Israel is committed to using technology to solve the problem of eating

2013/10/17 14:31:00 International Online

content Summary in the face of population growth, climate change, arable land reduction and other factors, Israel continues to adhere to agricultural innovation, through in-depth scientific research on crop genes, the use of biotechnology, advanced breeding methods and agricultural chemistry to improve plant traits, with science and technology to solve the problem of eating.

At a time when population growth, climate change, and the reduction of arable land have made coping with food shortages an important challenge for agriculture around the world, Israel, which has 60% of its land area in desert areas, continues to insist. agricultural innovation use technology to solve the problem of eating.

The Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is the largest agricultural research organization in Israel, where more than 70 percent of all agricultural research in Israel is conducted. Dr. Assaf Sagif is in charge of the transformation and application of agricultural science and technology at ARO. He said that the transformation and application of agricultural science and technology is the result of multi-party interaction and cooperation.

"Our work has always been closely linked to the development of agriculture. We share data in agricultural production, and our extension agencies provide free information support to Israeli farmers. At the same time, we are also committed to rural development."

ARO has made remarkable achievements in many fields such as animal science, plant science, crop post-harvest treatment and agricultural engineering, and has cooperated with many countries in agriculture. Sagif said that in the past year and a half, they have begun to carry out large-scale cooperation with the Chinese government. China is very interested in Israel's research results in fruit trees and vegetable cultivation, as well as agricultural engineering and irrigation technology.

"We have received 12 delegations from different provinces and regions in China. We have consulted on the licensing of some agricultural technologies and are looking for strategic partners in China for research and commercialization in different agricultural fields."

in addition to government-level support for agriculture, many Israeli entrepreneurs have also recognized the impact of technology on agriculture. Evogene is a world-leading plant genetic research company in Israel. Ido Dole, the company's director of commercial development, said that under the influence of dwindling land and water resources and climate change, people are facing the challenge of getting more output with less input.

"We are committed to improving plant traits. On the one hand, we include research on how to increase the yield of crops. On the other hand, we also include how to make crops more effective against diseases and insect pests. Of course, we also improve the quality of crops and make them have more excellent characteristics."

dole said that the Evogene through in-depth scientific research on crop genes, the use of biotechnology, advanced breeding methods and agricultural chemistry to improve plant traits. The company is currently working with Beijing Dabei Agricultural Technology Group on a rice project.

For innovative companies that are committed to the development of agricultural science and technology, Israel, the "country of entrepreneurship", also provides them with a good entrepreneurial environment. The government provides financial support for entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs will repay the government with funds after they succeed. If the business fails, they do not need to repay the funds. In addition, entrepreneurs get help from seed futures investors.

The Israel Trendlines Group is committed to creating, investing in and nurturing innovative medical and agricultural companies. The company invests primarily through the Israeli government-chartered business incubator platform, which creates 8 to 10 new companies per year.

Trendlines Chairman and CEO Steve Rhodes said that agricultural technology is a very important investment area with a huge market because people all over the world have to eat.

"At present, we are not providing enough food for all, and about one billion people in the world are still hungry. The problems we are facing now are exacerbated by climate change, water shortages and the loss of arable land. To feed these people and the new population in the future, we must rely on technology."

salai Kemp, Trendlines's commercial development manager in charge of agricultural science and technology investment, said the company began working on agricultural science and technology investment two and a half years ago.

"Most of what we invest in is Israeli technology, but it's not limited to Israel. We have a lot of technology to choose from in terms of investment, but we still actively look for projects to invest in. Some entrepreneurs may be farmers who have good ideas but don't know how to implement them, and we need to help them set up a business plan, apply to the government for funding, and build a business from scratch."

Trendlines just launched investment promotion activities in China in August 2013, hoping to attract Chinese entrepreneurs to invest in agricultural science and technology.

Citation from Science and Technology World Network http://www.twwtn.com/Agriculture/53_205838.html

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