Utilizing Innovative Tech from Israel: Enhancing Food Security Across the Globe
Embrace the fresh bounty of today as we celebrate National Ag Day in the U.S., highlighting the vital role agriculture plays in our daily lives. Yet, regrettably, this abundance doesn't reach millions grappling with hunger, malnutrition, and a depleted food supply worldwide. To combat this issue, a plethora of startups are making waves, particularly in Israel—known for its ingenious innovations despite harsh conditions.
By the end of the coming decade, 582 million people might face chronic undernourishment, with Africa being hit hardest. In 2023, a staggering 2.33 billion individuals were moderately or severely food insecure, unable to consistently access adequate food. Obesity is a growing concern, with 13.1% of adults globally considered obese—a number that continues to escalate.
Unsustainable agricultural practices, coupled with environmental degradation and climate change, exacerbate these challenges. climate-induced droughts and rising temperatures contribute to reduced crop yields and increased plant, livestock, and fish diseases. In addition, about one-third of the global food production is wasted annually, further aggravating the situation.
Israeli startups are revolutionizing the entire food supply chain, from farm to table. Leveraging expertise in data collection, AI and machine learning, computer vision, logistics, and agricultural sciences, they are driving innovative solutions that boost agricultural productivity, transform farming practices, enhance food preservation, improve nutrition, decrease environmental impact, and foster sustainability and resilience.
Take, for instance, Tevel—an Israeli startup specializing in robotics—which addresses the growing agricultural labor shortage. Its flying robots can precisely pick fruit, detect ripeness, and identify diseases, working efficiently in a variety of climates and locations. Meanwhile, N-Drip is focusing on water conservation by transforming flood-irrigated fields into gravity-powered drip irrigation systems, significantly saving water and resources.
CropX offers a farm management platform integrating various data sources to optimize irrigation, fertilizer usage, and crop yields while minimizing waste. Over time, they've demonstrated remarkable results, saving 50% of water, 20% of agrochemicals, and producing over 20% yield increases across 80 diverse crops. Providing pollination-as-a-service to growers, BeeWise has reduced bee mortality by an impressive 80%, ensuring the health of essential pollinators and consequently boosting food production.
Cowpea, a highly adaptable legume, has traditionally been limited in large-scale production. PeaMAX, a gene-edited cowpea, developed by BetterSeeds, received the USDA's approval for commercialization. They are also pioneering a delivery technology that amalgamates CRISPR technology with crops to enhance their nutritional value and yields, all without introducing foreign genetic material. Lastly, Oshi is pioneering the development of plant-based whole-cut salmon fillets using a reverse-engineering approach that leverages plant-based materials to mimic real salmon's molecular structure.
"In Israel," says Alon Turkaspa, Director of Global Partnerships at Startup Nation Central, "we are redefining resilience, sustainability, and the very way humanity nourishes itself." As the challenges in the agricultural sector continue to grow, it's inspiring to see how Israeli startups are tackling these issues with innovative solutions.
- In the face of a cycle-threatening food crisis, where over 582 million people might be chronically undernourished by the end of the coming decade, Israeli startups are rising to the challenge by integrating advanced technologies to boost agricultural productivity and food security.
- By 2023, 2.33 billion individuals were moderately or severely food insecure globally, a number that only continues to rise with the growing concerns of obesity. The agricultural startup Tevel, specializing in robotics, aims to address the agricultural labor shortage by developing flying robots capable of precisely picking fruit, detecting ripeness, and identifying diseases.
- To combat the overexploitation of resources in agriculture, startups like N-Drip in Israel are focusing on water conservation by transforming flood-irrigated fields into gravity-powered drip irrigation systems, significantly saving water and resources, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient food supply chain.
