By Gerelyn Terzo, Global AgInvesting Media
A major European investor is making a bold move into biological innovation to transform crop protection. In a deal demonstrating growing investor enthusiasm for sustainable agriculture, European asset manager Ambienta has acquired Agronova Biotech, a Spain-based leader in biotech-driven crop solutions. The acquisition marks both Ambienta’s entry into the sustainable agriculture sector and its first investment in Spain, expanding its European footprint amid a broader shift toward environmentally friendly farming practices. The financial details of the deal remain undisclosed.
Ambienta, a firm focused on environmental sustainability, has acquired Agronova from Iberian private equity firm Magnum Industrial Partners and the founding Casanova family. This move positions Ambienta to capitalize on the fast-growing bio-solutions market, where Spain is out front. The global bio-solutions market, valued at approximately $21 billion, is expanding at 11 percent annually—reportedly close to three times the pace of traditional agricultural inputs—driven by regulatory pressure, shifting consumer demand and climate volatility.
Spain exemplifies both the market’s urgency and potential: rainfall has declined by 8 percent annually since 2018, while extreme heat events have risen by over 25 percent. These conditions are accelerating the adoption of biological crop inputs that maintain yields without degrading soil or water, further cementing Spain’s leadership in the transition toward more resilient and sustainable agriculture.
Agronova’s portfolio spans bio-control products that replace synthetic pesticides with microbial alternatives, organic fertilizers derived from sustainable sources, and biostimulants designed to improve nutrient absorption. These solutions help farmers pivot away from agrochemicals while enhancing crop performance under increasingly volatile conditions.
Ambienta Founding Partner and Chief Investment Officer Mauro Roversi commented, “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, leveraging our industry expertise and the capability of our team to transact in new geographies.”
Agronova CEO Olivier Lavaud commented, “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. I want to sincerely thank everyone at Agronova for their invaluable contributions, and I look forward to embarking on this exciting next chapter of growth together with Ambienta.”
The transaction follows Ambienta’s recent entry into the Nordics, highlighting the firm’s pan-European expansion strategy. For investors in the ag space, this deal signals the further maturation of sustainable bio-solutions as an investment theme. With climate regulations tightening, such as the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy aiming to cut pesticide use by 50 percent by 2030, the sector offers diversification amid volatile commodity markets.
Founded in 2007, Ambienta operates in private equity, public markets and credit, overseeing more than €3 billion (US$3.4 billion) in assets under management. The addition of Agronova marks Ambienta’s entry into sustainable agriculture, laying the foundation for a new pillar in its environmental strategy, one it expects will generate strong returns for both crops and investor portfolios.
The content put forth by Global AgInvesting News and its parent company HighQuest Partners is intended to be used and must be used for informational purposes only. All information or other material herein is not to be construed as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Global AgInvesting and HighQuest Partners are not a fiduciary in any manner, and the reader assumes the sole responsibility of evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of any information or other content on this site.