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MARKETING AND EXPORTING FEEDER CALVES TO ISRAEL
Poland discovered
a strain of BSE in
their bull calves in 2002, forcing
Israel to find a different source
for the country’s
meat and dairy needs. Following a
Negev Foundation study to determine the feasibility
of international
trade, Israel chose to pursue Ohio
as a new source for bull calves. The Ohio-Israel Agricultural
Initiative received a Federal-State Marketing Improvement
Program (FSMIP) grant which funded a Negev Foundation Ohio-Israel
Agricultural Initiative trade mission that sent ten OH
cattle producers, Ohio Department of Agriculture, and Ohio
State University representatives to Israel.
The mission met with Dr. Oded
Nir (Director of
Veterinary Services, Israel Ministry
of Agriculture), U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer, ranching
pioneer Yossi Rosenberg, retired Israel Defense Forces
General Shimon Kahner (now a leading successful rancher),
Yoram Karin (General Manager of Tnuva Beef), Minister of
Agriculture Mr. Yisrael Katz, Mr. Shmulik Rifman (Chairman
of Ramat Negev Regional Council), Chaim Dayan (Chairman
of Cattlemen and Beef Breeders Association), numerous cattle
experts and government officials.
The trade mission group
also met with potential
purchasing agents, learned Israeli
protocol for shipping cattle, examined animal quarantine-holding
facilities, visited feedlot operations, studied kosher
requirements, toured processing facilities, supermarkets,
and explored which kind of breeds would be traded. Trade
mission members also visited Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s
cattle ranch Havat
HaShkmim, or Sycamore Hill, which recently produced a national
prize-winning bull.
The Ohio-Israel Agricultural Initiative
trade mission produced
a new market for Ohio cattlemen.
Israel imports over 100K feeder calves per year. Export
of Ohio feeder calves to Israel provides for Israel market
needs and ensures Israel acquires healthy, quality herds.
BIO-AGRICULTURE SECURITY
The challenge of
combating
terrorism
is a reality. Possible attacks on a nation’s
essential systems (transportation, power, etc.)
make international and domestic security a top
priority. Israel has already developed cutting-edge
technological advancements in the protection of
its food, agricultural structures, and crops. Israeli
company Ofakim Hi-Tech Ventures funds scientific
and medical technology research and development.
Ofakim is associated with the Israeli Ministry
of Industry, Trade, and Labor. In the past two
years, Ofakim scientists have developed a unique
pathogen detecting device called MedLite. It has
the technology to detect every known pathogen in
a single test and the ability to determine a pathogen’s
individual antibiotic resistance. Speed and accuracy
of detection is a powerful tool in the event a
bio-terrorism attack occurs.
Recently, The Negev
Foundation coordinated a meeting
between employees of
Ofakim and Ohio State University
scientists. The two groups are negotiating a collaboration
on future projects as new information becomes available.
In the near future, Ohio-Israel Agricultural Initiative
plans to host an international Bio-Agriculture Security
workshop in Ohio. The workshop will be a joint operation
between the U.S. and Israel governments.
ISRAELI SOYBEAN PROCESSING COMPANY
Solbar Industries Ltd. represents the future of the food technology industry. Headquartered in Ashdod Israel, Solbar is a leader in the development of specialty soy products in the food and cosmetic industries.
Solbar products demonstrate how science can enrich food
products and supplements to contribute to better nutrition
and health. Solbar produces soybean proteins that have
been discovered as health treatments for diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and other illnesses. Solbar creates nutritional soyfoods and medical supplements. The company also manufactures a line of soy-based therapeutic cosmetics. The products are entirely natural, free of all synthetic elements, and have shown beneficial effects superior to other cosmetics.
The Negev Foundation has made a concentrated effort to persuade
Solbar Industries Ltd. to establish an Ohio-based plant.
A Solbar Ohio plant would employ about 50 people initially,
and increase the amount of soybeans bought from Ohio farmers.
AQUACULTURE
Aquaculture
refers to any farm based system that
produces
fish,
seaweed, or shellfish. Using ponds and
specialized
tanks, farmers have made aquaculture
a rapidly
growing Ohio and Israel industry. Forty
percent of Ohio’s present aquaculture
operations are less than five years old,
most are family owned, and many are not
the farm’s
primary source of income. Despite these
factors, aquaculture has become a million
dollar Ohio industry that should expand
quickly, as the Midwest produces just
2% of the fresh and salt water fish it
consumes.
Severe
water limitations in Israel’s Negev
make aquaculture a difficult but necessary operation,
one that must be highly efficient in using and recycling
water. In response to this challenge, exceptional water
re-circulation systems have been developed. Israeli farmers
have managed to produce a variety of fish
in ponds, greenhouses, and the sea. In fact, aquaculture
now accounts for 3% of Israel’s total agricultural
production.
Through
the Ohio-Israel Agricultural
Initiative,
The Negev Foundation
coordinates research ventures in this
new and exciting
field. Future plans include building a demonstrative
aquaculture greenhouse
in conjunction
with Ohio
State University Research and Development
Center.
BINATIONAL AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUND (BARD)
BARD is a well established organization
that funds international
science studies. Since 1978, the American branch of
BARD has sponsored grants for research programs, postdoctoral
fellowships, and international workshops. The organization
has dispensed 200 million dollars for its programs
and created over 5,000 jobs.
After investigating successful
BARD
programs in other states, The Negev Foundation is seeking
to secure funding for an OH-Israel BARD program for the
next fiscal year. The Negev Foundation has determined research
priorities. Israel and Ohio will each contribute half of
the projected budget. Potential projects include studies
on virology, macrobrachium cultures, and turf grass and
insects.
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOPS
In order to promote the exchange
of agricultural technology and ideas, The Negev Foundation
is directing the Ohio-Israel Agricultural Initiative
to coordinate international workshops where researchers,
farmers, businessmen, and government officials can
meet face to face. This sharing of information fosters
growth in many areas of agriculture. The Ohio-Israel
Agricultural Initiative’s most recent workshop
took place at the Ohio Farm Science Review (September
21-23, 2004). (See below)
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Ohio State University and Israeli
agriculture experts are seeking U.S. assistance for
Iraq’s agriculture reconstruction and development.
The Ohio-Israel Agriculture Initiative hopes to assist
these experts with their efforts and encourage Israel’s
participation. The groups are also pursuing implementing
the drip irrigation technique in Armenia. Armenian
officials are hoping to generate a long-term drip irrigation
project with the help of Israel manufacturers and Ohio
State University experts.
FARM SCIENCE REVIEW 2004
The Negev Foundation sponsored an
exhibit of Israeli
agriculture technology—a first—at
Ohio State University’s 2004 Farm Science Review,
at Ohio State’s Molly Caren Agricultural Center
outside Columbus
(September 21-23). Representatives from Israeli irrigation,
fertigation (drip fertilizing), pesticide, aquaculture
and software companies displayed and demonstrated equipment,
and provided printed and video information on Israeli
technology and R&D.
Foundation staff sold Halutza
olive
oil, grown and produced in the Negev Desert from orchards
made possible by
Negev Foundation-funded research, and gave out Israeli
flower seeds.
ISRAFOOD-HOTEX EXHIBITION 2004
The Negev Foundation is identifying
Ohio companies for first-ever participation
in the annual Israfood-Hotex exhibition in Tel Aviv,
Israel (November 21-24, 2004). The foundation is providing
registration assistance and information. With approximately
30,000 food distributors, retailers, wholesalers, restaurants
and hotel representatives expected to attend, Israfood
is the largest event of its kind in the Middle East.
The invitation-only exhibition showcases international
products from dozens of countries and hopes to attract
more American businesses to display their products.
The
U.S.
Embassy is subsidizing most of the cost of participating
in
the event, and is offering Ohio businesses a diplomatic
discount
when shipping displays for Israfood, which will save companies
an additional amount. Because of the favorable currency
exchange rate and free trade agreements between Israel,
America, and Europe, American companies can be more competitively
priced
than other nations when it comes to food distribution. |
