Israeli foodtech start-up CarobWay has partnered with the Jewish National Fund-KKL on a nationwide carob tree research initiative, the company announced this week.
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The venture has already begun extensive field research to attain a full analysis of domestic trees and identify the most fruitful carob varieties, as well as optimum growing conditions.
Researchers have mapped the country using a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) data collection format that assigns trees to the closest meteorological station, allowing researchers to accrue location-based data on such key parameters as rain volumes and humidity levels to help identify the most best areas for growing carob trees.
"There are five species of carob trees that grow throughout Israel," explains Sohel Zedan, Chief Forest Officer for the JNF and a leading global expert in carob cultivation and agriculture.
"Some have been growing wild in forests for thousands of years and are well acclimatized, so have proven resilience to extreme weather conditions and other environmental changes. Most were planted in the 1950's as part of a major afforestation campaign initiated by the JNF. Many of these deep-rooted perennial trees have long life spans, with the potential to live decades or even centuries. This makes them a highly sustainable, yet low-maintenance crop – traits we look for when selecting the best species to develop."
CarobWay currently harvests carob from key carob groves owned by the JNF in several parts of Israel and has established its own first 70-hectare (17- acre) modern carob grove in the Upper Galilee region.
CarobWay has also sealed agreements with R&D farms and local farming communities to optimize carob cultivation to develop innovative carob-derived products.
The team is conducting broadscale screening of native carob species, which is expected to allow the company to develop carob-based products that are in line with food industry needs.
"We applied several analytical methods to attain a deeper understanding of various carob species and their unique characteristics specifically so that we can tailor our offerings more adroitly to our clients," says CarobWay co-founder and CEO Udi Alroy.
"For example, some carob species grow fruit with higher sugar content, albeit with a naturally low glycemic index. These can serve the needs of food and beverage companies seeking viable sugar alternatives. Other trees bear more seeds and so are more suited to the locust bean gum industry," Alroy points out.
Research farm Hulata operates a model grove dedicated to R&D, where it analyzes local carob varieties and their cultivation methods from irrigation through to pollination technologies. The orchard is fully automated and computerized.
CarobWay also reports headway in creating innovative carob-centered food products in its private lab. "Carob is a highly nutritious and flavorful fruit, yet its true potential has yet to be realized," adds Alroy. "We are continually striving to bring the best of this super crop back to the table and to boost the carob value chain.
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