The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal was led by doctoral student Shai Torgeman and Prof. Dani Zamir from the Hebrew University Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment.

The researchers identified interactions between two regions of the tomato genome that resulted in a 20-50% increase in the overall tomato yield under irrigated conditions as well as in droughts.

“The unique structure of the new population, which enables precise mapping of the tomato genes, has the potential for extensive application in other plants and could increase productivity,” the researchers say.

Tomatoes grown in open field conditions need protection from pests and fertilization and must be watered over time. However, the climate crisis and the severe water shortages around the world require alternative varieties and new cultivation methods that also guarantee adequate profits for farmers.

The researchers crossbred two tomato species – a wild tomato from the deserts of western Peru and the cultivated tomato – to identify which regions of the genome affect important agricultural traits, such as yields. Individually, one genome didn’t affect the crop, but when these genome regions appeared together, there was a significant contribution to fertility even in dry conditions.

“Studies of complex traits in plants, such as yield and resistance to drought conditions, have been based on significantly smaller populations of 200~ species,” explained Torgeman. “This makes it impossible to identify all the interactions (epistasis) between the genes, as well as their influence on important agricultural traits. In this study, we genetically crossed two different species of tomato, and proved that by using a larger population and a genetic map that includes thousands of markers, it is possible to identify areas in the genome that have interaction between them that increases the yield.”

“Studies of complex traits in plants, such as yield and resistance to drought conditions, have been based on significantly smaller populations of 200~ species,” says Torgeman. “This makes it impossible to identify all the interactions (epistasis) between the genes, as well as their influence on important agricultural traits. In this study, we genetically crossed two different species of tomato, and proved that by using of a larger population and a genetic map that includes thousands of markers, it is possible to identify interactions that increase the yield.”

Zamir’s lab has conducted DNA sequencing and extensive data analysis of 1,400 plants over the past four years. The researchers are seeking to commercialize these new tomato varieties.

“With global warming and farmers need tomatoes that can cope with these changing weather conditions,” Torgeman says. “Global warming does not only cause higher temperatures but also extreme weather like sudden torrential downpours or drought, so we need plants that have improved capabilities.”

The research was conducted as part of the scientific cooperation with the European Union in the ‘Horizon 2020’ program.

To read the full story visit The Jerusalem Post.

French dairy giant Danone has entered into a strategic investment agreement with Israeli startup Wilk, which could lead to a collaboration with the food tech firm to develop cultured breast milk components for infant formula based on its cell technology.

Danone Manifesto Ventures (DMV), the corporate venture arm set up by the Paris-based food giant, will invest $2 million, leading a $3.5 million financing round announced by Wilk, in a filing to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange on Monday.

Following the investment, the venture arm of the dairy company, which makes Activia yogurt, Aptamil infant formula and Evian water, will hold at least 2% of Wilk’s share capital.

Dr. Nurit Argov-Argaman of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem founded Wilk (as Biomilk) in 2018, and has since developed cell-based technology to produce cultured human breast and animal milk. Argov-Argaman took it public on the TASE in 2021 in a SPAC (special-purpose acquisition company) merger deal.

For the animal-derived cultured milk, Wilk isolates the milk-producing cells from cows’ udders and transfers them to a bioreactor, where they are exposed to materials patented by the firm to produce milk ingredients, but without needing a cow in the final milk-producing process.

The process is also applied to the lab production of human breast milk — complete with the fats and proteins that make up important parts of the nutritional value — using cells from breast reduction surgeries.

As part of the strategic agreement between Danone’s venture arm and Wilk, the parties will examine strategic cooperation for the development of breast milk substitutes that will include lab-grown breast milk components.

The agreement also stipulates that Danone and Wilk will examine possibilities for joint commercial cooperation and operations, which may include agreements for joint development and grants for projects in Europe and the US, Wilk said in a statement.

Wilk CEO Tomer Aizen said that DMV’s investment will help the firm continue in the development of its cultivated milk products.

Wilk is one of several Israeli food tech companies developing cultured, animal-free milk, each at a different development stage. Rehovot-based Remilk, for example, last year raised $120 million for cow-free milk, cheese and yogurt, and with production capabilities already off the ground. The developer of cultured milk and dairy has also announced plans to open the “world’s largest” facility for the production of cow-free milk in Denmark.

However, Wilk is one of few companies on the world stage in the cultured breast milk sector. Wilk’s offering could be a welcome alternative for those who prefer to give human milk, but face difficulties breastfeeding, for babies born prematurely, and for those who cannot consume commercial infant formula.

Wilk said it is not necessarily looking to replace infant formula, but to contribute to a product that is better nutritionally and with a cost comparable to formula.

As such, the Rehovot-based startup has been focusing on developing cell-cultured human milk fat for infant formula to replace vegetable fats currently contained in formula. The nutritional benefits of cultured human milk fat play a central role in maintaining an infant’s digestive system, as well as the development of its brain and nervous system, according to Wilk.

Other investors in the latest funding round, include Rehovot-based Steakholder Foods (formerly Meatech), an Israeli maker of cultivated meat products, which will purchase $450,000 in ordinary shares of Wilk at a 15% discount below their 45-day average closing price, giving the company a 2.5% stake in the Israeli startup. Steakholder Foods said it seeks synergies with Wilk, including strategic cooperation on its proprietary biology and printing technologies.

The Central Bottling Company, also known as Coca-Cola Israel, is also participating in the funding round. The owner of the Tara dairy cooperative, Israel’s second-largest milk processing company, invested $2 million in Wilk back in 2021 as part of an agreement to develop products based on the startup’s cultured milk technology.

As part of the financing round, Wilk will issue a total of 13.6 million ordinary shares in a private placement at a price of NIS 0.91 per share. The startup’s shares closed 10% lower on Monday at NIS 105.1 per share.

from: The Times of Israel

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