Sustainability-focused European asset manager Ambienta announced the acquisition of Agronova Biotech, marking its first investment in the sustainable agriculture sector.
Agronova Biotech, which is headquartered in Spain and considered a global leader in biological crop solutions, was acquired from Iberian private equity firm Magnum Industrial Partners and the founding Casanova family.
The agriculture sector faces a series of sustainability challenges, accounting for a significant proportion of global GHG emissions, and with the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides contributing to problems including soil erosion and biodiversity loss.
Agronova provides solutions that help address some of the sectors sustainability issues, offering microbial alternatives to replace synthetic chemicals, enabling improved nutrient uptake to maximize crop yields with organic fertilization sources.
The company has more than 800 products, including biostimulants and biocontrol products helping farmers to deal with biotic stress such as insects and fungi, and abiotic issues such as droughts and flooding. Ambienta has also integrated several other companies, extending its operations and commercial reach to key European markets and the Americas.
According to Ambienta, the acquisition comes as multiple tailwinds are driving the biosolutions market, which already stands at $21 billion, including the pressure on crop yields due to environmental issues, and the move to biological alternatives from chemical solutions driven by regulatory and consumer pressure, with Agronova well-positioned to capitalize on this shift.
Mauro Roversi, Founding Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Ambienta, said:
“This acquisition bears a double significance for Ambienta. On the one hand, we are entering a sector which we have analyzed and studied for a long time where we see strong sustainability driven opportunities for growth. On the other, we are once again expanding our geographical reach this year by acquiring a highly visible and sought-after asset in Spain.”
Agronova operates across key European markets and the Americas, supported by five laboratories and six production facilities strategically located in major agricultural regions.
Ambienta has said it will leverage its experience and network to drive Agronova’s further development through organic growth and strategic M&A.
Olivier Lavaud, Agronova’s CEO, said:
“We see significant opportunities ahead for our company, and Ambienta is the ideal partner to help us unlock our full potential. We share a strong commitment to supporting farmers in their transition toward more sustainable agricultural practices.”
