IMPROVATE’s Israel-Africa International Agri-Tech Conference focused on the challenges facing African nations in developing their agricultural sectors and the solutions Israel’s technology and innovation companies have to offer
Ministers, diplomats and senior business representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Gabon and Kenya met with leading Israeli agri-tech companies at the conference held in Tel Aviv and online. Participants discussed the enormous potential of agriculture in Africa and how Israeli companies can help Africa improve yields and efficiency.
Joseph Antoine Kasonga Mukuta, minister of agriculture of the Democratic Republic of Congo, said the DCR has plentiful arable land but could draw on Israel’s experience of creating successful agriculture in challenging conditions in order to improve yields. “If Israel can succeed in agriculture without good land, just think what we can do together with Israeli technology,” he said.
IMPROVATE Founder and Chair Irina Nevzlin, commented, “As I mentioned during the conference, IMPROVATE has a lot to offer. We focus on finding practical solutions rather than problems, and there are many innovative products being developed every minute. Our goal is to make sure that as many people as possible can enjoy their benefits.”
African ambassador to Israel who attended the conference in Tel Aviv invited the Israeli companies to come to Africa. Reta Negu Alemu, ambassador of Ethiopia to Israel, added, “We are telling Israeli investors to come to Africa. We have high agricultural potential, but low productivity.”
Job D. Masima, ambassador of Tanzania, said that Tanzania has a lot of lands, but low production. “We need proper use of seeds, proper use of fertilisation and of irrigation, and we have to look at the issue of post-harvest loss.”
Wol Mayar Ariec, ambassador of South Sudan in Israel, said South Sudan presented huge potential for agricultural investment, in agriculture, livestock, fisheries and forestry.
Israeli technology companies presenting at the conference:
-Metzer, an innovative water management company that develops drip irrigation systems for harsh topography and low-quality soil.
-Agrigo, a specialist in the design and construction of turnkey livestock, greenhouse and aquaculture solutions.
-Keilot, a company that specialises in the assimilation and sale of technologies that provide clean and accessible electricity, water, heating, and energy to farmers and locals who live ‘off the grid’.
-Davik, a leading adhesive solution provider, which has developed an adhesive solution for greenhouses to trap insects; Haifa Group, a pioneering developer of specialty fertilisers to provide balanced and precise plant nutrition.
-HomeBiogas develops and manufactures prefabricated biogas systems for households and small farms, providing access to clean, renewable energy worldwide.
-ISM, an aggregate that supplies environmental solutions to the region, focusing on renewable energy and the establishment of green transportation.
-Saffron-Tech specialises in technological innovation for agriculture. The company can produce a range of crops, in a controlled, economical, and efficient manner, regardless of environmental conditions.
Ronit Hasin Hochman, IMPROVATE CEO, concluded, “We are happy to see a great response from African governments who are joining our conferences to bring Israeli innovation to their countries in order to improve agricultural yields and to provide food security to the population of the continent. Israel companies have developed a diverse range of incredible and creative solutions that can help African countries overcome the challenges they face.”
