Petition to Save Volcani Center

I fully support the petition because I think that agricultural science can better flourish only through day-by-day interactions with scientists working also in basic research, as it is now for Volcani Center in its present location.

Save the Volcani Center Save Science

I believe moving the Volcani Center will negatively impact its great value as a world-class agricultural research center.

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Save Volcani Center and Agricultural Research in Israel

Although I have had no direct collaboration with Volcani Center colleagues I have met them in diverse scientific meetings, conferences and symposia, dealing with different research areas, from fruit ripening, quality and postharvest to plant responses to abiotic stress, especially drought and salinity. Needless to say the large number of publications of the highest quality I have found produced by researchers from Volcani Center, from which I have learnt and I still learn so much. Finally, I have evaluated research proposals presented at BARD calls prepared in collaboration by Volcani Center colleagues, proposals that I find really impressive because of its scientific insight and feasibility potential for knowledge transfer. For all these reasons I believe the Israel Government plan to transfer the Volcani Center could be a disaster, not only for Israel agriculture R+D but worldwide because of its huge number of international links.

I very much hope, that here the sense of productive old excellent tradition will prevail and Volcani center will be further contributing creatively to the advancement of plant and agricultural sciences.

" the problem with the world today is that too many people are trained to count beans and not enough to grow them". Quote by Edward Dundas Scott. Australian Soil Scientist 2014

A country that cuts funds for research and improve knowledge it is a country that does not think about the future of the younger generation and to the technological development of the country and the health of its citizens. I strongly support your protest, because I think the knowledge is the basis to build a better world

I have not been involved in research with the Volcani Center but I know a lot of excellent scientists working there. I have assisted the Volcani in the evaluation of BARD proposals receiving a further confirmation of the quality of the research carried out there and how it could benefit agriculture. Therefore I think that the concerns and the appeal of the Volcani Colleagues should be considered positively by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to avoid any breakage in the continuity of a such excellent basic and applied research activity.

The Volcani Center is a world leading research institute, and thus should be be saved.

I have been visiting scientist from India at The Volcani Center (2010-2014). I think Bet Dagan is perfect location for our center (especially for International Visitors- Embassy, visitors and students). Shifting will affects severally our research projects. If govt want to set up at that venue then they should establish new center with new faculty rather than sifting currently working faculty.

We support The Volcani center and recognize it as an important and vital international center os research

As a long time collaborator with scientist at the Volcani Center I support the petition. It will have a negative impact on the research opportunities when the Volcani Institute is relocated to a remote location, no longer allowing direct interactions with scientist of other research disciplines.

I fully support the petition of Volcani Center and the Israeli scientific community against the relocation of the Volcani Institute which certainly would have a negative impact on the future internal and international scientific cooperation.

I was not directly involved in collaborations with the Volcani center, but through several reviews I assisted the BARD fund in supporting agricultural research in Israel. The quality of the research proposed by Israelian scientists was always very high and deeply related to farmers' interests. I do not know the details of the relocation plan but I do think that the concerns of the Volcani researchers should be taken into account by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Close proximity with farmers and other institutions like universities is always essential to conduct relevant and excellent research.

How difficult for a foreign person to understand your dilemma. One thing I can understand. You live in a small country with limited space. On the other hand, during my recent visit to the land I was impressed by the many new drip-irrigated vineyards near Sde Boker. The Negev offers a lot of space and is an ideal testing environment for a type of agriculture, where Israel has a leading knowledge position. Furthermore, it is better to build houses in Rehovot, on the former site of Vocani center, than to build settlements on the West Bank on confiscated but still privately owned land. You live in a very complex country with a Government that moves more an more to an extreme right wing position. What can I say from a distance.

I really don't understand why this kind of proposal. The Volcani center is worldwide recognized for its technical and scientific merits and I'm sure that it is strictly connected with it's strategic position within the Country. Unbelievable!

I fully support of your appeal. The government should find the solution following the communication with the academic staff of the Center and take their advice.

As they say; "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". If the move goes ahead, the Institute will have great difficulty in recruiting and retaining *good* staff.