Next Generation

Super Cacao

Using CRISPR 2.0, an advanced gene-editing technology, we are transforming a US$310 billion industry threatened by climate devastation, disease, systemic child labor, excessive caffeine levels and heavy metal contamination.

Our cacao varieties deliver enhanced cocoa butter, strong disease resistance and climate resilience. They are free of heavy metals and caffeine, making them safer for children, and are engineered for mechanized harvesting – a critical step toward eliminating child labor from cacao production.

Chocolate Emergency

The global chocolate industry is under severe strain. Cacao production has fallen by 30% in just two years, while prices have surged from US$2,500 to US$12,000 per ton, threatening the world’s favorite indulgence.

The supply chain is in crisis. West Africa, which produces roughly 70% of the world’s cacao, is being hit hard by disease and climate stress on smallholder farms. Global chocolate manufacturers and cacao producers are urgently seeking solutions to protect a US$310 billion market.

Crisis multipliers converge: deforestation pressures, child labor scrutiny, heavy metal contamination, and climate disasters created a perfect storm – traditional breeding’s minimum 15-year timeline offers no hope.

Revolutionary rescue mission: Agronetica applies CRISPR 2.0 gene editing to cacao to deliver solutions far faster than conventional breeding. This speed is critical for addressing climate damage, disease pressure and the urgent need to remove child labor from cacao farming.

1.

Climate Devastation & Yield Collapse

30-40% production losses from drought and heat, forcing desperate deforestation.

2.

High Caffeine Levels

High caffeine content limits children’s and sensitive populations’ consumption.

3.

Child Labor

Crisis 1.5 million children trapped in hazardous manual harvesting.

4.

Disease Apocalypse

Phytophthora and viruses are causing billions of dollars in damages annually.

5.

Heavy Metal Contamination

Cadmium and lead blocking billions in exports to EU markets.

5 Solutions – One Super-Cacao!

Agronetica applies CRISPR 2.0 – next-generation gene-editing tools expediting the Nobel Prize-winning science – to create a super-cacao tree that saves chocolate while transforming farmer livelihoods.

CRISPR

Agronetica leverages CRISPR 2.0 – the cutting-edge advancement beyond Nobel Prize-winning gene-editing technology – to create Super-Cacao that tackles climate devastation, disease, caffeine, deforestation, child labor and heavy metals, while being designed to qualify as non-GMO. Our varieties deliver multiple revolutionary advantages in a single tree, without introducing foreign DNA.

We’re addressing climate devastation destroying 30% of crops, eliminating child labor through mechanization, removing caffeine for broader markets, and preventing toxic contamination – revolutionary advantages delivers in record time, and not the 15+ years needed today.

Agronetica’s Leadership Position

World’s leading dedicated cacao CRISPR company – we effectively stand alone today. Non-GMO positioning in leading markets such as the US, our native-gene edits avoid mandatory GMO labeling, strongly supporting consumer acceptance.
High speed development vs. 15 traditional breeding
A Speed that matches crisis urgency. Save Chocolate. Save the World.

Solving the cacao crisis transcends business –
it’s about preserving a $310 billion industry, protecting 6 million farming families, and saving the world’s most beloved food. Our mission: delivering revolutionary cacao that transforms climate resilience, farmer economics, consumer experience and ethical standards. We are not just developing solutions – we are preparing to implement them globally at unprecedented speed.

Executive Leadership

Dr. Helmut Schramm

Chairman

A veteran in the Ag industry as the former President of Agricultural Affairs at Bayer CropScience, CEO of Bayer CS Germany LLC, formerly head of Bayers’ Fungicide division and President of the Agricultural Industry Association (IVA).

Ido Margalit

CEO & Co-founder

Has over 20 years of management experience in the life science industry. He co-founded Infigo Diagnostics Ltd. and held executive positions at TransAlgae Ltd. and Syngenta Group, a global leader in the ag-tech sector with over $30 billion in revenue. Mr. Margalit is an agronomist and holds an M.Sc. in Management of Technology from the Polytechnic School of Engineering of New York University.

Rami Dar

Director

Formerly the CEO of Hazera Seeds for 17 years, the biggest seed company in Israel, and also part of the Limagrain Group, the biggest vegetable seed company in the world. In addition, Rami served as Chairman of the Board of Novolog for more than five years, a TASE-125 index-traded company, and as a board member of a NASDAQ-traded company and a private company.

Ilanit Madari

CFO & HR

A seasoned Financial Officer with experience in the global tech industry. Mrs. Madari held C-level positions at both Headsense Medical Ltd. and the Targetech Innovation center, where she led the financial growth of dozens of startups. Mrs. Madari holds a B.A. in Economics and Management from Ruppin College and an MBA from Ramat Gan College.

Leadership Team

World-class experts translating breakthrough science
into market reality Scientific Advisors

Dr. Amit Gal-On

Plant Virus Expert

Former Senior Leader at the Plant Protection Institute, Volcani Leading authority on plant viruses

Prof. Virginijus Šikšnys

CRISPR Advisor

Prof. Virginijus Šikšnys is a CRISPR pioneer and world-renowned gene editing scientist, whose CRISPR research predates foundational CRISPR patents of Doudna and Charpentier, and who has won several internationally acclaimed awards for his work such as the prestigious Kavli Prize.

Dr. Avi Perl

Tissue culture Advisor

Former Chief Scientist of the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and senior researcher at the Volcani Center for Agricultural Research (ARO). Specializes in plant cell culture technologies, recalcitrant plant regeneration and novel transformation protocols. Led national agricultural strategy development, research prioritization, and the implementation of large-scale projects from concept to execution

Prof. Haim Rabinowitch

Genetics Visionary Advisor

Formerly the Dean of Faculty of Agriculture and Rector at the Hebrew University, is a world-renowned expert in plant physiology and an opinion leader in plant breeding. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including the American ASHA and NFPA Award, The Kaye Prize, and the Rothschild Prize.

Dr. Shira Corem

VP R&D

With extensive research experience in Genome Editing and Molecular Biology, Dr. Corem is head of the genetic research array at BetterSeeds. Before that, Dr. Corem was a senior researcher at the Volcani Institute, where she focused on epigenetic breeding and the application and utilization of CRISPR gene-editing technology. Dr. Corem holds an M. Sc in Environmental Biomontoring, Cum Laude from the University of Genoa and a Ph.D. in Plant Science from Tel Aviv University.

Dr. Tal Sherman

CTO & Co-founder

An expert in molecular biology and plant physiology, with extensive experience in R&D and plant breeding management. He was the director of the trait and abiotic stress-based projects at Syngenta Group, leading the implementation of new digital phenotyping technologies. Dr. Sherman holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture from the Hebrew University and an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Plant Science from Tel Aviv University.