Yoav Sarig (b. July 27, 1937) is an Israeli scientist, inventor and agricultural engineer. He is a renown expert in the field of mechanical harvesting of fruit, and is the holder of several patents for mechanical apparatus for harvesting and processing of jojoba beans, pecan nuts and pomegranates.
Biography
editEarly years and academic education
editSarig was born in Holon, in the then British Mandate of Palestine. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the Technion in 1962 and his Master's degree from the Technion in 1972. Sarig was awarded his doctorate from Michigan State University in 1976. The title of his doctoral thesis was Deformation analysis of foam-encapsulated apples under impact loading.
Research interests
editWorking for Israel's Volcani Centre, where he headed the Institute for Agricultural Engineering from 1976 to 1982, Sarig developed a mechanical pollinator for Date Palms[1], an apparatus for separating pomegranate seeds [2], a mechanical cracker for Macadamia nuts, a machine for harvesting agricultural produce from the ground suitable for Pecan nuts and similar produce [3] and many others. In later years, his interest turned to non-invasive methods for evaluation of agricultural produce - to assess a product's readiness for harvest or its ripeness without harming the fruit. He pioneered the use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to evaluate the maturity of Avocado fruits, and the use of an "artificial nose" utilizing the olfactory response of fresh produce as a consumer-oriented and non-destructive quality evaluation method[4].
China
editIn 1992, China formallly established diplomatic relations with Israel and an Israeli embassy was opened in Beijing. Sarig was appointed Science Counsellor at the embassy, a role he filled for 4 years, from 1993 to 1997. In China, Sarig proposed and oversaw the establishment of three major demonstration farms in China, which showcase Israeli agricultural technology, and several training centers which are supported by both the Chinese and Israeli ministries of agriculture. Sarig also realized the significance of conducting a variety of management courses in China, and instituted a program to deliver courses in business, marketing and business management.[5]
Honors
editIn 2006, Sarig was awarded the prestigious Namir Prize (formerly known as Kaplan Prize) for his work in developing the apparatus for the separation of pomegranate seeds.
Patents
editSarig was awarded several US patents. Amongst them
- U.S. patent 4,211,062 Machine for harvesting agricultural produce
- U.S. patent 4,530,278 Apparatus for separating pomegranate seeds
- U.S. patent 4,580,397 Apparatus for harvesting of jojoba beans