Promoting Arid Land Agribusiness

One of The Negev Foundation's guiding principles is to encourage Negev economic self-sufficiency by replacing non-profit funding with income derived through business ventures. In one of its most important accomplishments, The Negev Foundation, through its for-profit affiliate, Desert Sweet Technologies, Inc., successfully solicited the interest of several major U.S. vegetable and fruit growers and linked U.S. agribusiness with Negev research facilities.

The Negev Foundation initiated dialogue with several major agribusiness entities, including Agro Power Development Inc., the largest grower of hothouse tomatoes in the U.S., and Chiquita Brands International. A group of business leaders representing these companies visited the Ramat Negev facilities. The Negev Foundation organized this mission and funded on-site seminars and visits to Negev commercial sites.

Grow Tech Finance and Development, Ltd., an Israeli holding company, seeks to commercialize Israeli agribusiness technologies. It has formed Grow Tech Research Development Initiatives, Ltd, (Grow Tech RDI), to identify new technology-based business opportunities for Grow Tech companies, provide financial and business management assistance, and coordinate governmental relationships. The Negev Foundation and Grow Tech RDI share interests in the Negev Desert.

RNDARC can offer Grow Tech greater access to Israeli researchers, field-testing, interested agribusiness and non-profit partners. The Negev Foundation is encouraging its Negev grantees, in turn, to look to Grow Tech RDI as a marketing arm for their technology.