Leveraging Israel's Agricultural Know-How for Global Influence
In the realm of agricultural innovation, Copia Agro & Food Technologies stands out as a trailblazer in bridging the gap between research institutions and the business sector. Based in Israel, Copia's mission is to commercialize groundbreaking agricultural technologies, foster collaborations, and bring transformative solutions to the global market.
One of the projects financed by Copia, ToBe2, aims to address the global crisis due to the decline of honeybees caused by a parasitic mite called the varroa. The automated device developed by an Israeli firm has shown a 98% reduction in varroa infestation, enabling higher honey yield with no chemical residues.
Another technology, BudUp, addresses bud dormancy in crops such as grapes, kiwifruit, peaches, cherries, pistachios, and apples. BudUp has similar efficacy levels as the incumbent solution, Dormex, and is expected to register in Israel and South Africa this year, with trials across the world next year and sales beginning in 2023.
Copia's investment strategy involves setting up a special purpose company for each project, retaining a significant stake, and holding and managing licenses. The firm protects the intellectual property (IP) of its mature technologies with at least two patents that protect them from several angles.
The organization's investments cover as many as seven of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on food security, climate change, and environmental impact. Some 48% of Copia's investments are in agri-biotech, 20% in innovative food, 19% in novel robotic and mechanistic solutions, and 13% in novel farming solutions.
Venture capital firm Copia Agro & Food Technologies was established in 2014, raising $27m for its first fund. The funding for the project from Copia was relatively small at $2m, coming after proof of concept had been established, with Copia expected to exit with ownership of around 30% of the special purpose company.
Copia's second fund, Copia 2, is looking to raise between $80m and $120m, with a broader international outlook and a strong Israel focus. The firm works with smaller industrial firms and sees giant agricultural multinationals like Bayer, BASF, Monsanto, and Syngenta as end customers, selling them a 'mature solution' and a license, not the technology itself.
The market for the cartridges involved in the technology is large, with annual replacements. Copia works with research institutes to connect their innovative technologies and services with these corporations, adding value to technologies by turning them into products and processes for the supply chain.
By commercializing advanced seed technologies, irrigation systems, and digital farming tools, Copia helps increase agricultural productivity and resilience, reducing dependence on food imports and mitigating risks associated with climate variability. Copia-backed technologies often focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, optimizing resource use, and enhancing soil health, directly addressing climate adaptation and mitigation in agriculture.
In essence, Copia Agro & Food Technologies serves as a vital link between the world of academia and the business world, turning groundbreaking research into marketable products that address some of the most pressing challenges facing our global food system today.
Science extends beyond agricultural innovation, reaching industries like finance and technology. Copia Agro & Food Technologies, for instance, is not only involved in farming solutions, but also invests in innovative food, novel robotics, and even FinTech, demonstrating an interest in the business of investing in various sectors.
