Israel: worldwide leader in the field of agriculture in arid areas
Giuseppe Sala, CEO of Expo 2015 said:
"The outstanding innovative expertise of Israel, in the field of technology for agriculture in arid areas,
undoubtedly represents a huge added value for the development of the theme 'Feeding the Planet:
Energy for Life'
Expo Milano 2015 Feeding the Planet: Energy for Life
On March 13th. 2013, the State of Israel signed the participation contract of Expo 2015 and secured itself a strategic position within the exhibition site. The pavilion will be built at the intersection of the Cardo and Decumanus, an area adjacent to the Italian Pavilion. The contract, which defines Israel’s commitment at the Universal Exposition in Milan, was signed by the Commissioner General of the Israeli Pavilion, Elazar Cohen, and by Giuseppe Sala, CEO of Expo 2015 S.p.A.
With the signature of Israel, Expo Milano 2015 has now signed 35 contracts out of a total of 123 countries which have so far confirmed their participation.
The ceremony, which was attended by the Commissioner General of Expo Milano 2015, Roberto Formigoni, was preceded by a panel discussion regarding scientific research and innovation applied to agriculture in arid areas, a field in which Israel is an International reference point. The meeting was attended Naor Gilon, Ambassador of the State of Israel, by Gideon Meir, Director General for Public Diplomacy, and by Daniel Chamovitz, Director of the "Manna Center" for plant Biosciences at the University of Tel Aviv. The President of the Italian Rabbinical Assembly, Rav Elijah E. Richetti, and Joseph Alonzo, President of the Council for Research and Experimentation in Agriculture, attended the ceremony as representatives of Italy.
Israel is a country in which most of the territory is arid and thus it is a pioneer in the field of agriculture and the management of waste water, a topic which is so crucial to the fight against desertification. In its 2,370 square meter pavillion, Israel will showcase its fundamental contribution to the development of the theme "Feeding the Planet:Energy for life”.
Israel’s excellence in this sector is centered on the use of innovative and technologically advanced solutions in the fields of irrigation and water management, farming in barren areas, intensive greenhouse cultivation, research and development of new varieties of seeds and organic and eco-friendly agriculture.
Israel has achieved remarkable success in fighting desertification thanks to its land reclamation policies and ambitious irrigation systems which have made previously barren areas fertile. An example of this is the Kinneret-Negev aqueduct: a 130 kilometer long system of pipes, pumps and canals that carries water from the Lake Tiberias, in the north of Israel, to the arid south.
“In Milan’s Expo, agriculture will have a fundamental role” said Roberto Formigoni, General Commissioner of ExpoMilano 2015. “That is why Israel’s participation is so important particularly in the field of agricultural research. Israel’s investment in the Expo project is a sure guarantee of success. Israel is a pioneer in all these fields, particularly in that of food production techniques in extreme conditions and in the best practices that it has developed. We are therefore delighted that Israel has underwritten the agreement, a deed which further reinforces the well-established friendship at all levels between our two countries”.
"We believe that Israel will make a significant contribution to the theme of Expo Milano 2015” said Elazar Cohen,Commissioner General of the Israeli Pavilion. Our objective is to show visitors the efforts that Israel has put in place in order to 'feed the world' and to showcase the unique spirit of our country in terms of innovation, as well as its culture and ancient tradition”.
"The outstanding innovative expertise of Israel, in the field of technology for agriculture in arid areas, undoubtedly represents a huge added value for the development of the theme 'Feeding the Planet: Energy for Life' ” said GiuseppeSala, CEO of Expo 2015 S.p.A. “Today's signature seals a partnership that will provide a continuous and fruitful dialogue between all the protagonists of Expo Milano 2015. Each country is asked to share its knowledge and excellence in order to help solve the food and environmental emergencies which are afflicting the planet”.
The Expo is a non-commercial Universal Exposition (not a trade fair) organized by the nation which wins the candidature, with other countries participating through the diplomatic channels of the hosting nation.
The first Expo was held in London in 1851 and was such a success that other nations were encouraged to organize similar events like the Paris Expo in 1889 for which the Eiffel Tower was designed and built.
Each Expo has a universal theme and is held in an area which has been masterminded as a place of exchange and encounter to promote a unique experience for participants and visitors who discover and experiment with the theme. More than displaying major technological novelties the Expo’s role is oriented towards interpreting the collective challenges to which mankind is asked to respond.
The international organization which regulates the frequency, quality and progress of the event is the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) set up under an international convention which was signed in Paris in 1928. Currently some 157 nations are BIE members.
