New Delhi, December 8 (ANI): India and Israel launched a 50-50 joint venture to manufacture and commercialise Indian pheromone-based crop protection technologies for global markets, the Israeli Embassy said.
At the closing session of the First International Science & Technology Clusters Conference in New Delhi, ATGC Biotech Pvt. Ltd. (India) and Luxembourg Industries Ltd. (Israel) exchanged licensing agreements to form Semiophore Ltd. This marks the first time Indian semiochemical technology will be out-licensed and produced in Israel.
Senior officials at the ceremony included Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood, Israel’s Deputy Chief of Mission Fares Saeb, and Vishal Choudhary from the Office of the PSA, among other delegates. Saeb said the deal deepens the long-standing India-Israel partnership on food security and agricultural technology and strengthens collaboration on sustainable, climate-resilient solutions. Israel’s Agriculture Attache Uri Rubinstein noted ATGC Biotech’s participation in Indo-Israel training programmes and Centres of Excellence, citing positive farmer feedback.
ATGC Biotech Managing Director Markandeya Gorantla described the agreement as a breakthrough for India’s bioeconomy, saying Semiophore will jointly shape the future of sustainable crop protection. Luxembourg Industries CEO Moshik Fish said the partnership merges both countries’ strengths to deploy India’s next-generation pheromone technologies in Israeli agriculture.
Semiophore will commercialise 18 Indian-developed technologies—such as ultra-low-dose pheromone dispensers, mating disruption platforms, and controlled-release systems—in markets including Israel, Brazil and the United States. These tools are designed to cut insecticide use by more than 80%, offering a lower-toxicity alternative as countries shift toward greener crop protection.
The announcement was made at a conference attended by delegates from over 38 countries to discuss cooperation in agriculture, sustainability, environment and deep-tech sectors. (ANI)
