David Songulashvili, Minister of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia, together with Avi Dichter, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of the State of Israel, visited the Volcani Center.
The Volcani Center is Israel’s national agricultural research institute. The Center’s Director, Professor Beni Chefetz, briefed the ministers on the institution’s core principles of operation and ongoing activities.
Founded in 1921, the Volcani Center brings together six research institutes: Plant Sciences; Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences; Animal Sciences; Plant Protection; Post-Harvest and Food Sciences; and Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Each institute operates independently within its specific field of research.
According to Professor Beni Chefetz, in 2017 the Volcani Center was awarded a UNESCO International Prize in the Life Sciences for research, in recognition of its innovations in agriculture. The Center cooperates globally with other research institutions, governments, universities, and the private sector to share its technologies and expert research. It also manages a scientific information center that supports researchers with data, publications, patents, and training.
As David Songulashvili noted, Georgia can benefit from innovations in water-use efficiency, particularly for drought-prone regions. He emphasized the importance of sharing the Volcani Center’s experience in developing climate-resilient crop varieties, as well as in reducing post-harvest losses and managing food waste. The Minister highlighted cooperation with the Volcani Center through exchange programs for students and farmers and the implementation of joint scientific research initiatives.
