BioSTL, a St. Louis organization seeking to lure bioscience companies to St. Louis, announced that Israeli agtech company Forrest Innovations has selected St. Louis as the location of its U.S. headquarters. 

The company’s decision represents the third success in seven months for BioSTL’s St. Louis-Israel Innovation Connection (SLIIC), an initiative targeting Israeli companies for recruitment.

Forrest Innovations is developing technology to address two major challenges in the outdoor environment: reducing mosquito-carried disease and overcoming a bacteria that is threatening the citrus industry’s existence.

“St. Louis is renowned for its leadership in plant science and top notch scientific personnel, offering us a wonderful opportunity for recruiting highly qualified employees. St. Louis also provides a great platform for promoting innovation and collaboration. We are very happy to become the latest members of this promising community,” said Nitzan Paldi, CEO of Forrest Innovations, in a news release.

Prior to Forrest Innovations’ decision, Kaiima Bio-Agritech and Evogene each announced establishment of their U.S. base in St. Louis.

A delegation from St. Louis, including representatives from BioSTL, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, KWS, Monsanto, Missouri Partnership and St. Louis Regional Chamber visited Israel last month to spread awareness of St. Louis’ strengths as a potential relocation or expansion site.

Forrest Innovations will locate at BRDG Park, a Wexford Science + Technology development on the campus of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center focused on plant and life science companies.