ICL has unveiled a cutting-edge new biological research and development centre aimed at developing groundbreaking products to improve global food security and sustainability. Equipped with the latest technologies and supported by a $2.5m (£2.05m) investment, the centre will enhance crop resilience, increase yields, and reduce farming’s environmental impact. “As scientific understanding evolves, farming is rapidly moving from having a chemical focus to a new biological era,” says Dr Elinor Erez, vice president of research and development at ICL Growing Solutions. Biological formulations can naturally enhance crop health and productivity, improve nutrient-use efficiencies, tackle pests and diseases, and provide resilience against weather extremes.
Strategically located in Israel’s biological innovation hub in Ness Ziona, the centre benefits from proximity to world-class institutions, including the Weizmann Institute and Hebrew University’s faculty of agriculture, as well as numerous bio-ag start-ups. It features advanced laboratories, controlled growth chambers, and micro-organism cultivation capabilities. “The new centre underscores ICL’s unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainability, and global food security by focusing on pioneering biological solutions for agriculture,” adds Dr Erez. And it further strengthens ICL’s leadership in the sector, following the strategic acquisition earlier this year of Nitro 1000, a leading manufacturer of biological products in Brazil.
The facility is part of ICL’s global network of 13 R&D centres, operating with start-up-style agility, while leveraging the company’s global network of over 500 agronomists to ensure rapid, field-relevant advancements. Its innovative solutions will empower farmers worldwide with smarter, more sustainable agricultural practices. “This marks a bold step forward in transforming global agriculture,” says Dr Erez. “By blending science, technology, and unmatched agronomic expertise, we’re delivering solutions that strengthen global food security while driving sustainability to the forefront of farming”.
