Microsoft is working with Israeli startups to develop pesticide and irrigation technologies to ease global food shortages.
The tech giant will connect them with its vast network of contacts to help them find new markets and collaborations.
More than 40 Israeli startups were slated to collaborate, with the first two – Projini and Saturas – already working with Microsoft.
Projini is developing herbicides using AI technologies traditionally used in the pharmaceutical industry, and Saturas has developed a sensor that is embedded in the trunks of trees, vines and plants to determine the water status of crops.
The partnership program is led by Start-Up Nation Central (SNC), a non-profit organization that promotes Israeli innovators to help solve global challenges.
Microsoft will also explore integrating Israeli solutions into its cloud-based, agriculture-focused business tools.
“Israel's agritech industry is well advanced in data, software and connectivity, offering Microsoft incredible potential in the growing field of data-driven agriculture,” said Avi Hasson, CEO of startup Nation Central.
“Israel is home to more than 250 leading cloud agriculture startups, providing fertile ground for innovation in this rapidly evolving sector. Start-Up Nation Central’s unprecedented access to the Israeli startup ecosystem and its connections to global multinationals such as Microsoft enable us to create exciting opportunities,” he said.