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Haifa's R&D center

At Haifa’s agricultural R&D farm, we develop innovative plant nutrition solutions that empower growers worldwide to achieve better yields. This is where we test new products, refine application procedures, and validate advanced technologies to ensure we deliver the best tools for precision plant nutrition.

State-of-the-Art Facilities: Our center features a fully controlled greenhouse, expansive orchards, and open field plots.

Comprehensive Research: We conduct both short-term and long-term in-vivo studies to evaluate Haifa’s plant nutrition innovations and explore cutting-edge precision agriculture technologies.

A Historical Site: Our center is located at the Aaronsohn Farm, the first Agricultural Trial Station in the land of Israel.

 

Continuing the Legacy of Innovation
Haifa’s R&D and Innovation Center is proudly situated at the historical Aaronsohn Farm in Atlit, the first agricultural trial station in Israel. Founded and managed by agronomist Aaron Aaronsohn, renowned for the discovery of Wild Emmer wheat, the historic farm was active between 1910 and 1917. Aaronsohn’s vision was to develop Jewish agriculture in the Holy Land by conducting diverse research to adapt crop varieties to local conditions. 
In 2014, Haifa revived this historic farm, merging our values with Aaronsohn’s pioneering spirit.

The Greenhouse: Home of Innovation
At the core of Haifa’s R&D Center is our 1,000 m² greenhouse, equipped with 16 advanced growing systems. This greenhouse hosts dozens of trials each year, where we validate product efficiency and test innovative advances.

The Orchard: Growing Forward
Our 3,000 m² orchard, home to avocado and citrus trees, exemplifies Haifa’s Nutri Haitech™ approach, which offers holistic and highly efficient plant nutrition solutions. In this orchard we demonstrate the unique benefits of controlled release nutrition, while testing various foliar nutrition treatments.   

The Wheat Plot: Bridging Past and Future
In 1906, Aaron Aaronsohn made the groundbreaking discovery of Wild Emmer wheat, the progenitor of modern wheat. Aaronsohn envisioned that this ancient grain would be a vital resource for improving wheat’s nutritional quality, disease resistance, and tolerance to water-limited conditions.
Today, Haifa’s R&D Center continues this legacy with a 2,000 m² wheat plot. Here, we conduct trials on our controlled-release fertilizers and biostimulant products. Additionally, research by the Institute of Evolution Wild Cereal Gene Bank (ICGB) at the University of Haifa is also carried out in this plot, further contributing to the global understanding of wheat genetics and improvement.

Haifa Group's Innovation and Development Center
Continuing the legacy of innovation
Innovative solutions
Innovative applications
Knowledge & Experience

The R&D center located at Aaronsohn Farm in Atlit is a significant pillar of the Haifa group's work, considered a multinational pioneer in the development of innovative solutions in the field of specialty fertilizers.

In order to develop the tools & technologies, innovative tests and experiments are being conducted at the center to study and improve plant nutrition. Academy researchers work alongside farmers and agronomists, and together with the knowledge and experience that Haifa brings with it, breakthrough ideas are born that affect the global agriculture industry. The place also functions as the visitor center of the Haifa group, which allows professional groups from Israel and the world to be exposed to the most advanced technology in the field of modern plant fertilization and agriculture.

Aaronsohn Farm operated as the first agricultural experiment station in Israel from 1910-1917. The farm was founded and managed by agronomist Aaron Aaronsohn, who was known around the world for discovering "the mother of wheat" and was one of the founders of the Nili underground. As part of the vision for agricultural development in Israel, Aaronsohn conducted a wide range of research and experiments to adapt the varieties and crops to local conditions.

In 2014, the Haifa Group was given the opportunity to take part in revitalizing the historic farm and preserving Aharon Aaronsohn's professional heritage as a pioneer in advanced agriculture. As part of this legacy revival, the Haifa Group is cooperating with Tel Aviv University's Grain Crop Research Institute in genetic studies of the original "Wheat Mother". The ongoing investment in research and development enables the Haifa Group to produce a range of breakthrough solutions and applications:

Controlled release fertilizers with Multicote ™ technology - a solution that allows continuous release of all necessary nutrients to the plant throughout the growing period, assists in optimal feed, reduces plant fertilizer consumption (sometimes by tens of percent), saves time for farmers and prevents soil runoff and soil water.

Advanced solutions for greenhouse crops - Greenhouses with a detached substrate are most often reused for irrigation surplus, and are characterized by the accumulation of sodium that damages the growth of the crop. For such situations, Haifa Group has developed Multi-K ™, a fertilizer that contains zero levels of sodium and allows for optimal growth of the crop.

Feed the crop through the irrigation system - Nutrigation allows even distribution of nutrients, leading to sustained feeding and saving valuable time spent on manual or mechanized fertilization.

Building a smart fertilizer program - through Haifa's unique technology system, NutriNet developed in our innovation center After entering the necessary information, the system weights all the data and creates accurate fertilization plans that are suitable for crops and fertilization systems.

Knowledge and experience from over 50 years of operations together with the desire to learn and develop in accordance with global changes are the ones that make up the scientific uniqueness of the company and make the Haifa group one of the leading companies in the field of fertilizers in the world.