HarvestR

growth-positive

A new startup called HarvestR has been established to tackle the issue of crop loss, which can amount to over a third of total produce, from harvest to plate. The company is a collaboration between an entrepreneur from Kibbutz Beeri, researchers from the Volcani Institute, and the Weizmann Institute. Currently, the problem is dealt with using chemicals, which have negative effects on the environment and food quality. HarvestRs solution is in the field of Spray Induced Gene Suppression (SIGS) and deals with fungal pathogens, which are usually the cause of crop spoilage. The treatment offered is based on a product called dsRNA - Double Stranded RNA, which disrupts the expression of vital genes and damages the membranes of the pathogenic fungus cells selectively.

growth-positive

HarvestR, an agricultural company, has raised $400,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by InNegev Incubator with support from the Israel Innovation Authority. The company aims to improve global food security and sustainability by inhibiting fungal pathogens with tailor-made, environmentally friendly, cost-effective bio-fungicides. HarvestRs solution involves treating crops, fruits, and vegetables externally with non-GMO, RNAi-inducing mechanisms. The company is currently focused on R&D, and the funds raised will go towards financing R&D-related activities including product development, process development, lab testing and equipment, and initial market validation.

growth-positive

The article discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by Israeli startups during times of conflict. Despite the uncertainty and difficulties, some entrepreneurs have managed to establish their startups. For instance, Gal Admati founded a food tech company called Curtain from a hotel room during the war. Another example is Dr. Hadas Ziso, who officially established her company, Endocure, which develops a robotic ultrasound system based on artificial intelligence for the diagnosis and management of endometriosis, in November during the war. The article also mentions that there has been a steady decrease in the number of startups being established in Israel, with only about 600 new companies being established in 2022, compared to 1,400 startups in 2014.