of 10 to 30 days between application and planting. However, Araddo® allows farmers to spray and plant immediately, benefiting from gains in time and the ability to take advantage of the best possible planting window, resulting in higher productivity. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/222/france-to-learn-efficient-use-of-water-in-agriculture-from-israel.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/222/france-to-learn-efficient-use-of-water-in-agriculture-from-israel.html Tue, 22 Nov 2022 13:40:26 +0530 The purpose of the visit is to learn from Israel how to maintain and establish extensive agriculture in extreme weather conditions. French agricultural experts are on an official visit to Israel to study the efficient use of water in agriculture, in light of the imposition of severe restrictions on the use of water in Corsica Island due to the drought. A delegation of representatives from the field of agriculture, from the island of Corsica, arrived in Israel. The delegation is headed by senior officials from the local ministries of agriculture and water, as well as representatives from the various branches of agriculture in the country, including wine, milk and citrus fruits. The purpose of the visit is to learn from Israel how to maintain and establish extensive agriculture in extreme weather conditions, how to make intelligent and efficient use of water and how to apply methods for precision agriculture. The visit is part of the initiative of the Israel-France Foundation, the FFI, and the Embassy of Israel in Paris in collaboration with the Ministry's Center for International Trade and Cooperation and the Agricultural Research Administration. During the visit, educational tours will be conducted, the purpose of which is to transfer the extensive professional knowledge that exists in Israel in everything related to agriculture, in the shadow of the effects of the climate crisis. In addition, the Corsicans will meet with leading Israeli agro-tech companies in this field. In this way, the visit constitutes an invitation to create international collaborations, both at the commercial and research levels.    This visit is especially essential at this time, when an extreme heat wave has been smiting the Island of Corsica for the past three months, which led to an unexpected water shortage and across-the-board restrictions on water use as a result. The Corsican Chamber of Agriculture called on farmers to join the professional tour, and in doing so they hope to implement a lateral policy of precision agriculture and the correct use of water, which will help solve the current crisis. Yakov Poleg, Senior Deputy Director General for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated that "This visit is aimed at strengthening the relationship with Corsica and with France, and we hope that it will lead to further collaborations. Despite all this, the purpose of the visit should not be ignored, which stems from the devastating effects the climate crisis has on our world. The Israeli Ministry of Agriculture will continue to assist as much as possible at the global level, with regards to proper growing of food in arduous climatic conditions and adaptation to this challenging reality." ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/205/israel-jordan-and-uae-sign-mou.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/205/israel-jordan-and-uae-sign-mou.html Thu, 17 Nov 2022 18:04:02 +0530 The MoU relates to Project Prosperity, which has two components: Prosperity Green and Prosperity Blue. The governments of the United  Arab  Emirates  (UAE),  the  Hashemite  Kingdom of  Jordan,  and the  State of  Israel have signed a  Memorandum of  Understanding (MoU)  at the United  Nations  Climate  Change Conference  (COP 27)  to advance clean energy and sustainable water desalination projects announced last year. The MoU relates to Project Prosperity, which has two components: Prosperity Green and Prosperity Blue.  Prosperity Green includes a 600-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic plant, complemented with electric storage, which will be built in Jordan and produce clean energy for export to Israel. Prosperity Blue is a sustainable water desalination program, located in Israel, to export to Jordan 200 million cubic meters of potable water per annum. The MoU was signed in the presence of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change; and John Kerry, United State especial Presidential Envoy for Climate. The agreement was signed by Mariam Al Mheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and the Environment; Mohammad Al Najjar, Jordan’s Minister of Water and Irrigation, and Esawi Frej, Israel’s Minister of Regional Cooperation. The three countries signed an initial Declaration of Intent to explore the feasibility of both projects at the Dubai Expo in the UAE in November 2021. As per the MoU, feasibility studies for each of the projects have been ongoing and the parties affirm that both Prosperity Green and Prosperity Blue have positive potential prospects. The UAE, Jordan, and Israel will continue engaging to develop the necessary implementation plans in time for COP 28, which is to be held in the UAE next November. Project Prosperity was proposed to help address some of the challenges posed by climate change on water and energy security in the Middle East, and to promote renewable energy, sustainable water supply, and stability in the region.  ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/204/israel-announced-a-plan-to-optimise-agricultural.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/204/israel-announced-a-plan-to-optimise-agricultural.html Thu, 17 Nov 2022 16:13:45 +0530 The cost of the project is 17 million shekels (about $5 million), including more than 130 pilot programmes. Israel announced a plan to optimise agricultural land use by integrating clean solar electricity generation. The cost of the project is 17 million shekels (about $5 million), including more than 130 pilot programmes, which will be spread over a total area of about 2 square km, Israel’s Energy and Agriculture Ministry announced.   The programmes will include facility deployment for solar power generation in agricultural land throughout Israel, using different technologies and crops. The project includes research and development, for examining the effects of solar power generation on agricultural production. The government has decided to increase the target for electricity production from renewable energies in Israel to 30 per cent by 2030 while maintaining the continued output of profitable agricultural produce and optimising the use of agricultural land. The transition to clean electricity generation is to deal with the climate crisis, promote sustainable agriculture, and enable an additional source of income for Israeli farmers. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/191/egypts-gafi-receives-unctads-award-for-promoting-sustainable-investment-in-agribusiness.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/191/egypts-gafi-receives-unctads-award-for-promoting-sustainable-investment-in-agribusiness.html Wed, 16 Nov 2022 10:59:39 +0530 GAFI received the award for facilitating the Canal Sugar Company, a joint venture between investors in the sugar industry from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has awarded investment promotion agencies (IPAs) from, Egypt, Brazil, and Lesotho for excellence in promoting sustainable investment in agriculture, contributing to food security and development. Egypt’s General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) received the award for facilitating the Canal Sugar Company, a joint venture between investors in the sugar industry from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. The project is in line with Egypt’s 2030 sustainable development vision to achieve food security while adapting to climate change using smart agriculture systems. The project is expected to create 50,000 jobs and aims to make Egypt self-sufficient in sugar production. It includes a training academy for local farmers to help them increase their yields and minimize the use of water and fertilizers. The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency received the award for its Scale Up programme designed to attract international tech companies by providing business services and finance opportunities. The programme carried out in partnership with Israel Trade and Investment, the Japan External Trade Organization and Enterprise Singapore has facilitated the establishment of 15 companies in Brazil. The Lesotho National Development Corporation won the award for its initiative to launch the Maluti Fresh Market Produce, a one-stop marketing and product handling facility. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/186/icl-posts-net-income-of-633-million-in-q3-fy22-23.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/186/icl-posts-net-income-of-633-million-in-q3-fy22-23.html Tue, 15 Nov 2022 15:48:12 +0530 Company’s consolidated sales of $2,519 million were up 41 per cent year-over-year versus $1,790 million. Israel based leading global specialty minerals company, ICL reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022. Consolidated sales of $2,519 million were up 41 per cent year-over-year versus $1,790 million. Operating income of $935 million was up 191 per cent versus $321 million, while adjusted operating income of $928 million was up 195 per cent versus $315 million. Net income of $633 million was up 181 per cent, while adjusted net income of $628 million was up 192 per cent. Adjusted EBITDA of $1,049 million was up 139 per cent versus $438 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 41.6 per cent was up versus 24 per cent. Earnings per share of $0.49 were up 188 per cent versus $0.17. Once again, ICL’s focus on long-term specialties solutions benefitted the company, as did additional upside from commodity prices, which began to ease following record-setting rates in the first half of the year. “ICL delivered another quarter of record results, with record third quarter and year-to-date sales, operating income, EBITDA, operating cash flow and net profit, as well as a new production record at our Dead Sea site and year-to-date records for free cash flow and EPS. All three of our specialties businesses delivered record third quarter results, even with shifts in demand and continued global supply chain challenges,” said Raviv Zoller, president and CEO of ICL. “Our third quarter results reinforce our recent investor day message, which stressed our commitment to growing our leadership position across our differentiated businesses, as these represent significant long-term opportunities for ICL to deliver sustainable shareholder value.” ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/178/orbias-precision-agriculture-business-netafim-reveals-first-carbon-credits-initiative-for-global-rice-growers-at-cop27.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/178/orbias-precision-agriculture-business-netafim-reveals-first-carbon-credits-initiative-for-global-rice-growers-at-cop27.html Fri, 11 Nov 2022 16:39:22 +0530 The first project for this program is located at the LaFagiana Farm in Venice, Italy. Netafim an Orbia business and a global leader in precision agriculture solutions announced the first-ever carbon credit program for drip-irrigated rice. The aim of this inaugural program is to dramatically reduce methane emissions from rice cultivation to almost zero while providing additional long-term income to growers. Rice is the most prolific source of sustenance worldwide, approximately accounting for 21per cent of global per capita caloric intake, and 27 per cent per capita caloric intake in developing countries. A staple for more than half of the world's population, rice cultivation uses 30-40 per cent of the world's annual consumption of freshwater while contributing to over 10 per cent of the world's methane emissions.     With a history dating back to the 1960s, Israel is the pioneer of drip irrigation, Netafim has developed the end-to-end irrigation technology to revolutionize rice farming. For over 15 years, Netafim has been conducting research trials to create a sustainable approach to the crop's cultivation and a viable and resource-efficient alternative to traditional growing methods. As compared to conventional rice paddy farming, Netafim's drip irrigation technology out-produces paddy cultivation while using 70 per cent less water, 30 per cent less fertilizer, and 36 per cent less energy while reducing methane emissions to nearly zero and arsenic uptake by up to 90 per cent. With Netafim's innovation, carbon credits serve an important role in financially assisting farmers in adopting sustainable or regenerative agricultural practices that reduce or sequester emissions, with each credit representing one ton of CO2 equivalent emissions. "Netafim's carbon credit program is a pioneering example of our company's commitment to solving for global food security and economic enablement while contributing to a healthy planet. Through this program, we are challenging 5,000-year-old assumptions about rice farming and demonstrating better, cleaner and more productive ways to sustain and advance lives around the world, by the billions." Said Sameer Bharadwaj, CEO of Orbia, "If just 10 per cent of paddy rice farmers switch to drip, the drop in emissions will be equivalent to taking 40 million cars off the road," said Gaby Miodownik, Orbia's Executive Vice President & President, Precision Agriculture (Netafim). "This program marks the first time a carbon credit is being generated based on the application of irrigation technology. The first project for this program is located at the LaFagiana Farm in Venice, Italy and will be registered with Verra. The carbon credits program will be available to farmers around the world interested in regenerative agriculture practices beginning in 2023. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/163/chinese-company-to-export-mushrooms-to-israel.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/163/chinese-company-to-export-mushrooms-to-israel.html Thu, 10 Nov 2022 14:35:12 +0530 The company will export the Shiitake mushrooms and black fungus to Israel. Farmmi, Inc. an agricultural products supplier in China, announced the receipt of a high-volume order for its popular dried Shiitake mushrooms and black fungus. The company will export the Shiitake mushrooms and black fungus to Israel. Yefang Zhang, Farmmi's Chairwoman and CEO, commented "Israel continues to lead as one of the largest global health and wellness foods markets. With more of the population aware of the direct relationship between what we consume and our health, Farmmi is well positioned as an attractive supplier well-positioned on for high-quality agriculture products gives us a competitive advantage, which we continue to leverage in our drive to increase profitable sales." Farmmi, Inc. established in 1998, Farmmi Inc is an agricultural products supplier, processor and retailer of edible mushrooms like Shiitake and Mu Er, as well as other agricultural products. In addition to its offline sales, Farmmi sells its products direct-to-consumer. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/144/indo-israel-agriculture-project-to-establish-centres-of-excellence-in-jk.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/144/indo-israel-agriculture-project-to-establish-centres-of-excellence-in-jk.html Mon, 07 Nov 2022 15:29:16 +0530 Indo-Israel Agriculture Project (IIAP) establishing proposed Centres of Excellence (CoE) in Jammu and Kashmir. Under the Agriculture Attache MASHAV (Israel’s agency for international Development Cooperation) at the Embassy of Israel in India, centres are going to develop, via the establishment of Centres of Excellence IIAP aims to introduce crop diversity, increase productivity and optimise water use efficiency. MASHAV will guide the CoE and transfer Israeli knowledge into the IIAP. CoE will comprise nursery management, best practices cultivation techniques, irrigation, and fertigation. The region has the potential to produce vegetables and fruits by using modern technology for which MSHAV is ready to extend guidance and support in the form of expertise and technical know-how to the farmers and the department alike. MASHAV is leading the IIAP from the strategic and tactical aspect while providing professional leadership during the planning and executing phase, transfer of knowledge and agro-technology. MASHAV is ready to establish two centres one each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions for which Detailed Project Report would be prepared in consultation with the Agriculture Department.   India and Israel have strategic cooperation on the Government-to-Government level in the field of agriculture. Centres will establish under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme with authorizing, budgeting and monitoring the project while State governments allocate staff, land and another budget. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/34/bvt-announces-its-first-stone-fruit-trial-in-the-us-pacific-northwest.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/69/34/bvt-announces-its-first-stone-fruit-trial-in-the-us-pacific-northwest.html Thu, 25 Aug 2022 12:09:41 +0530 The trial is being conducted to achieve a proof of concept for greater yield with BVT’s natural precision agriculture system Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. has announced the Company’s first US demonstration trial on stone fruit, with a conventional cherry grower in Washington. The trial began during the mid-April bloom period and will continue through summer harvest. The United States is the world’s second-largest cherry producer, second only to Turkey, (1) with cherries representing the most acreage of all stone fruits. There are an estimated 85,000 acres of sweet cherries in the US, (2) with Washington, California and Oregon growing almost 90 per cent of the country’s total yield. There are an additional 32,000 acres of tart cherries grown in the US, of which 75 per cent are in Michigan. (3)  “This initial stone fruit trial marks BVT’s entry into the important US stone fruit market,” said Ashish Malik, CEO of BVT. “In addition to cherries, stone fruits include peaches, nectarines, plums, prunes, and apricots, all grown on more than 270,000 acres(4) of farmland in the US. This is a very attractive crop grouping for BVT because of their high use of paid pollination hives, with over 75% of cherry acres (5) using pollination services.” The trial is being conducted to achieve a proof of concept for greater yield with BVT’s natural precision agriculture system. It uses BVT’s proprietary Vectorite™ with CR-7 (Clonostachys rosea CR-7) biological fungicide, applied through the process of bee vectoring directly onto cherry blooms.  “Pollination is a vital element of stone fruit production,” said Ian Collinson, Sales Manager at BVT “When a cherry grows, it’s because a bee pollinated a flower. So why not have those bees do double duty and carry biological products for disease control and plant health to those flowers at the same time?” Now that the bloom period is over, the crop is developing on the trees. Yield data will be available once crops are harvested in late spring and into summer. ]]>