Good News Israel presents how to grow crops anywhere; new ways to keep produce fresh and much more.

By: Michael Ordman

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

You can grow rice on a mountain

35,000 attended Agritech 2015 in Tel Aviv, including 200 Gaza farmers. Israel’s Netafim installed the biggest agricultural wall in Israel to demonstrate how its drip-irrigation systems can help grow crops anywhere – even vertically. Israel’s flux showed its system for vertical hydroponics.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/194783#.VUGfU_ApqSo
http://www.greenprophet.com/2015/04/agritech-israel-drought-flux/
http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/We-need-free-trade-Gazan-farmers-representative-says-at-Tel-Aviv-agricultural-fair-400766

AgriVest 2015

Israeli agritech startups pitched their technologies at the 3rd International AgriVest Conference held at the Weizmann Institute of Science on 27th April. It featured a startup competition, won by Israel’s DouxMatok for its development of sweeter sugar that reduces the amount of sugar required in foods.
http://trendlines.com/agritech-investment-event-agrivest-2015/
http://www.douxmatok.com/
http://www.greenprophet.com/2015/04/agmania-in-the-land-of-milk-and-honey/

Keeping produce fresh

A new technique developed by Hebrew University researchers that extend the life of vegetables for weeks without refrigeration could help break the cycle of poverty among rural farmers in the developing world. The technology was on display at Agritech 2015.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/new-solution-to-keep-veggies-fresh-for-a-month-sans-fridge/

India’s smart cities

Chief Minister of India’s Maharashtra state, Devendra Fadnavis, was so impressed with Israel’s smart city Tel Aviv that he will partner with Israel to make six smart cities in his state.
http://indianexpress.com/article/business/business-others/tel-aviv-model-proposed-for-6-maharashtra-cities/

Maharashtra’s Chief Minister also requested Israeli help to stem the suicide rate of the state’s farmers, which amounted to nearly 1,200 in the first 3 months of 2015. http://zeenews.india.com/news/maharashtra/pilot-project-in-two-maharashtra-districts-to-combat-agrarian-crisis-fadnavis_1587903.html
http://www.vishwagujarat.com/politics/israel-to-help-reduce-farmer-suicides-fadnavis/

Israeli technology saves lives in Nepal

Israeli aid workers in Nepal are using innovative Israeli products such as the Emergency bandage, the Pocket BVM ventilator and the NowForce Life Compass.
http://www.israel21c.org/headlines/israeli-innovations-save-lives-in-nepal/

Taiwan & Israel sign R&D agreement

Taiwan and Israel signed the Taiwan and Israel Industrial Research and Development Cooperation Agreement. It will foster research programs between Taiwan and Israel in the future, creating new innovative research potential between the two countries.
http://investtaiwan.nat.gov.tw/eng/news_display.jsp?newsid=3823

French scientists study Israeli robotics

Eight scientists from France attended the HCST Medical Robotics symposium in Tel Aviv on 23rd March. The following day they visited Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Universities to see Israeli robotic devices under development.
http://www.israelscienceinfo.com/en/hightech/france-israel-collaborations-letude-suite-au-symposium-robotique-medicale-reuni-75-experts-tel-aviv/

Now imagine it smaller

10 Israeli companies showcased at Imaginenano 2015 in Bilbau Spain, Europe’s largest nanotechnology conference. Two, Melodea and Valentis, are using cellulose nanocrystals to make a variety of groundbreaking products out of wood pulp sludge and other plant-derived waste.
http://www.israel21c.org/headlines/imagine-it-and-now-imagine-it-smaller/

Meanwhile, see how Technion scientists engraved the 1.2 million letters of the Hebrew Bible on a microscopic wafer of gold.

Proving that you are a good driver

Scientists at Israel’s Ben Gurion University have developed an app that records if you break the speed limit, swerve, stop short, or switch lanes too often. Insurance companies could use the information to reward good drivers and “punish” bad ones.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/big-brother-app-knows-all-tells-all-on-driver-behavior/

Another 3D printed car

Israeli startup Massivit is using Autodesk’s “Spark” to print a full-sized car. The Strati is billed as the world’s first car where all the non-mechanical components have been produced on a 3D printer. The Strati was designed and developed by US-based Local Motors.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-company-to-produce-3d-printed-automobile/

Click here for all of this week’s Good News from Israel.

Send Passover Packages to Needy Israeli Soldiers - Bring Them Joy!

We are honored to thank the young men and women of the IDF who risk their lives every day to protect the citizens of Israel. Since October 7th, soldiers have been on the battlefield for months - many are hoping to come home for Passover.

Join us in sending Passover food packages (and personal notes) to Israeli soldiers and their families.

Many soldiers spend the Passover holiday with needy families back home. The soldiers greatly appreciate your love and concern. Bring them Passover joy!

CLICK HERE TO SEND YOUR PACKAGE AND NOTE TO ISRAELI SOLDIERS!