Yara, a leading global crop nutrition company, has announced its acquisition of the organic-based fertilizer business of Agribios Italiana. This move is part of Yara’s strategy to expand its offering in the organic sector and promote regenerative agriculture and soil health.
By combining Agribios’ expertise in high-quality organic-based fertilizers in Italy with Yara’s scale and reach in Europe, the company aims to meet the evolving needs of European farmers, regardless of their farming method. This acquisition also aligns with the European Union’s ambition to increase farmland under organic farming.
Mónica Andrés Enríquez, Executive Vice-President for Europe at Yara, expressed excitement about the acquisition, stating, “Soil health is the foundation for resilient crop production and sustainable farming. This acquisition reflects our commitment to preserve and further improve soil health, helping grow a nature-positive food future.”
Balanced crop nutrition, along with good agricultural practices and digital tools, is crucial for soil regeneration. Studies have shown that fertilized land has a higher soil organic matter content than unfertilized land, and using both organic and mineral sources of nutrients results in the highest content of soil organic matter. Therefore, Yara’s acquisition of Agribios will enable the company to maximize the synergies between organic-based and mineral fertilizers, enhancing soil health and boosting crops’ resistance to climate change.
Giovanni Ravagnan, CEO of Agribios Italiana, expressed enthusiasm about joining forces with Yara, stating, “This is a pivotal moment for Agribios as we bring our expertise in organic-based fertilizers to the European stage. We eagerly anticipate embarking on this new adventure, marking the beginning of another phase of development in the year of our 50th anniversary.”
Agribios has a broad portfolio of organic-based fertilizers produced using animal and agricultural by-products, contributing to the circular economy and reducing environmental impact. Its products can be used in both organic and conventional farming. With a market share of around 10 percent in Italy, Agribios has a solid position in the organic-based fertilizer market. By acquiring Agribios, Yara will gain a strong foothold in Italy, the second largest organic-based fertilizer market in Europe.
Yara’s strong commercial presence combined with Agribios’ market position will enable the company to increase sales in the organic-based fertilizer market in Italy and neighboring countries by around 30% within the next three years. Yara will also be able to offer Agribios’ products to customers outside Italy through its well-established sales and distribution platform in Europe.
The organic fertilizer market in Europe is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 11.53% from 2023 to 2030, according to market research firm Kings Research. Yara’s acquisition of Agribios, along with its previous acquisition of Ecolan, a Finnish producer of organic-based fertilizers, positions the company to capitalize on this growing market and provide farmers in Europe with tailor-made solutions adapted to local conditions.
As Yara continues to expand its organic-based fertilizer business, it reaffirms its commitment to sustainable agriculture and supporting farmers in their efforts to improve soil health and promote regenerative practices. This acquisition marks an important step in Yara’s journey towards a nature-positive food future.