New Delhi [India], December 8 (ANI): India and Israel have taken a significant step in agricultural cooperation with the launch of a new joint venture to manufacture and commercialise Indian pheromone-based crop protection technologies globally. The announcement was made at the valedictory session of the First International Science & Technology Clusters Conference in New Delhi, where ATGC Biotech Pvt. Ltd. (India) and Luxembourg Industries Ltd. (Israel) formally exchanged licensing agreements to establish Semiophore Ltd., a 50-50 Indo-Israeli partnership.
This venture marks the first time Indian semiochemical technology is being out-licensed and produced in Israel. Senior officials from both nations attended the ceremony, including Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood, Israel’s Deputy Chief of Mission Fares Saeb, and Vishal Choudhary from the Office of the PSA. Saeb highlighted that the agreement strengthens the long-standing partnership between India and Israel in food security and agricultural technology. “Israel and India share a long-standing partnership in agriculture and technology. Today’s licensing exchange is an important milestone that strengthens our collaboration in sustainable, climate-resilient solutions,” he said. He added that Semiophore reflects the growing global relevance of Indo-Israeli innovation.
Israel’s Agriculture Attache Uri Rubinstein noted that ATGC Biotech has actively participated in several Indo-Israel agricultural training programs and Centres of Excellence. “Farmer feedback on their technologies has been highly encouraging,” he said, emphasizing that the new venture opens more opportunities for joint agricultural innovation.
ATGC Biotech’s Managing Director, Markandeya Gorantla, described the agreement as a breakthrough for India’s bioeconomy. “For the first time, Indian semiochemical technologies will be manufactured and commercialised in Israel. Through Semiophore, India and Israel are jointly shaping the future of sustainable crop protection,” he said. Luxembourg Industries CEO Moshik Fish added, “We are delighted to deploy India’s next-generation pheromone technologies across Israeli agriculture.”
Semiophore Ltd. will commercialise 18 Indian-developed technologies, including ultra-low-dose pheromone dispensers, mating disruption platforms, and controlled-release systems, targeting international markets such as Israel, Brazil, and the United States. These technologies aim to reduce insecticide use by more than 80%, offering a greener alternative to chemical pesticides amid global shifts toward low-toxicity crop protection.
The announcement coincided with a conference that gathered delegates from more than 38 countries to discuss cooperation in agriculture, sustainability, environmental protection, and deep-tech innovation.
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