CaRe Member Participated in Tailor-made Learning Tour on Israeli Agriculture AI Ecosystem and Trends in Israel
Aug 06, 2026
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sittichai Choosumrong, a CaRe member, participated in the Tailor-made Learning Tour on Israeli Agriculture AI Ecosystem and Trends, organized by the Israel Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV), in Israel from July 27 to August 4, 2026.
The program commenced with a series of lectures delivered by representatives from three leading private companies, who shared their expertise in smart farming, water resource management, and agricultural supply chain management. Each session demonstrated practical applications of advanced technologies and innovation in modern agriculture. Participants from Thailand, Vietnam, and Georgia joined the program, creating valuable opportunities to exchange knowledge, build professional networks, and strengthen collaboration with Israeli experts and industry leaders. The tour is expected to foster future academic partnerships, collaborative research, and technological applications between participating countries.
The delegation visited the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment to explore its research facilities, including the Plant DiTech system, greenhouse technologies, research portfolio, and presentations by faculty members. A key highlight was the innovative greenhouse cooling system, which differs from conventional evaporative cooling designs. Instead of using exhaust fans, the system blows cooled air through cooling pads while insect-proof mesh enables natural ventilation, creating a fully enclosed environment that provides complete insect protection. The group also visited an agricultural company specializing in fertilizers and innovative agricultural technologies.
The delegation continued the study visit at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Israel, where they learned about the country's integration of science, engineering, and smart agriculture. Presentations from the Institute of Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering highlighted the application of Remote Sensing, Big Data, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning to support smart farming, water resource management, soil health assessment, productivity improvement, and sustainable food security.
The third day focused on modern agriculture in desert environments. During the morning, participants visited greenhouse facilities producing cherry tomatoes and mulberries. One greenhouse cultivated tomatoes directly in sandy soil, while another utilized grow bags within an evaporative cooling greenhouse system. The facilities also incorporated robotic technologies for environmental monitoring, pollination assistance, and harvesting. In the afternoon, the delegation visited open-field plantations of date palms, pomegranates, and vineyards. The site demonstrated extensive implementation of IoT and Smart Farming technologies, including comprehensive sensor networks and the first LoRa-based data transmission system observed during the study tour.
The delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv to discuss how the knowledge gained throughout the program could contribute to Thailand's digital transformation. Coinciding with the 72nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Israel, discussions emphasized strengthening and expanding academic and research collaborations with leading Israeli public and private organizations. Future initiatives include joint academic activities and collaborative research in artificial intelligence for agriculture and related fields.
The final technical visits took place at Kinneret Innovation Center (KIC) and MIGAL, located in northern Israel near the Lebanese border. Surrounded by the Sea of Galilee, mountainous landscapes, and extensive agricultural areas, the region showcased how innovation centers, greenhouse farming, and local communities successfully integrate advanced agricultural technologies with natural ecosystems.
On the final day, participants gathered for a concluding workshop to reflect on the program, exchange perspectives, and present strategies for applying the knowledge gained in their respective countries. During this session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sittichai Choosumrong presented an overview of the Faculty of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Naresuan University, highlighting its expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, IoT, and digital technologies for Smart Farming. The presentation emphasized their applications in environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, and efficient resource management, while promoting future international collaboration in agricultural innovation.
