India–Israel Pact on Sustainable Agricultural Technologies

India and Israel have expanded their long-standing cooperation in agriculture with a new agreement focused on manufacturing and commercialising pheromone-based crop protection technologies. The initiative introduces a joint venture designed to take Indian-developed semiochemical innovations to global markets.

Launch of the Semiophore Joint Venture

The agreement was announced during the valedictory session of the First International Science & Technology Clusters Conference in New Delhi. ATGC Biotech Pvt. Ltd. of India and Luxembourg Industries Ltd. of Israel finalised licensing exchanges to establish Semiophore Ltd., a 50-50 partnership. This marks the first instance of Indian semiochemical technology being produced in Israel.

High-Level Participation and Strategic Importance

Senior representatives from both nations attended the ceremony, including India’s Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood and Israel’s Deputy Chief of Mission Fares Saeb. Officials highlighted that the collaboration deepens bilateral work in food security, climate-resilient agriculture and technology-driven solutions. The agreement was described as a milestone reflecting the global relevance of Indo-Israeli innovation.

Technological Scope and Market Expansion

Semiophore Ltd. will take 18 Indian-developed pheromone technologies to international markets such as Israel, Brazil and the United States. These include ultra-low-dose dispensers, mating disruption platforms and controlled-release systems. The solutions aim to reduce insecticide use by over 80 per cent, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical pesticides.

Exam Oriented Facts

• Semiophore Ltd. is a 50-50 Indo-Israeli agricultural technology venture.
• It commercialises 18 Indian semiochemical crop protection technologies.
• The initiative was announced at the First International S&T Clusters Conference in New Delhi.
• The technologies aim to cut insecticide use by more than 80 per cent.

Strengthening Agricultural Innovation Networks

Officials noted that ATGC Biotech’s participation in Indo-Israel agricultural programmes and Centres of Excellence helped build the foundation for this partnership. The joint venture is expected to expand opportunities for collaborative research, sustainable farming solutions and cross-border deployment of environmentally friendly crop protection systems.