Since we’ve moved to the digital era, everything is now readily available online. This pertains to grocery shopping, as well. Buying fruits and veggies online is now somewhat the norm, but with this easy accessibility comes a very big problem – rotten items.
Given the technological advancements in food productions, a significant portion of the harvest is lost due to rot caused by microorganisms.
Potatoes in particular are important to Israel. Israel both exports 700,000 tons of potatoes every year, and imports European potatoes for planting.
So, research was conducted at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Volcani Center-Agricultural Research Organization. Led by Dorin Harpaz and PhD student Boris Veltman, under the supervision of Evgeni Eltzov, the researchers invented a bacteria that measures toxicity in plants. In case of a rotten plant, the bacterias sense it and light up the sensor. The toxicity is high if the light is brighter.
This is particularly helpful as it can detect a toxic potato with no visible signs on the outside.
The research was published in Science Direct, and was funded by ICA Charitable Association and the Chief Scientist of the Agriculture Ministry.
For further information and connect, please contact Ms. Veshala Gajaraj. Trade Officer, Consulate General of Israel in Bengaluru. Tel:+91-80-49406517
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