To set up an accelerator to mentor agritech entrepreneurs, Israel’s agricultural group Yakhin is joining forces with Tech for Good, a nonprofit organization that promotes the use of technology for social and environmental causes. The idea is to help develop new solutions that have the potential to transform agriculture in Israel and across the globe.
The two organizations said in a statement that, the new accelerator, called Yakhin Impact, will provide selected startups that work toward sustainable development access to agricultural experts, agronomists, technology and marketing professionals, as well as to farming lands, legal and financial consulting, work spaces, and introduction to Israeli and foreign investors.
Co-founder and co-CEO of Tech for Good, Omri Boral said, “We see a growing demand for new, creative agricultural solutions that will make food in general and healthy food in particular accessible all over the world. We believe Israeli technologists can fulfil this demand.”
Israel is known globally for the inroads it has made in agriculture since its early days of existence. Ever since, the country has maintained its agricultural expertise, with research and development in universities and institutes producing strains of cherry tomatoes, drought-resistant cucumbers and heat-tolerant tomatoes, among others.
With the world forecast to have a population of about 10 billion by 2050, to produce better and more resistant crops and to improve the health of existing produce, overall demand for food will jump, and policy makers, farmers and investors are looking to new agriculture technologies.
Tech for Good is an international organization that helps entrepreneurs solve social and environmental issues, while making making a profit from the activity. Tech for Good offers select startups mentoring programs, experts, access to capital and potential strategic partners, as well as access to Tech for Good’s international network. the organization said that, Tech for Good’s alumni in Israel comprise 17 active startups that raised more than $24 million in the past two years.
Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/
