Dr. Gideon Bickel, agronomist, entrepreneur, and businessman, has gifted the University’s Institute of Evolution with a 61-dunam (15-acre) plot of land in Moshav Neve Yarak to establish a “regenerative agriculture” research farm. The farm will focus on sustainable agricultural methods, the development of innovative plant varieties, and develop research-based solutions to challenges posed by the climate crisis. The initiative, spearheaded by Prof. Asaf Distelfeld (Head, Institute of Evolution), will launch with two key projects: the cultivation of vineyards from ancient grape varieties, led by Prof. Guy Bar-Oz (School of Archeology and Maritime Cultures) and wheat genome studies.