Israel is a world leader in agro-technology. A big reason for this is the country’s shortage of water and arable land, which has led to the development of methods, technologies and products that address these challenges.

A significant proportion of scientific research in Israel focuses on agro-technology, providing the foundation for start-up companies in this field.

Agritech 2012 offers a window through which the Israeli agro-technology industry may be viewed close up. This is the 18th Agritech exhibition, which is held every three years. The main subjects for this year’s exhibition include irrigation, water management, greenhouses, and the dairy industry. For the first time, one of the pavilions is dedicated to agricultural innovation and will display Israeli innovations and developments in the field.

Agritech has become a tradition for farmers as well as decision-makers in the field of agriculture. At the last Agritech exhibition, held in 2009, about 4,200 visitors came from all over the world.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which sees as one of its primary goals the promotion of Israel’s economy through its envoys abroad and its staff at the home office, plays a major part in Agritech 2012. In keeping with its slogan, “diplomacy in the service of the Israeli economy,” the Foreign Ministry is taking care of the 40 foreign VIP visitors to Agritech, including a prime minister, ministers of agriculture, and other government ministers whose jobs are connected to agriculture in some way.

During the exhibition, MASHAV will convene a forum for visiting ministers titled, “Global challenges in agriculture”. In addition, Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon will represent the Foreign Ministry at the opening ceremony, which will take place at the Tel Aviv Trade Fairs and Convention Center on Tuesday morning, 15 May, and will meet with senior officials from abroad who have come to see the exhibition.

 

In conjuction with the Israel Export Institute, the Foreign Ministry organized a business seminar which focused on the commercial opportunities in the newly established state of South Sudan, with the participation of the South Sudanese Minister of Agriculture Betty Ogwaro, who is attending the Agritech exhibition.

A central event marking 20 years of Israel-India diplomatic relations, sponsored by the Ministry and the Israel Export Institute, is devoted to agriculture, one of the cornerstones of these relations. Among the participants – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Orit Noked, Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon, and the agriculture ministers of the Indian states of Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. The event will feature the Israeli-Indian center of excellence in Haryana, as well as two panels on water and post-harvest treatment.