Australian listed world first Israeli irrigation group shines
Now in its 20th year, Agri-Tech Israel 2018 focused on agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions, providing the ideal opportunity for many companies to unveil innovative products.
One exhibiter, Roots Sustainability (Roots) showcased a world-first irrigation solution that works as Irrigation Condensation (IBC) offgrid technology.
Designed to enable the production of food crops in remote semi-arid areas with no access to grid electricity or irrigated water, Roots has successfully demonstrated its ability to sustain the full growth cycle of high protein crops using irrigation sourced only from humidity in the air and will show it to industry for the first time.
Roots showcased for the first time the hydroponic nutrient-temperature controlled greenhouse, developed in conjunction with TAP. This modular greenhouse utilises Roots’ patented RZTO technology and allows farmers to assemble the product themselves. Using hydroponic nutrient film techniques (NFT) where water containing dissolved nutrients is used for crop growth and re-circulated past bare plant roots, it delivers higher yields, significantly lower operating costs, more efficient production facilities and increased profitability to farmers.
Dr. Sharon Devir, Roots CEO and co-founder said, “Roots is excited to participate in one of the world’s most prominent agricultural conferences. The world needs this new type of thinking to address environmental challenges brought on by ecosystem degradation and pollution, reduced access to water, more severe weather conditions and higher energy prices.”
“We signed distribution agreements in China with Dagan, conditional on $US19 million in sales on the basis of the agreement continuing for five years, and Australia with Adam Water Solutions Technology. And we’ve continued our proof of concept research on young apricot trees in Australia, mature avocado trees in Israel, basil in both countries, as well as a host of other high-value crops in Spain,” she said.
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