Agritech 2012 is just around the corner and I am very excited about this year’s event. So I thought it would be a great opportunity to look back at Netafim’s participation and what we have achieved throughout the years.
About Agritech
The Agritech Exhibition, held once every three years, is one of the leading international events of its kind to showcase Israeli and international agriculture technologies. It traditionally attracts many Ministers of Agriculture, decision-makers, experts, agricultural associations, and thousands of international visitors. It offers an opportunity to see at one site the latest developments in the agricultural sector and advanced agro-technologies, especially in the fields of irrigation, water management, arid zone agriculture, intensive greenhouse cultivation, development of new seed varieties, and organic and ecologically-oriented agriculture.
This year’s Agritech 2012 is the 18th exhibition. The exhibition will be held May 15 – 17, 2012 at the Israel Trade Fairs and Convention Center in Tel Aviv, Israel.
From a local tradeshow to an international center for innovation
Netafim has been participating in Agritech since the 1980’s. At first the focus was largely on our new products. We had to explain the innovative concept of drip irrigation and how it is not just “holes in a pipeline”, but rather a sophisticated technology that is based on extensive research and development.
The first tradeshows were mainly visited by Israelis, but over the years, as Netafim expanded its global operations, we have shifted the focus to a more global perspective. We have brought and shared our global experiences and created a common language between large farmers in advanced countries and smallholders in developing countries. We have expanded the variety of crops that used our drip irrigation technology, bringing important data from growers around the world.
A meeting place for growers from all around the world
Israel, and Netafim as leading company, has established its position as an important center for agricultural innovation. Therefore, throughout the years Agritech has become a meeting place for growers from all around the world, attracting delegations from a variety of countries, comprising private growers, NGO’s, state officials and more. Our booth has transitioned from a traditional product oriented booth to a center where international delegations meet and share their knowledge and experiences. For example, sugar cane growers from Brazil met and shared their knowledge with sugar cane growers from India, cotton growers from Ethiopia met with their counterparts in the US, and more.
Tours to Kibbutz Hatzerim
During the event Netafim usually holds field tours to our installations all over Israel, ending in one of our three manufacturing sites. During one of these visits in the 80’s we had a large gathering of clients and distributors at our center in Kibbutz Hatzerim. I remember that after dinner, at the kibbutz dining room, a representative from each country was asked to sing a traditional song from his country. And so we heard a traditional Chinese song, an Italian Aria, a French chanson, an America folk song and so on… This experience has highlighted the cultural diversity in our company and how, what was once a small initiative in our Kibbutz, has grown to have a major worldwide impact, bringing advanced sustainable technologies to every corner around the world.
I look forward to seeing you in this year’s event.
Naty Barak.
