Improving Agricultural Cooperation Between the Midwest and the Middle East

In an effort to improve agricultural ties—R & D, technology and agricultural biotech transfer, scientific and marketing exchange—between Ohio and Israel, TerrAqua and the Negev Foundation developed a preliminary overview to help Israeli and Ohio entities and growers better understand the abilities and needs of each, and opportunities for increasing future cooperation.

With that in hand, the Foundation has begun working with government and academic entities and individuals in both regions. Several trade missions and R&D exchanges have taken place, and concrete projects are being developed as a result: exports of Ohio-bred beef calves to Israel, bio-security technology, drip irrigation improvement and others.

Solbar, an Israeli company that is the world’s leading processor of soy protein concentrates and isolates, and soy isoflavones, will be building a new plant, its first outside Israel, in central Ohio.

The Negev Foundation, the Government of Israel, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, USDA and other organizations funded this project.