Photo Credit: Hillel Maeir / TPS
A visit to the Volcani Center, research arm of the Ministry of Agriculture. Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Arkady Dvorkovich visits the center with Israeli Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel, Sept. 27 2016.

by Ilana Messika Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Arkady Dvorkovich and Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel visited today the Agricultural Research Organization Volcani Center, which serves as the research arm of the Ministry of Agriculture, and met some of its researchers in the context of extending agriculture cooperation between the two countries.

“Deputy Prime Minister Dvorkovich was very impressed by the technical know-how and technological advances made by Israeli researchers in the field,”said Naama Rosenberg, Associate Director for International Cooperation and spokesperson at the Volcani Center.

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Rosenberg said researchers showed Dvorkovich and Ariel the latest advances in engineering and robotics such as satellite thermography that enables farmers to use heat imagery to determine water levels in irrigated fields. The technology allows farmers to monitor water resources by indicating whether fields are under- or over-irrigated.

The deputy prime minister also observed special storage mechanisms that prevents potatoes from sprouting, as well as new fertilizing chemicals and a selection of local produce, including pomegranates and grapes.

“The central issue in agriculture nowadays in no longer the growth of the produce but its proper conservation,” Rosenberg.

The visit followed Ariel’s visit to Russia last June. Then, Ariel and his Russian counterpart, Alexander Nikolayevich Tkachyov, signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation between Israel and the Russian Federation in the field of agriculture. Now, the countries expect to draft agreements in the fields of water resource management and irrigation technologies, development of advanced greenhouses and storage of agricultural produce.

Ariel celebrated that agreement as a “ milestone in relations between our two countries” and said Israel was well-placed to help Russia meet the challenges facing its agriculture sector.

“With Israel’s extensive knowledge, know-how and advanced technology in this field, [we] agreed to strengthen our agricultural collaboration, with a special emphasis on the milk industry,” Ariel said in June.

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