Valagro

In 1980, in the small Italian town of Atessa, Giuseppe Natale and Ottorino La Rocca founded a company called Farmer Italiana s.n.c. Their mission was to use science to harness nature, creating products that help farmers improve crop yields and quality. This venture would become known globally as Valagro. The company focused on the emerging field of biologicals, specifically biostimulants and specialty nutrients. These products use natural substances to improve plant health and nutrient uptake, offering a way to make agriculture more productive and sustainable. For four decades, Valagro pioneered research in this sector, expanding its footprint from Italy across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. By 2019, it had grown into a market leader with revenues of approximately $175 million. The pivotal moment in Valagro's journey came in October 2020. Syngenta Crop Protection, a global agricultural science giant, announced it was acquiring Valagro. The acquisition positioned Syngenta to become a dominant force in the rapidly growing biologicals market. While the financial terms were not disclosed, the move was a strategic one, allowing Valagro to leverage Syngenta's immense resources to accelerate its own innovation and growth. Valagro continues to operate under its own brand, now as the cornerstone of the newly formed Syngenta Biologicals.