Strategic Alliances

While the world waits for GCI by JNF to open, a whirlwind of activity is happening. Before the first year’s In an exciting step linking culinary education with higher learning, GCI by JNF has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tel-Hai Academic University. This partnership will enable:

• Israeli and international students to enroll in Tel-Hai’s Department of Food Sciences

• B.Sc. students in Food Sciences to gain hands-on, research-based learning at GCI by JNF

• Visa sponsorship for GCI by JNF students via Tel-Hai

• Joint development of culinary projects

Additionally, GCI by JNF has formed a key partnership with the MIGAL Research Institute, which oversees our 12-dunam (3-acre) farm. MIGAL, a leader in agricultural research, known for adapting crops to hot climates, introducing new fruit varieties to the region, and developing high-altitude vegetable farming in the Golan, guided our initial plantings. In fact, the first vegetables are already emerging from the soil! Culinary interns at GCI will use produce from the garden and orchard—as well as regional ingredients—in their learning and cooking. In fact, the first produce – eggplants – will be ready to pick in just a few short weeks.

Together with Margalit Startup City Galil, we are attracting start-up food-tech companies lured by the food basket of Israel, and the area is primed for investment opportunities, all part of our vision to attract 300,000 people to Israel’s North.

And of course, the presence of GCI by JNF brings with it myriad employment needs and we are working with our Lauder Employment Center to identify the jobs and find the people to fill them. The GCI by JNF circle of impact is truly transformative.