An Israeli ag-tech company has developed a way to grow tomatoes even in times of drought. It boosts the growth of the tomato root system and improves nutrient absorption from the soil, improving yield and extending the shelf life of agricultural produce, even as droughts continue to strengthen.
Grace Breeding, the Rehovot-based startup behind the innovation, says its Wide Defense System (WDS) only needs to be applied once per season. The WDS formula helps industrial, or commercially-grown tomatoes, grow in different plots in various climate stress conditions.
Over 90 percent of US tomatoes are grown in California, which has suffered its worst drought since the year 800. This has forced more than a third of local farmers to kill their crops due to water deficiency, causing a rise in prices.
WDS boosts industrial tomato yield by 17 percent while improving nutrient absorption from the soil.
Source NoCamels/ Photo Reuters