Israel Africa | Business Guide | 2020

turning intomigrants in their search for better grounds. At the same time, higher birth rate and longer life expectancy might bring the population of the African Continent to a total of 2 . 5 billion by 2050 . This year alone over 10 million people in South Sudan, Nigeria, and Somalia are on the verge of famine. The fact that some of the Continent's largest economies have recorded intensive growth in the last decademight seem like an improvement in the situation, but it brings with it some new problems. The new prowess might increase existing pressure on agricultural lands. As the income of people improves they consume more energy and water. In Africa, the rich and newly rich can start to afford to consume meat. In Kenya, for example, in the last 15 years, the number of cows has steadily increased. Another consequence of better lifestyle is converting agricultural lands to real estate for shoppingmalls and residential buildings. Of course, this is not an argument against the improvement in quality of life of the average countryside (or urban) African. Israeli technologies for better agriculture While trying tosolve this "Catch 22 " situationof decreasing agricultural yieldwhile increasing nutritional needs, the ways to help Africamust meet the test of improving the agricultural value chain. Better technologies could, for example, help an African farmer to earn more from his land, hence being able to educate his children, and start consumingmore, thus contributing to the overall economy of the region. The farmer's extra income has significance, and this can happen only by better technology. However, where to begin?Donatingnewseeds to growers will not be enough without a proper watering system, compost and the ability to reach the cropmarket (whether by road or with the help of an internet connection). Changes heremust be done through cooperationbetween suppliers and buyers. Some Israeli companies have already realized these issues and are proactive in agriculture inNigeria. About five tech companies got together to offer African farmers a whole ecosystem of innovations – watering systems, greenhouse, plant-soil, and more. Similar projects are being carried out in Liberia and Sierra Leone, in cocoa and other crops. Some of them have become national projects. The fact that large parts of Israel are still desert but these are yet used successfully as tracts for agriculturemakes the expertise of an Israeli innovator extremely relevant. Robotic solutions to hand-picking in greenhouses, such as tomatoes, are successfully implemented. Another direction for improvement is helping farmers savewater by automatically assessing the amount of water needed in every part of the field. Using natural pesticide of different sorts, and combining digitization of a field's water systems contributes to making the most of existing land. Preventing loss of crops with Israeli technologies and monitoring the supply chain of fruits and vegetables can be one digitalized way in which agricultural Israeli experts can helpAfrican growers gain better control for higher-earnings. In some places, the contribution of such technologies couldmean the start of amuch better life. 25