Yarok Food Safety Fast Testing System Wins UN Innovation Award

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Technology to enable fresh food producers in Developing Countries to detect hazardous bacteria quickly, with results in 45 minutes.

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Milan AND Jerusalem, Israel; May 10, 2017 - ​Yarok Technology Transfer Ltd. innovation-based developer of fast, accurate tests for the food Industry, today announced it has received the International Award 2017 for “Innovative Ideas and Technology on Agribusiness” from UNIDO ITPO Italy (the Italian Investment and Technology Promotion Office of the United Nations Organization for Industrial Development), CNR - the Italian National Research Council, and Seeds & Chips under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation.

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Yarok was one of five winners selected from over 330 entries from 80 countries submitted to the competition.

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The winners were announced this morning at the opening of a special conference entitled “Inspire Power - Food Security for Developing Countries” as part of the Seeds & Chips Global Food Innovation Summit in Milan. The award ceremony was opened by keynote speaker Kerry Kennedy, President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.

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The contest aimed to identify the world’s most innovative technologies and ideas in agribusiness to improve the socio-economic, food safety and security conditions in Less Developed Countries (LDCs).

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​Yarok has developed a technology and a fast testing system for the food industry that is able to provide results in 45 minutes as opposed to the long hours or days required by current testing methods. By testing raw materials, or the finished product, the system indicates either product conformity, or the presence of dangerous bacteria (e.g., E.coli, Listeria, Salmonella, etc.), for decision-making support on allowing -- or preventing -- delivery of fresh products to Points of Sale. Yarok’s system is already implemented in Israel and Italy.

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For the UNIDO ITPO Italy competition, Yarok identified a problem affecting LDCs wherein export possibilities to First World markets are missed due to food safety regulations and limited access to technological solutions.

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The innovative solution proposed by Yarok would provide LDC exporters with the capability of assessing the presence and/or absence of hazardous bacteria in fresh produce, to meet Developed Countries’ strict Food Safety regulations.

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Yarok CEO Jonathan Sierra said, “We’re honored to receive this award for our project which aims to empower farmers from LDcs by means of our fast testing technology. One major barrier LDC producers face are Developed Countries’ high Food Safety standards. Adapting the Yarok system to LDC needs will, we hope, open export opportunities.”

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Yarok is exhibiting at the Israel Export Institute pavilion at Seeds & Chips Global Food Innovation Summit, Fiera Milano, Hall 12, Stand B16. Seeds & Chips 2017 was opened by keynote speaker former U.S. President Barack Obama.
 

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About Yarok Technology Transfer

Yarok Technology Transfer Ltd. is an innovation-based start-up that has developed a fast microbiological testing system for the fresh food industry to protect consumers and safeguard producer interests. The company’s technology is based on a core system with specific modules for specific industry sectors. Yarok is dedicated to bringing Israeli innovation to the Food and the Agriculture industries. Yarok is based in Jerusalem, Israel, with laboratory facilities near Tel Aviv. For more information, visit www.yaroktt.com