July 17, 2024

 

Israeli companies at Makati City, Philippines event to introduce smart agri tech to local industry players

 

 

Eleven Israeli companies are looking to sell and introduce smart agriculture technologies to the Philippines.

 

At the Israel Agricultural-Tech Roadshow in Makati City, the Philippines, on July 11, about 100 Philippine-based firms and agri-tech startups joined a business-to-business session with the Israeli companies.

 

"Some of the companies that have been presenting here today have been here for many years already — so there's a wide range of companies, but some of them are really new to the market and looking for new opportunities as part of their global expansion," said Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss in an interview.

 

The technologies introduced at the roadshow were CropX's farm management systems, which uses an app capable of tracking multiple farms; Amiad's automatic, self-cleaning water treatment and filtration solutions; and Foresight's 3D and multi-camera-based driver assistance systems for agricultural machineries, among others.

 

The other Israeli firms that presented their innovations and products were Baccara, AgroSheriff's Agritech, LR Group member Innovative Agro Industry, Gat Fertilizers, Netafim, Reshef Aviation, Plasson Livestock, and Metzer.

 

Fluss said Israel would work closely with the Philippines in forging possible partnerships, especially on agriculture, describing the sector as a "top priority and a key component" to the two states' bilateral relations.

 

"Knowing that Israel is a leader in innovation and in agriculture sector, we want to share this in order really to address a challenge, and to share this ready experience where we took a major challenge of a country (Israel) which more than 50% is actually a desert, and turned this challenge to an opportunity for using innovation," Fluss added.

 

Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Jerome Oliveros said the agency is hoping to craft with the embassy a "tailor-fit customised programme" on agriculture using Israeli technology.

 

"The partnership between Israel and the Philippines serves as a prime example of the power of collaboration," he said. "Israel's renowned expertise in agricultural technology, combined with the Philippines' rich biodiversity and agricultural potential, creates a synergy that can yield remarkable results."

 

Asked if the DA is open to procuring any of the Israeli technologies, Oliveros said the DA would consider it.

 

Oliveros added that Manila recognises the need to fund research and development in the agri-tech sector, and reaffirmed the government's commitment to increasing public investment in this area.

 

- PNA