BARD awards $9 million to support US-Israel agricultural R&D
BARD awards $9 million to support US-Israel agricultural R&D
The funding will go towards 28 research projects and nine postdoctoral fellowships through the Va'adia-BARD fellowship program.
BARD, a funding program that supports research and development in joint U.S.-Israel projects, has announced that it has awarded research and fellowship grants for the next year. The grants this year are aimed to help further remote research in sustainable food and nutrition sciences and applications.
The increased funding of grants and fellowships was approved by the BARD Board of Directors earlier this month, which will go towards 28 research projects and nine postdoctoral fellowships through the Va'adia-BARD fellowship program. It also includes three graduate student fellowships, one BARD senior research fellowship which will support an American scientist who will conduct research in Israel, and four workshops.
"This year our portfolio has grown by more than 35%. Our funding will help both nations’ efforts to focus on more science-based solutions for many of the challenges facing agriculture,” said Prof. Yoram Kapulnik, BARD's executive director. “Our external and internal surveys consistently show that our funding opportunities have delivered long-term value and impact to the agriculture research community, the farmer and consumers in general both in the U.S. and in Israel.
The research projects include a range of research fields including AI, remote sensing, precision agriculture methods, climate resilient and climate-smart agricultural practices, animal production and health, plant production and health, post-harvest technology, soil fertility, and water management resources. The projects aim to deal with issues faced by contemporary agriculture, including the need to adapt to climate change and the need for sustainable agriculture.
The efforts will also include new initiatives in Food and Nutrition, Aquaculture, and Desert Farming, in partnership with UDSA-NIFA and will run alongside the main BARD program.
“BARD gives researchers from the U.S. and Israel the opportunity to work together on some of the most innovative research projects in agricultural research,” added Dr. Michal Levy, Chief Scientist and Senior Deputy Director General at the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture, who served as the board Chairperson. “BARD is especially important for young scientists as it provides funding for postdoctoral fellows and early career scientists.”
This year, it is understood that 40% of the funded research projects will include an early career investigator from one or both countries.
For 42 years, BARD has funded more than 1,400 research projects with a total investment of $340 million. Its results serve as a growth engine for both the Israeli and U.S. economies and agricultural communities.
First published: 13:33, 22.06.23
