Future Crops Sowing Proprietary Basil Seeds of Growth

17 February 2022

AgriTech start-up Future Crops, Ltd., an Israeli-Dutch venture, is boosting output of a pure, high-yielding basil variety it successfully adapted for cultivation in the company’s primarily solar powered 2,000m2 vertical farm. The advanced, clean-farming technique for this aromatic basil variety will impart a long shelf life and secure a steady supply of locally grown, pesticide-free herb to the European market.

The proprietary seeds were developed at the Israeli Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) by Nativ Dudai, PhD, professor and head of The Unit of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Dudai is considered a prominent global figure in the mapping, breeding and development of basil varieties. His research team was the first in the world to sequence the whole sweet basil genome.

Designated the “king of herbs,” basil is one of the leading three herbs marketed in Europe, alongside mint and coriander. Basil requires a minimum of five hours of sunshine daily, and thrives in warm, temperate subtropical climates. It is highly sensitive to cold, making northern Europe a less than ideal spot for growing basil. Basil also carries a characteristically short shelf life, as its tender leaves blacken and wilt easily.

The start-up has finalized negotiations with the ARO Institute to purchase exclusive licensing rights to these seeds for commercialization worldwide.

Future Crops developed ideal climate conditions for its basil, allowing it to thrive all year-round even during the cold Dutch winter. Equipped with precision agricultural technology, this signature basil crop is grown on a unique, nutrient-enriched soil-like substrate, with all cultivation parameters—including light, temperature, wind, and humidity, fully controlled.

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