Ramat HaNegev Research Center

What Ramat HaNegev Research Center does

Ramat HaNegev Research Center (RNDARC / MOP Ramat HaNegev) is a public agricultural R&D station located in the Negev Desert, Israel, operating under the governance of the Ramat HaNegev Regional Council and affiliated with Ramat Negev Enterprises Ltd. With approximately 11 employees, the center serves as the sole dedicated agricultural research station for the Ramat Negev Regional Council farming community, addressing the unique challenges of desert agriculture including extreme heat, water scarcity, and saline water use. Its research spans vegetables (cherry tomatoes, peppers), flowers, strawberries, dates, pomegranates, herbs, spices, field crops, plantations, and novel crop domestication.

The center's core technology platform is built on applied agronomic R&D rather than software products. Specialized techniques include ozone-based soil sterilization via diamond electrolysis to combat ToBRFV virus, evaporative cooling for greenhouse tomatoes, lysimeter-based precision irrigation, agrivoltaic dual-use systems (Land Equivalent Ratio 1.67), and the domestication of desert-native plant species. Research outputs are published in annual working programs (2015–2024) and seasonal summaries, delivered through on-farm trials, demonstration plots, and direct extension services to farmers. The center also operates the Ramat Negev International Training Center for Advanced Agriculture, exporting Israeli desert agronomy to international participants.

The business model is predominantly public-grant-funded, with the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture's Chief Scientist and JNF-KKL as the primary funding sources, supplemented by the Plants Council, Negev Foundation, and ICA Israel. The center does not operate a commercial product catalog; rather, it generates ancillary revenue through training programs, a newly opened visitor center/public tourism operation, and niche branded products (e.g., frozen Bahlal-stage Majhoul dates). Its primary customer base is the Ramat Negev farming community, with secondary reach to international training participants and the broader Israeli agricultural research ecosystem via the Volcani Institute.

Name

Ramat HaNegev Research Center

Legal name

מפעלי רמת נגב בע"מ

Website

https://moprn.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ramat HaNegev Research Center is a public agricultural R&D station in Israel's Negev Desert that develops desert farming techniques, crop varieties, irrigation, and pest-management solutions for regional farmers, funded by the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and KKL-JNF.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Precision Irrigation & Water Optimization Services (Sensor-Based Scheduling, VRI Prescriptions) (AFACACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plant Tissue, Soil & Water Sampling Coordination (Agronomy-Focused) (AFACABAH), Sprinkler & Center Pivot Services (Setup, Nozzle Packages, Alignment) (AFACAFAF)

Keywords

• Desert agriculture research
• Crop variety development
• Irrigation optimization
• Greenhouse cultivation
• Agricultural extension services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ramat Negev / D.N. Halutza

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ramat HaNegev Research Center (RNDARC) is an applied agricultural research station serving the Ramat Negev Regional Council area in Israel's Negev Desert. Its core offering is desert agriculture R&D — including crop variety selection for arid conditions, irrigation optimization with saline water, greenhouse cooling, pest and disease management, new crop domestication, and seasonal working programs — delivered to regional farmers through on-farm trials, published reports, and direct extension services.

Product overview

Ramat HaNegev Research Center (RNDARC) operates as an agricultural research and development station focused on desert agriculture in Israel's Negev region. Its core offering consists of applied agricultural research across a broad range of crop categories (vegetables including tomatoes and peppers, flowers, dates, strawberries, field crops, plantations, herbs/spices, soil science, and environmental/solar farming research), delivered through seasonal work programs (2015–2024), farmer advisories, and meteorological services. No commercial product catalog or named software product module was identified in the source data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Desert Agriculture Research & Development

Quantifiable outcome

• Cherry tomato greenhouse yields doubled using drip-fertigated hanging soilless systems (80–100 t/ha vs. soil culture)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Ministry of Agriculture of Israel — Chief ScientistcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Agriculture is the primary funder of agricultural research in Israel, providing institutional and financial backing for the R&D station's research programs. Most research conducted at the center is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture of Israel.
• JNF-KKL (Jewish National Fund — Keren Kayemet LeYisrael)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKKL-JNF is a co-funder of agricultural R&D at the center. The organization has historically supported land development and agriculture in the Negev region. A KKL representative (Johannes Guagnin) is listed on the center's staff page.
• Shaham Unit — Extension Service (Ministry of Agriculture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Extension Service (Shaham Unit) provides agricultural guidance and extension support to farmers. Researchers from the center collaborate with Shaham experts on crop protection, irrigation, and new crop development projects.
• Plants Council (Moetzet HaTzemakhim)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Plants Council of Israel supports plant cultivation research and industry development. The center works with the Council on variety trials and plant propagation research.
• Ramat Negev Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe regional council governs the Ramat Negev area and is the primary administrative stakeholder supporting the agricultural community and the R&D center. The center's work is aligned with the council's regional development goals.
• Volcani Institute — Agricultural Research Center (ARO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Eran Raveh serves as Scientific Advisor from the Gilat Research Center, Volcani Institute. The center collaborates with Volcani Institute researchers on topics including pest management, irrigation optimization, and new crop development. Young researchers from the Volcani Institute participate in station events.
• Frontier RNG (Frontier Ramat Negev)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrontier RNG is a commercial entity associated with Ramat Negev Enterprises. Yariv Erez serves as CEO of Frontier RNG. The Frontier brand is referenced on the center's website as an associated initiative. A video about the center is available at frontierng.com.
• Negev FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Negev Foundation (a US-based organization) supports development and research in the Negev region. It is listed as a supporting partner on the center's website alongside the Ministry of Agriculture and KKL.
• ICA Israel (Jewish Charitable Association)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerICA Israel (Jewish Charitable Association) is listed as a supporting partner on the center's website, providing funding or institutional support for agricultural development in the Negev.
• Ramat Negev International Training Center for Advanced AgriculturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe center operates an international training program for advanced agriculture. Jessica Pearlman serves as Co-Director. The program trains international participants in desert agriculture techniques developed at the station. Students link (rn-tp.com) provides access to the student/internship program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Plants Production & Marketing Board (Israel Plants Council): Israeli industry council that co-supports plant cultivation R&D and is a strategic partner of the center. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler for crop variety trials and propagation research, but not a competing research station.
• KKL-JNF (Jewish National Fund – Keren Kayemet LeIsrael): Co-funder of Ramat HaNegev's research programs and a long-standing supporter of Negev agriculture and land development. KKL is a strategic ecosystem participant rather than a competing research entity.
• Negev Foundation: Listed as a supporting partner of Ramat HaNegev, the Negev Foundation channels US philanthropic and institutional funding into Negev development projects, including agricultural R&D. It is adjacent rather than competitive — a funder/network peer.

Direct peers

• Yair Research Station: Another regional Israeli agricultural R&D station, operating under the Volcani Institute network. It performs comparable regional crop, irrigation, and field-trial work for its local council, mirroring Ramat HaNegev's regional-council model.
• Arava Institute for Environmental Studies: Located in the Arava/Negev corridor, the Arava Institute runs applied agricultural and environmental research programs in desert conditions, including crop variety trials and saline-water agriculture. It is the closest peer in mission, geography, and crop focus.
• Eilot Regional Council R&D Station: Neighboring regional R&D station in the southern Arava serving the Eilot Regional Council. Performs similar desert-agronomy, irrigation, and date/crop trials under the same Israeli regional-station framework, making it the closest geographic peer.
• Volcani Institute (ARO) – Gilat Research Center: The Gilat Research Center is Volcani Institute's southern Negev station; it is the closest scientific peer, and Ramat HaNegev's Scientific Advisor (Dr. Eran Raveh) is based there. Both conduct applied agricultural research in the Negev with overlapping pest, irrigation, and crop-development programs.
• Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research (BGU): Ben-Gurion University's desert research arm conducts basic and applied research on desert agriculture, water management, and arid-land ecology. It is comparable in its Negev focus and academic-affiliated R&D model, though more research-oriented than extension-oriented.

Emerging players

• Ramat Negev International Training Center for Advanced Agriculture: Wholly owned subsidiary of Ramat Negev Enterprises that trains international participants in desert agriculture. It is operationally adjacent — a peer in mission (knowledge transfer) rather than in core agricultural research.

Broad incumbents

• ICARDA – International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas: ICARDA is a global CGIAR center focused on agricultural research in non-tropical dry areas. While much larger and international in scope, it addresses the same crop-improvement, water-efficiency, and heat-tolerance problems as Ramat HaNegev, making it a strategic reference peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100063592567659
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ramat-negev-research-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ramat HaNegev Research Center