Call for Participants for the 1st Precision Agriculture and Innovation Delegation to South Africa

Summary

The Israel Innovation Authority, together with the FTA (Foreign Trade Administration) in South Africa, will lead a one-of-a-kind delegation of cutting edge Israeli companies in Precision Agriculture and Agtech Innovation from the 15-19 of March 2020.

Relevant Technologies

Post Harvest, Precision Agriculture, Yiesd Estimation, Smart Pest Control, Geo Mapping, Agri/Water Solutions, Big Data and IOT for mobile applications, Seed Genetics/Breeding, Drones

Program Description

The visit will focus on exposing local technology needs, trends, and big commercial farmers for tech adoption. It will offer a deep dive into local value chains, infrastructure, and direct contact with end users, intermediaries, private and public sector companies and investors. Content will include seminars, B2Bs, Field visits and focus group sessions. 

Each participating company will have its profile featured in the Israeli Company Catalog, distributed throughout meetings, seminars, to leading companies, research organizations and any other potential partners. 
Final decisions will be sent to applicants by 1 March, 2020.

Tentative Agenda
***The program is subject to changes***

Sunday 15th March
15:30-17:30 Depart Cape Town International Airport to Ceres Valley Hotel TBA
18:30 – Dinner (optional) 

Monday 16th March – Day 1
9:00-13:00
B2B Seminar in partnership with Ceres Fruit Growers (Pty) Ltd.

Ceres Fruit Growers was founded in 1923 from the grower’s co-operative in Ceres, one of the most important fruit growing areas in South Africa. They service their shareholders the growers (41 growers) from farm to fork. They provide their growers with Agronomical guidance, Marketing and Export services, Fruit processing facilities and Logistics. They believe Agritech is necessary to maintain world standards throughout their value chain and have invested R50m in a new facility and sorting line.

Target Audience: 60 Attendees from Ceres, Koue Bokkeveld, Witzenberg valley, Warm Bokkeveld surrounding areas. Where the following Fruit and Vegetables are grown: Onions, Sweet potatoes, Cherries, Apples, Pears and Citrus.
The program will consist of presentations by the Israeli companies (5-7 minutes) followed by informal B2B networking.

14:00-17:00
Visits to large growers and or production facilities.

Return to hotel.

Tuesday 17th March – Day 2
9:00 – 17:00 Depart for Farm visits on route to Stellenbosch:

Laasterdrif Agri
The farms in the Laastedrif Agri Group vary in altitudes and climatic conditions, enabling them to produce quality fruit and vegetables all year round to an ever-growing local and international customer base. They have a variety of products perfectly tailored to their client’s needs, from stone and pome fruit (apples, pears, peaches, plums and apricots), to a wide selection of vegetables, (onions, beetroots, carrots, and cauliflower). They have 1200HA of fruit and vegetables under irrigation.

Dutoit Agri
Dutoit Agri has more than 120 years of experience in the production and distribution of quality fruit and vegetables. They produce, distribute and market 250 000 tons of fresh produce a year. They harvest 170 000 tons of fruit (apples, pears, nectarines, peaches and cherries) every year and grow more than 80 000 tons of onions, potatoes and sweet potatoes. Dutoit Agri has about 4500 hectares (16 farms) fruit and vegetables under irrigation in the Warm and Koue Bokkeveld, the Berg River and Sandveld regions as well as in the Langkloof, Eastern Cape. Their marketing strategy is to serve specific anchor clients in each major market. 

Wednesday 18th March
9:30-13:00 Depart to Stellenbosch University Innovation Company

Innovus is the university industry interaction and innovation company of Stellenbosch University. Innovus mission is to make Stellenbosch University innovation matter.They strive to maximize Stellenbosch University’s impact on the South African society by using the output of the University’s research to promote entrepreneurship, creating new jobs and new products and services that address the needs of all of South Africa’s citizens. Innovus is responsible for technology transfer, entrepreneurial support and development, and innovation at the university. They manage the commercialization of the University’s innovation and intellectual property portfolio through patenting, licensing and the formation of spin-out companies. 

Through their LaunchLab business incubator, they offer various services to and opportunities for entrepreneurs. In addition to this their equity holding in the Innovus group of companies is a valuable asset for the university. The University’s Short Courses and Copyright division as well as Commercial Services also falls under Innovus. There website profiles our impressive portfolio of patents and provides tools and advice for inventors wishing to commercialize their ideas, and investors who want to help turn great ideas into reality.

The program will consist of presentations by Israeli companies (5-7 minutes) to Key personal at the Hub, investors, farmers and companies from Stellenbosch area 

13:00-15:00 Depart for Cape Town

Thursday 19th March
9:00-11:30 Power breakfast with Investors, C suite Execs and Entrepreneurs.

The Power breakfast will be a Joint venture of the Trade Mission with leading law firms and agri insurance departments in CT and their agri commercial clients

The program will consist of presentations by the Israeli companies (5-7 minutes) followed by informal networking.

12:30 Depart for Cape Town International Airport
 

Criteria

Relevant Technologies

• Post-Harvest Technologies 
• Precision Agriculture/Yield estimation/Smart pest control/Geo Mapping
• Agri/Water /Solutions 
• Big Data and IOT for mobile application
• Seed Genetics/Breeding
• Drones

Flights from Israel 
Both Turkish and Ethiopian Airlines have flights from Tel Aviv to Cape Town with stops at Istanbul and Addis Ababa respectively.

Participants will bear the costs of flights and accommodations.

Budget

Funding

Participants are required to deposit a sum of $800 which will be returned following conclusion of activities.

Application Process

Startups or companies interested in submitting application to participate in this roadshow are kindly requested to fill out the registration form in ENGLISH only!