France's Veolia to invest in Israeli ocean research

France-based Veolia Environnement SA (NYSE: VE; Euronext: VIE), the world's largest water company, will invest about $1 million in new research at the Rubbin Academic Center's School of Marine Sciences. The study is seeking a quick way to identify fecal contaminants near beaches.

Veolia monitors bacterial pollutants at 70 beaches in France, hence its interest in the research at Ruppin. The company believes that the study's results will interest many parties around the world that are struggling with bacterial pollutants. This is the first joint research project between Veolia and Ruppin.

The study will try to develop an accurate method for identifying fecal bacteria that will comply with the new stricter standards set by European health authorities. The study is based on research carried out by Prof. Adam Friedman at Ruppin, who found a quick way of identifying bacteria on the basis of their genes.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 28, 2008