Green Soil Partners
Green Soil consortium brings together a diverse group of leading companies and academic institutions, each contributing unique expertise to achieve our ambitious goals.
Companies
Elbit Systems C4I and Cyber
Elbit Systems is an international high technology company engaged in a wide range of defense, homeland security and commercial programs throughout the world. The Company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of aerospace, land, and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (“C4ISR”), unmanned aircraft systems, advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, signal intelligence systems, data links and communications systems, radios and cyber-based systems. The Company also focuses on developing advanced technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial applications and providing a range of support services, including training and simulation systems.
Netafim
Netafim is an Israeli irrigation company founded in 1965 on Kibbutz Hatzerim that pioneered commercial drip irrigation, radically improving water efficiency in farming. Today it’s part of Orbia’s Precision Agriculture group and operates globally with around 33 subsidiaries, 19 manufacturing plants and a presence in more than 110 countries. Netafim’s main products include drip and micro-irrigation systems, drippers, dripperlines, sprinklers, micro-emitters, and advanced crop management technologies like monitoring, control, and digital farming solutions. It serves markets from smallholders to large agricultural producers, helping growers increase yields while conserving water and other resources.
Alagene
Alagene is a leading synthetic biology biofoundry and industry-focused CRO specializing in high-impact stages of biotechnology R&D. The company combines advanced microbial and fungal strain optimization with bioprocess design, supported by an automated high-throughput biofoundry and scale-ready proprietary genetic systems.
Alagene develops both genetic engineering and non-GMO solutions, including selective enrichment and optimization of native and environmental microorganisms, with applications in biological degradation of hydrocarbons and other organic pollutants using environmentally compatible biological approaches. With end-to-end R&D capabilities spanning assay development, fermentation optimization, and downstream purification, Alagene enables partners to reduce risk, accelerate development, and translate complex biological concepts into cost-viable, industrial-scale solutions.
Netzer Hasharon
Netzer HaSharon Ltd. is a government defense company and national center of expertise for remediating former defense-industrial sites for civilian and residential reuse.
The company’s mission is to perform remediation, clearance, demolition and decontamination within active defense complexes—ensuring operational continuity (including explosive-material activities) while meeting relocation timelines set by the Ministries of Defense and Finance for IMI Systems moves. Netzer HaSharon specializes in converting vacated or soon-to-be-vacated defense facilities unfit for residential or commercial use by neutralizing health and environmental risks and addressing soil and groundwater contamination from hazardous and explosive residues.
Netzer HaSharon is leading the remediation of roughly 6,000 dunams on behalf of the Israel Land Authority to enable ~36,000 housing units, and conducts intensive remediation across former military-industry sites in Ramat HaSharon, Tirat HaCarmel, Nof HaGalil, Kiryat Shmona, and Ramat Beka. At the IMI complex in Ramla, the company is establishing a unique groundwater pumping and treatment facility to remediate contamination and prepare water for agricultural reuse.
LDD
LDD was founded in 1998 as a pioneer in the field of soil and groundwater remediation in Israel, driven by a vision of science, professionalism and responsibility. The company is Israel’s leading, largest, and most established provider of turn key solutions to environmental challenges. Over the years, LDD has evolved from an environmental consulting firm into a specialized remediation contractor, delivering complex soil and water remediation projects with international operations. Its human capital, professional expertise, and advanced technologies enable the successful implementation of its vision on a daily basis.
The company operates at the forefront of scientific and technological developments in the environmental sector in Israel and worldwide, and develops and imports innovative technologies to enhance the solutions offered to its clients and to advance environmental quality in Israel. While the core of the company’s activities is in Israel, LDD has completed numerous projects abroad, ranging from China to Central America. Its clients include public authorities and government ministries, major public-sector organizations within the Israeli economy, and leading industrial companies in Israel and internationally.
YD Labs
YDLabs is a leading Israeli fermentation and biomanufacturing company that supports FoodTech and AgriTech innovators through advanced process development and scalable production capabilities. The company operates Israel’s first dedicated fermentation pilot facility, enabling startups and global partners to move efficiently from lab‑scale experiments to industrial‑scale processes. With a team that brings decades of combined fermentation expertise, YDLabs provides end‑to‑end services including upstream development, downstream purification, and optimization for cost‑effective production. Its infrastructure spans multiple bioreactor sizes, allowing seamless scale‑up from early R&D to 1,000‑liter pilot runs. YDLabs plays a central role in strengthening Israel’s alternative‑protein ecosystem and is recognized by national innovation bodies for its contribution to the country’s bio‑manufacturing capabilities. Through strategic collaborations and cutting‑edge technology, the company accelerates the path from scientific concept to market‑ready product.
MS Tech
MS Tech is a global developer, manufacturer and innovator of nanotechnology and biotechnology detection and diagnostics sensors. MS Tech’s technologies are based on its award- winning and patented sensors, which represent a scientific breakthrough in the detection and identification of materials in gas, vapor and liquid phases. With over 27 years of experience in analytical chemistry and technology, MS Tech’s innovative sensor technologies are environmentally friendly with widespread applications in several market sectors, including food safety & product inspection, homeland security & defense, bio-medical diagnostics, water & air monitoring and aerospace. MS Tech develops, manufactures and supplies customized detection sensors and integrated solutions to its affiliate companies and other industrial OEM’s and resellers.
Sensoil
Sensoil Innovations is a pioneer in environmental technology and data analytics, specializing in “making the invisible visible” through real-time subsurface insights. At the core of our solution is the patented Vadose Zone Monitoring System (VMS), a globally unique technology that integrates continuous, real-time data with controlled in-situ active sampling. The VMS has versatile applications across a wide range of groundwater protection fields and industries, including mining, the optimization of in-situ bio-remediation strategies, precision agriculture, and academic and environmental research. Unlike traditional methods, the VMS allows for the simultaneous collection of pore-water and gases from varying depths while tracking moisture, pressure gradients, and chemical concentrations. This powerful combination provides an unprecedented ability to quantify the mobility and degradation of contaminants, serving as a critical early-warning system for proactive groundwater protection.
Bazan
Bazan Group, Oil Refineries Ltd., is located in the Haifa Bay area and is one of the most complex and largest energy groups in Israel. It operates a refinery and is a petrochemical conglomerate. Its modern, high-quality production facilities enable the production of a wide range of refined petroleum products for industry and various sectors, including transport, agriculture, infrastructures and domestic consumption.
We represent Bazan laboratories that have decades of experience in identification and characterization of fuels, fuel blends and their additives. Our R&D laboratory is positioned at the forefront of research on SAF, high-density fuels, hydrogen and other advanced energy solutions. All this as a part of Bazan Group’s strategic vision that focuses on the integration and development of renewable fuels within Israel’s energy sector.
Academic & Research Institutions:
Prof. Ariel Kushmaro, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
The Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Israel), led by Prof. Ariel Kushmaro, is a multidisciplinary research group integrating environmental microbiology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, and applied environmental engineering. The laboratory adopts a holistic, systems-level approach to address complex environmental challenges through fundamental and applied research. The lab focuses on the study of microorganisms—including bacteria, fungi, and viruses—and their roles in natural and engineered environments. Key research areas include the biological degradation of environmental pollutants such as plastics, petroleum hydrocarbons, explosives, and industrial contaminants, as well as bioremediation of industrial wastewater and contaminated soils.
Dr. Shiri Freilich, Volcani Institute Systems Biology in Ecology & Agriculture
The key motivation underlying the research in the group is the development of data-guided strategies for the educated design of indigenous communities in agro-ecosystems. To this end, we apply and develop computational models for predicting and understanding the networks of interactions formed within microbial communities by analyzing meta/genomics data. Using our tools we can delineate trophic dependencies, exchanges, competitive and cooperative interactions within natural microbial communities and use simulations for predicting potential routes for the optimization of predefined functions.
Our research projects demonstrate the application of metabolic network approaches for the analysis of genomic and metagenomics data in agricultural systems toward the development of sustainable practices.
Dr. Guy Mechraz, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
The Laboratory of Colloids and Interfaces for Food, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, focuses on fundamental and applied colloid and interface science for food and bio-food systems. A primary research priority is the development of hybrid living materials and their formulation into particle-based systems for bioremediation of contaminated soils, leveraging controlled encapsulation, protection, and release of active biological agents. Complementing this core effort, the lab studies particle-stabilized soft matter, including Pickering emulsions, foams, and colloidal platforms, with an emphasis on interfacial stability and transport. These principles are further applied to protein- and inorganic-particle nanocarriers for DNA and RNA delivery to plants and fungi, magnetic emulsions for pathogen sampling and sensing, and superhydrophobic anti-biofilm surfaces to enhance food safety and sustainability.
Dr. Giorgi Steinberg, Volcani Institute The Agricultural Research Organization
Giorgi Shtenberg is a Research Scientist leading the Biosensors and Nanoengineering Laboratory at the Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, ARO, Volcani Institute. His group is focused on the development of novel biosensors/bioassays that will transform from laboratory-based research into real on-site “lab-on-chip” platforms for addressing analytical aspects in fields of agriculture, animal diagnostics, food safety, biomedical and environmental monitoring and detection.
Dr. Adi Radian, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology - The Soil and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory
The Environmental and Soil Chemistry Lab investigates the fate, transport, and transformation of pollutants in soil and water systems, with the goal of understanding the fate of pollutants and developing sustainable remediation strategies. Our research focuses on coupling adsorption-based approaches with chemical and biological degradation, targeting pollutants such as pesticides, hydrocarbons, explosives and heavy metals. We are particularly interested in processes occurring at the soil-water interface, including colloidal interactions with biodegrading bacteria and enzymes, and the use of clay minerals and metal oxides as catalytic surfaces. Combining environmental chemistry with advanced analytical techniques, including microscopy, spectroscopy, and surface characterization, we aim to create effective, science-driven solutions to pressing environmental challenges.
Dr. Ramez Daniel, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
Technology – The central objective of my research is to apply principles inspired by electrical engineering to the design and construction of advanced and innovative synthetic gene network. By taking advantage of the strong similarities between biological systems and electronic circuits, we can design, model, and construct efficient biological circuits for biotechnology and medical applications. We build our own synthetic genetic circuits and study how they function in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Prof.Zeev Ronen, Prof. Ofer Dahan, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
ZIWR was founded in January 2002 within the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, at the Sde-Boker Campus of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
ZIWR scientists use experimental and theoretical approaches to conduct fundamental research related to water in order to understand wide-ranging phenomena.
Our broad-based research encompasses nanoscience and pore-scale phenomena, and extends to pilot projects and field studies.
Our interdisciplinary team includes hydrologists, soil scientists, geologists, chemists, microbiologists, and engineers. The result is a unique scientific environment facilitating the investigation of environmental challenges and the development of engineering solutions for water-related problems. Young and dynamic, the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research is open to change, and research topics are “fine-tuned” to remain responsive to constantly evolving needs and challenges.
ZIWR members are actively engaged in research projects within Israel, and collaborate with other scientists worldwide. Particular emphasis is placed on research and development of water resources in drylands in general, and on the local conditions of the Negev in particular. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev remains mindful of its founding mission to spearhead development of Israel’s southern region while taking its place in the global scientific community.
A unique graduate studies curriculum in “Hydrology and Water Quality” was developed to meet the increasing need for hydrologists, water engineers, and water planners in Israel, the Middle East, and other places around the world. The program is founded on an interdisciplinary approach through the integration of science with engineering.
Our international program has succeeded in attracting students from Israel, North and South America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Our students have gone on to take key positions in academia, research institutes, the water treatment and desalination commercial sector, consulting firms, and in policy-making and governmental bodies.
Dr. Hadar Ben Yoav, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
The research team of Professor Hadar Ben-Yoav focuses on interfacing biology with microelectronics. In particular, we study the integration of biological materials (such as DNA, proteins, and cells) with micro- and nano-electronic devices that will harness their unique functionalities for the development of the next generation of personalized health and environmental monitoring applications (such as electronic skin patches and implantable sensors that can continuously monitor our health).
Prof. Gilad Yossifon, Tel Aviv University
Professor in the school of Mechanical, Biomedical Engineering at Tel-Aviv University and the head of the µ/nano-fluidics and robotics laboratory. Gilad completed his PhD (2008) at Tel-Aviv University, his MSc (1999) and BSc (1994, Summa Cum Laude) studies in Mechanical Engineering at the Technion, and an additional MSc (2003) in Electrical Engineering in Tel-Aviv University. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, filed 10 patent applications, and secured numerous research grants. His research interests lie in the area of electrokinetics in micro- and nano-fluidics, lab-on-a-chip devices, and micro- and nano-robots.
Prof. Meytal Zolbermman, Tel Aviv University
Prof. Meital Zilberman holds an appointment of Full Professor at the School of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering of Tel Aviv University.
Her research interests are polymeric biomaterials, cell and drug encapsulation, active implants and scaffolds for tissue regeneration. During 2015-2020 she served as the president of Israel Society for Biomedical Engineering.
She published more than 120 articles in the top Biomaterials, Biomedical Engineering and Polymers journals, and delivered about 300 presentations (including invited talks keynote and plenary lectures).
Prof. Ines Zuker, Tel Aviv University
The Zucker lab is involved in the design, preparation, characterization, and testing of materials and processes for environmental applications.
We also focus on quantifying the risk of material at the nanoscale on the environment and identifying future areas of research necessary to realize safe deployment of promising nanomaterial applications.
Prof. Ehud Banin, Bar-Ilan University
Prof. Ehud Banin is a Full Professor at the Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences and serves as the Academic Director of the Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA) at Bar-Ilan University. An internationally recognized expert in microbiology, synthetic biology and nanotechnology. Prof. Banin’s research focuses on the interface between bacteria and nanomaterials, with particular emphasis on biofilm biology, antibiotic resistance and development of bacteria as biosensors for health and environmental applications. Prof. Banin has published over 120 peer-reviewed papers and has numerous patent in the field.
Prof. Doron Gerber, Bar-Ilan University
Professor Doron Gerber (an alumnus of the Weizmann Institute of Science and Stanford University), has specialized in the development of advanced microfluidic chips for diagnostics and pathogen identification since 2010. Operating within the Faculty of Life Sciences and the Institute of Nanotechnology, his lab focuses on the automation of fluid management and sample preparation. This critical step is achieved using thousands of micro-valves on the chip. The technology developed by Prof. Gerber hold broad and transformative implications for both environment and healthcare.
Prof. Nimrod Swartz, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Nimrod Schwartz’s lab investigates fundamental soil properties and processes using advanced geophysical tools and sophisticated modeling approaches. The research focuses on the interplay between soil physical, chemical, and biological factors and their influence on water and solute transport in environmental and agricultural systems. By applying methods such as spectral induced polarization and electrical resistivity tomography, the lab studies soil contamination, root–soil interactions, water dynamics, and the physicochemical mechanisms governing electrical responses in porous media. An interdisciplinary approach integrating soil physics, geophysics, and environmental science is used to develop innovative solutions for monitoring, managing, and assessing soil and water resources under environmental and agricultural challenges
Dr. Lianet Noda Garcia, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Laboratory of Metabolic Evolution and Synthetic Biology studies how new enzyme functions and metabolic pathways evolve and adapt in bacteria. The group uses experimental and directed evolution, together with biochemistry, microbiology, and genomics, to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind adaptive mutations and enzyme optimization in microbes. Building on this understanding of evolutionary processes, the lab also develops evolution-based synthetic biology tools to engineer proteins and organisms for practical applications, including bioremediation (e.g., designing cells that break down persistent pollutants) and sustainable agriculture solutions.
Prof. Shimshon Belkin, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Belkin group at the Hebrew University’s Institute of Life Sciences is a world leader in the design, construction, testing and implementation of molecularly engineered microbial biosensors. The diverse sensor applications addressed by the group include water security, food safety, environmental monitoring and the remote detection of explosives. The group’s expertise also extends to different aspects of environmental microbiology and microbial ecology. For a continuously updated list of publication
Institute for Biological Reasearch
The Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) is a governmental, cutting-edge applicable research institute, specializing in the fields of biology, chemistry and environmental sciences.
The capabilities, scientific achievements and international reputation of IIBR are a result of decades of research and development (R&D) aimed at defense from chemical and biological threats. IIBR’s core activities have generated leading capabilities in: biochemical processes, genomics, proteomics, pathophysiology of various infectious diseases and chemical exposures, pharmacology, synthesis of small and large molecules, bioinformatics, mathematical models, remote sensing, monitoring, advanced chemical analysis, diagnostic microbiology, environmental safety and more.
IIBR recruits leading Israeli scientists and support staff and benefits from facilities built to serve the topmost research and strict safety standards. IIBR regularly updates scientific technologies and infrastructure.
IIBR works in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and the ISO9001 and 14001 standards.
Prominent R&D, service culture, scientific innovation and strict compliance with project work plans synergistically lead to breakthroughs and achievements.
Numerous publications in leading journals, patents, prestigious grants, prizes, innovation of an ethical drug for Sjogren Syndrome and molecules with therapeutic potential all lead to national and international recognition and collaborations.
Israel Innovation Authority
Green Soil – Biological Technologies for in situ Remediation of Contaminated Land and Groundwater
An Israeli applied-research consortium funded by the Israel Innovation Authority brings together nine companies and 17 leading academic research groups to develop advanced biological technologies for in situ remediation of contaminated land and groundwater from hazardous pollutants, including PFAS, explosives, and fuels. The project will enable breakdown of contaminants in place and at depth using specially adapted endemic bacteria and biological components, alongside innovative injection and monitoring methods that allow real-time assessment of soil conditions. The development aims to provide an effective, environmentally friendly solution for a market estimated at billions of shekels in Israel and to open international markets worth hundreds of billions of dollars for Israeli companies.
This is a three-year program supported both financially and technologically by experts from the IIA. Partners include Elbit, LDD, MS TEC, Sensoil, YDLabs, Alagen, Bazan, Netafim, and Netzar Hasharon. Research support comes from Ben-Gurion University, the Technion, Bar-Ilan University, the Hebrew University, the Volcani Institute, and the Biological Institute
MEKOROT
Mekorot is Israel’s national water company and the government’s operational arm for developing, managing, and securing the country’s water sector. With over 85 years of experience, Mekorot supplies approximately 85% of Israel’s drinking water and about 70% of the country’s total water consumption. It integrates desalinated seawater, groundwater, surface water, brackish water, and reclaimed wastewater into a unified national system.
The company operates thousands of facilities, over 12,000 km of pipelines, more than 1,000 wells, and numerous desalination and wastewater reclamation plants. Mekorot is recognized as a global leader in water engineering, digital water management, and international consulting, working with countries such as India, Cyprus, Morocco, Bahrain, Argentina, and others.
Mekorot is rated AAA IL, employs about 2,000 people, and manages significant annual investments in water infrastructure. Its activities cover the entire water cycle, from resource development and treatment to quality assurance, security, and innovative R&D.