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The acquisition of Pace bolsters AgroFresh’s presence in key fruit-growing regions in North and South America.

As the pioneer and global leader in post-harvest solutions for fresh produce, AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. announced the acquisition of Pace International LLC, including its domestic and overseas operations (“Pace”). Prior to the transaction, Pace was a subsidiary of Valent BioSciences LLC, a Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. group company. Pace is a respected global provider of sustainable post-harvest solutions, equipment and technical services. The acquisition of Pace bolsters AgroFresh’s presence in key fruit-growing regions in North and South America and further enables the company to support its global customers with quality and freshness solutions for high value and highly perishable crops.

Pace manufactures and supplies edible fruit coatings, fungicides, cleaners and sanitizers, sustainable storage treatments and application equipment for fresh produce. Integrating the Pace business expands AgroFresh’s post-harvest solutions to a broader portfolio of technology, services and digital solutions in both the organic and conventional produce categories, furthering AgroFresh’s ability to support customers in accomplishing their mission of protecting produce quality and freshness on its journey from harvest to home.

“This acquisition enables us to take another important step towards our vision — to be regarded by customers as the post-harvest partner of choice. We are excited to bring the combined portfolios, technical expertise and services of both companies to customers,” says Clint Lewis, CEO at AgroFresh. “Bringing together our two companies allows us to better address the complete needs of customers across a broad array of crops, markets and at every step in the fresh supply chain, ultimately helping customers produce and deliver an abundant supply of quality fresh produce, sustainably.”

In addition to integrating the Pace business into the company, AgroFresh and Valent BioSciences plan to develop a strategic collaboration to accelerate the development of innovation to address the most pressing challenges in the freshness protection space. This collaboration aims to capitalize on the expertise and technology pipeline of Valent BioSciences to develop new post-harvest products, services and digital solutions and to leverage AgroFresh’s global scale and reach to bring them to market.

“Acquisition of the Pace business by AgroFresh will create a post-harvest solutions platform that benefits customers and the food protection industry as a whole through stronger global reach, enhanced services and additional innovation capabilities,” says Salman Mir, President and CEO of Valent BioSciences. “We are excited to collaborate with AgroFresh in developing and commercializing new products, technologies and services that will address key customer challenges.”

With the addition of Pace, AgroFresh is better positioned to address customers’ needs through a full portfolio of products and capabilities. This will be realized along with a continued commitment to advancing innovation in the post-harvest sector and supporting customers in their effort to grow and distribute an abundant supply of sustainable, quality, fresh produce around the world.

AgroFresh Solutions Inc. is a portfolio company of Paine Schwartz Partners, a global leader in sustainable food chain investing. Deutsche Bank served as financial advisor and Morrison & Foerster served as AgroFresh’s legal advisor for the transaction.

The acquisition of Pace bolsters AgroFresh's presence

The acquisition is made at an enterprise value of Rs 3,080 crores and company will purchase the 56 per cent stake of the SP Group and 39 per cent of Orissa Stevedores Limited (OSL) in GPL.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India’s largest ports and logistics company, has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase the 56 per cent stake of the SP Group and 39 per cent of Orissa Stevedores Limited (OSL) in Gopalpur Port Limited (GPL). The acquisition is made at an enterprise value of Rs 3,080 crores and the transaction is subject to statutory approvals and fulfilment of other conditions precedents.

Gopalpur port is located on the east coast of India and has the capacity to handle 20 MMTPA. The Government of Odisha awarded a 30-year concession to GPL in 2006, with the provision of two extensions of 10 years each.

As a deep draft, multi-cargo port, Gopalpur handles a diverse mix of dry bulk cargo, including iron ore, coal, limestone, ilmenite, and alumina. The port plays an important role in supporting the growth of mineral-based industries in its hinterland, like iron & steel, alumina and others. The concessionaire has full flexibility to design and expand the port as per the market demand. GPL has received more than 500 acres of land on lease for development, with an option to receive additional land on lease to meet future capacity expansions.

The port is well connected with its hinterland through the national Highway NH16 and a dedicated railway line connects the port with the Chennai-Howrah main line. # In addition to the enterprise value stated above there is a contingent consideration of INR 270 crores estimated to be payable after 5.5 years, subject to fulfilment of certain conditions as agreed with the sellers.

Karan Adani, Managing Director of APSEZ, said, “The acquisition of Gopalpur Port will allow us to deliver more integrated and enhanced solutions to our customers. Its location will allow us unprecedented access to the mining hubs of Odisha and neighboring states and allow us to expand our hinterland logistics footprint. GPL will add to the Adani Group’s pan-India port network, significantly enhance overall cargo volume, and strengthen APSEZ’s integrated logistics approach.”

In FY’24, GPL is estimated to handle about 11.3 MMT cargo (YoY growth – 52 per cent) and earn a revenue of Rs 520 crores (YoY growth – 39 per cent) and achieve EBITDA of Rs 232 crores (YoY growth – 65 per cent). In our view, the Gopalpur Port is all set for strong growth and margin expansion in FY’25 with opportunities already identified for achieving higher operational efficiencies and infra debottlenecking, implying further value accretion for APSEZ shareholders.

The acquisition is made at an enterprise

The acquisition opens up new avenues for Vibaantta Global Pvt Ltd to penetrate the highly competitive US and Canada markets.

 Vibaantta Global Private Limited, a prominent player in the rice production and sales sector, has announced its acquisition of BGE Global Distribution Inc, a Florida-based company specializing in the distribution of food-based commodities, particularly Refined Sugar sourced from Brazil and other South American countries.

BGE Global Distribution Inc has distinguished itself as a key player in the food distribution industry, known for its expertise in sourcing high-quality Refined Sugar from Brazil and other regions in South America. With a strong emphasis on quality assurance and reliable supply chains, BGE Global Distribution Inc has earned a reputation for excellence in the food commodity market.

The acquisition by Vibaantta Global Pvt Ltd marks a strategic move aimed at strengthening its position in the global market. By integrating BGE Global Distribution Inc into its operations, Vibaantta aims to enhance its capabilities in sourcing and supplying sugar to its clients, particularly in Africa where there is a growing demand for food commodities.

Commenting on the acquisition, Paras Sachdev, Director of Vibaantta Global Pvt Ltd, expressed enthusiasm about the potential synergies between the two companies. “We are excited about the acquisition of BGE Global Distribution Inc, as it aligns perfectly with our strategic objectives of expanding our product offerings and diversifying our market reach. With their expertise in sugar sourcing and distribution, we believe that this partnership will enable us to better serve our clients and further strengthen our position in the global market.”

Moreover, the acquisition opens up new avenues for Vibaantta Global Pvt Ltd to penetrate the highly competitive US and Canada markets. Leveraging BGE Global Distribution Inc’s established network and market presence in the US, Vibaantta aims to introduce its rice products to consumers in North America.

“This partnership not only allows us to enhance our sugar supply chain capabilities but also provides us with a gateway to enter the lucrative US and Canada markets for our rice products,” Paras Sachdev added. “We are confident that the combined strengths of Vibaantta Global Pvt Ltd and BGE Global Distribution Inc will drive growth and create value for our customers and stakeholders.”

Vibaantta Global Pvt Ltd embarks on this new phase of expansion and growth, the acquisition of BGE Global Distribution Inc underscores its commitment to innovation, strategic partnerships, and delivering value to its customers in the global food market.

With the integration process underway, both companies are optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead and are committed to delivering excellence in product quality, service, and customer satisfaction.

The acquisition opens up new avenues for

The collaboration fosters innovation in the waste-to-energy sector, leveraging unique technologies, research capabilities, and intellectual property from both companies.

Singapore based Blue Planet Environmental Solutions Pte. Ltd. (Blue Planet®), a global leader in sustainable waste management, has finalised the acquisition of Mahindra Waste to Energy Solutions Limited (MWTESL), a subsidiary of Mahindra Group. This strategic collaboration marks a significant advancement in promoting sustainability and circular economy initiatives.

MWTESL specialises in converting municipal wet waste into Bio-CNG through Bio-Methanation, complementing Blue Planet’s expertise in carbon capture and utilisation technologies. This partnership enables the integration of these capabilities to develop comprehensive waste-to-energy solutions that are both environmentally friendly and economically viable.

The collaboration fosters innovation in the waste-to-energy sector, leveraging unique technologies, research capabilities, and intellectual property from both companies. Joint efforts in research and development aim to drive breakthroughs in sustainable energy production and waste management, contributing to a circular economy.

Blue Planet’s Co-Founder & CEO, Prashant Singh, commented, “This collaboration unlocks new markets and opportunities. Together, we will penetrate new regions and deliver integrated waste management and renewable energy solutions. This partnership undoubtedly strengthens our capabilities and impact in the region.”

Founded in 2017, Blue Planet is a Singapore headquartered company driving regional sustainability through technology-driven and IP-based end-to-end solutions for waste management and upcycling. The company has created a carefully designed platform for end-to-end waste management solutions. The goal is to apply these technologies across various stages of the waste life cycle to be able to close the loop, provide circular economy solutions and achieve the vision of zero waste to landfill.

The collaboration fosters innovation in the waste-to-energy

The acquisition will broaden EMIS’ product offering in the French market, taking full advantage of the Group’s wide range of solutions for crop protection.

Arrigoni S.p.A., a leading player in the production and distribution of solutions for crop protection, has successfully completed the acquisition of Financiere European Trade S.A.S. and its subsidiary European Trade S.A.S. (“EMIS”), a French company based in Aix-en-Provence, active in the distribution of products mainly related to the agricultural sector.

EMIS offers a wide product portfolio, including nets and films for multiple applications and related accessories. The company has been led since its establishment by the Moulias family, in particular by Sébastien Moulias and his father Philippe.

The acquisition of EMIS, which is consistent with the Group’s growth strategy, will enable Arrigoni to (i) strengthen its presence in foreign markets, in particular in France, through a direct presence; (ii) broaden EMIS’ product offering in the French market, taking full advantage of the Group’s wide range of solutions for crop protection; and (iii) improve customer service through a better understanding of their specific needs, greater geographical proximity and the development of tailor-made solutions.

The Moulias family, which has reinvested in the Group sharing the soundness of the transaction, will continue to lead the Group’s business activity in France under the leadership of Sébastien Moulias.

Sébastien Moulias said, “I am very happy for the successful completion of the transaction with Arrigoni, a leading player in the world of crop protection, which will enable us to consolidate our growth path in the French market thanks to the multiple commercial synergies”.

Paolo Arrigoni added, “We are thrilled about EMIS joining the Group, allowing us to have a direct access to an interesting and fast-growing market such as the French one. I would like to thank the Moulias family, whom we have been working with since a long time, that has now chosen to share with us its future path”.

Arrigoni has been assisted by Ashurst Studio Legale Associato for legal due diligence and legal aspects and by KPMG for financial and tax due diligence.

The acquisition will broaden EMIS' product offering

Crystal anticipates a substantial boost in its seeds business revenues, sees an increase of approximately 20 per cent.

Crystal Crop Protection Limited, one of the fast-growing R&D-based crop protection manufacturing and marketing companies in India, has strengthened its cotton seeds portfolio with the strategic acquisition of Sadanand Cotton Seeds business from Kohinoor Seeds.

The acquisition will boost Crystal’s goal of providing end-to-end innovative and progressive solutions to stakeholders in the cotton seed business. With a persistent commitment to innovation and quality, Crystal Crops has consistently demonstrated its dedication to enhancing agricultural productivity and crop yields for farmers across the country.

Commenting on the acquisition, Satyender Singh, CEO of Seeds at Crystal Crop Protection, said: “We firmly believe that this strategic acquisition will not only reinforce our market presence in the Cotton Seeds segment but will also substantially enhance our reach and accessibility within the broader Seeds industry. In a market where approximately five crore packets constitute the cotton seed sector, displaying consistent performance over recent years, the importance of cotton as a pivotal cash crop for farmers cannot be emphasized enough. Crystal’s commitment to actively collaborating with farmers to amplify their income levels remains consistent. This acquisition represents an important milestone in further solidifying Crystal’s presence within the cotton crop sector. We look forward to continuing the legacy of Sadanand and delivering exceptional value to our customers.”

Commenting on the acquisition, Pawan Kansal, Managing Director, Kohinoor Seed Fields India Private Limited said: “We are delighted that Crystal Crop Protection has acquired ‘Sadanand’. Crystal Crop Protection is a leading company in the segment and has been making giant strides in this space through focus on innovation and digitalisation. We believe that this acquisition will provide a unique synergy of strengths to build the brand further.”

Crystal’s seeds business has experienced substantial growth in recent years, driven by a combination of organic and inorganic expansion efforts. Today, Crystal occupies a formidable presence among the leading seed providers in multiple segments, including cotton, mustard, fodder, sorghum and pearl millet. With the strategic acquisition of Sadanand Cotton Seeds from Kohinoor Seeds, Crystal anticipates a substantial boost in its seeds business revenues, projecting an increase of approximately 20 percent.

This significant acquisition marks the tenth addition to Crystal’s strategic portfolio and represents the fourth investment in the Seeds business. Some notable acquisitions in the past have been the acquisition of Cotton, Pearl Millet, Mustard, and Sorghum portfolios from Bayer in 2021. In previous years, Crystal has successfully acquired a range of agrochemical and seed brands from multinational companies such as Syngenta, FMC, and Dow-Corteva etc. Additionally, the company expanded its manufacturing capabilities through the acquisition of a production facility from the Solvay group in Nagpur in 2018.

Crystal anticipates a substantial boost in its

The acquisition marks a global expansion into table grapes and berries of AgroFresh’s food waste reduction and freshness solutions.

AgroFresh Solutions Inc., a global AgTech innovator and the leader in post-harvest produce freshness solutions, announced the acquisition of Tessara, a post-harvest solutions provider, from global investment firm Carlyle, who acquired majority ownership of Tessara in 2018. The acquisition expands AgroFresh’s footprint in food waste reduction and freshness solutions for table grapes and berries and bolsters the organization’s impact in growing regions in South Africa, China, Australia, and South America.

“Completing this transaction with Tessara creates significant opportunities for AgroFresh to build upon our diversification strategy and further support our customers in their efforts to grow and distribute an abundant supply of sustainable fresh produce around the world,” says Clinton Lewis, CEO at AgroFresh.  “The acquisition is a perfect fit given Tessara’s and AgroFresh’s alignment on leveraging science-based solutions to advance freshness across the global produce industry and we look forward to bringing the innovative team at Tessara onboard.”

Established in 1988 in South Africa, Tessara has since grown to become a leader in post-harvest preservation solutions, which it provides to fresh produce growers worldwide. The company is a leading provider of SO2 solutions for table grapes, berries, and flowers, protecting more than $3 billion worth of fresh produce annually in more than 30 countries.

“We are proud of the Tessara team and our distinctly South African roots and culture,” notes Jaco Smit, CEO of Tessara. “We are also humbled and excited to be part of AgroFresh, the leader in the post-harvest AgTech space and, together, we will leverage our combined network and innovation resources to build a world-class market leader.”

AgroFresh has been a pioneer in post-harvest technology for over 20 years and got its start with the commercialization of the SmartFreshTM Quality System, the industry leading post-harvest solution to maintain produce freshness and quality, which is now used in over 50 countries across multiple crops including apples, pears, plums, kiwis, mangos, broccoli, and avocados.  AgroFresh’s comprehensive portfolio has expanded to include plant-based coatings, antimicrobial solutions, equipment, and digital platforms that help improve quality and reduce waste across the supply chain from harvest to home.

Rabobank advised Carlyle as the exclusive financial advisor on the transaction.  Serving as legal advisers for the transaction for AgroFresh were Morrison & Foerster and Bowman Gilfillan. The transaction remains subject to clearance by the South Africa competition authorities.

The acquisition marks a global expansion into

 Deere plans to offer Smart Apply throughout much of its dealer network in North America and Australia and will be exploring additional opportunities in new markets.

 Deere & Company has acquired Smart Apply, Inc., a precision spraying equipment company based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company developed the Smart Apply Intelligent Spray Control System™, an upgrade kit that can improve the precision and performance of virtually any air-blast sprayer used in orchard, vineyard, and tree nursery spraying applications. Smart Apply helps growers reduce chemical use, airborne drift, and run off, while optimizing high-value crop yields and meeting sustainability objectives. John Deere has worked with Smart Apply since 2020.

“This is a natural progression of the two companies’ working relationship,” said Mike Bailey, Director, Small Tractor & HVC Production System at John Deere. “It’s a continuation of our commitment to high-value crop customers and dealers, further expanding a portfolio of solutions to help growers address their biggest challenges around labor, input costs, and regulatory requirements, and achieve environmental goals.”

Smart Apply was founded in 2014 and has approximately 20 full-time employees. Smart Apply is primarily sold through John Deere dealers in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and England. In the future, Deere plans to offer Smart Apply throughout much of its dealer network in North America and Australia and will be exploring additional opportunities in new markets.

Smart Apply’s precision spraying helps achieve up to 93 per cent less chemical runoff and up to 87 per cent reduction in airborne drift, while reducing chemical use an average of 50 per cent. With less chemical use, growers also average a 50 per cent reduction in water use.

Smart Apply spraying chemicals to crops in a field during dusk.Smart Apply helps growers reduce chemical use, airborne drift, and run off, to optimize high-value crop yields and meet sustainability objectives. Smart Apply spraying chemicals to crops in a field during dusk.Smart Apply helps growers reduce chemical use, airborne drift, and run off, to optimize high-value crop yields and meet sustainability objectives. Smart Apply spraying chemicals to crops in a field during dusk.Smart Apply helps growers reduce chemical use, airborne drift, and run off, to optimize high-value crop yields and meet sustainability objectives.

Sophisticated LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology senses the presence of individual trees and vines and automatically adjusts spray volume based on foliage density to optimize protection. The system stops spraying between trees and rows, adjusting without human intervention. Smart Apply’s proprietary, GPS-enabled software captures a broad spectrum of data while it sprays. The system documents date and time of spraying, overall spray volumes, chemical savings, tree counts, canopy volume, health of individual trees or vines, and acres/hectares sprayed. The precision data leads to a deeper understanding of an orchard’s or vineyard’s productivity, profitability, health, and sustainability.

“Both John Deere and Smart Apply recognize the importance of high-value crops and are committed to investing in innovation and technology that best serves producers who raise high-value crops and helps solve their problems,” said Jerry Johnson, President and CEO at Smart Apply.

 Deere plans to offer Smart Apply throughout

Rivulis will finance the acquisition with additional investment from Temasek as well as newly issued shares to Jain India.

Singapore based Rivulis Pte. Ltd. has announced that it has received full regulatory approval for the acquisition of multiple overseas subsidiaries which comprise the International Irrigation Business (“IIB”) of Jain Irrigation. With this acquisition, Rivulis will lead the mass adoption of modern irrigation solutions and digital farming by growers and business partners to create an irrigation and climate leader globally. The acquisition has been finalized after all government authorizations and the precedent conditions required by the Share Purchase Agreement have been obtained and completed. Rivulis will finance the acquisition with additional investment from Temasek as well as newly issued shares to Jain India; In addition, debt issuances of Jain USA and NaanDanJain will be refinanced immediately post-Closing through a syndicated facility signed with leading banks including HSBC, Rabobank, State Bank of India, ING, Bank Leumi and the First International Bank of Israel.

Richard Klapholz, Rivulis CEO, commented: “As mentioned during the deal announcement last June, we are thrilled to have both companies join forces to build a long-lasting, purpose-led company, spearheading the transformation of agriculture through its focus on accessibility, innovation and sustainability. Since then, the employees of all companies have worked hard to jointly plan for this day, when we all become one company. Together, we will benefit from significant operational economies of scale and far reaching in-the-field presence, enabling us to be close to growers and business partners. We will also benefit from the most comprehensive micro irrigation and digital farming offering and most importantly from a fully committed, diverse employee base. I, wholeheartedly, welcome the Jain USA, AVI, IDC and global NaanDanJain teams and am certain that, as one company, we will become a formidable force as we establish ourselves as a global irrigation and climate leader. Water-efficient, environmentally sustainable technologies, such as micro irrigation, are needed to holistically address the global food and water security challenges. Together with our two shareholders, Temasek and Jain Irrigation, Rivulis’ next chapter will be an exciting one as we realize our GROW BEYOND mission to help growers achieve sustainable livelihoods and to become a global sustainability champion.”

Rivulis will finance the acquisition with additional

Owensboro Grain Company will enhance Cargill’s efforts to increase capacity across its North American oilseeds network to support growing demand for oilseeds.

Cargill announces the acquisition of Owensboro Grain Company, a fifth-generation family-owned soybean processing facility and refinery. “Today marks a significant milestone as we welcome Owensboro Grain Company into our Cargill family,” said Leonardo Aguiar, president of Cargill’s North American agricultural supply chain. “The addition of Owensboro Grain is an essential step on our journey to creating a connected, resilient and modernised grain experience for our customers and the markets we serve.”

The addition of Owensboro Grain Company will enhance Cargill’s efforts to increase capacity across its North American oilseeds network to support growing demand for oilseeds driven by food, feed and renewable fuel markets.

Cargill helps the world’s food system work, connecting farmers with markets, customers with ingredients and families with daily essentials—from the foods they eat to the floors they walk on.

Owensboro Grain Company will enhance Cargill's efforts

Acquisition to reinforce Corteva’s commitment to provide farmers with Biological tools which evolves farming practices

Corteva Inc and Stoller Group have announced that Corteva has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Houston-based Stoller, one of the largest independent Biologicals companies in the industry. 

The acquisition of Stoller reinforces Corteva’s commitment in providing farmers with Biological tools that complement evolving farming practices and help them meet changing market expectations. Stoller’s superior reputation for farmer relationships and demand creation centres around a commercial model that’s built upon sharing knowledge with the channel and farmers. Stoller has been successful by demonstrating technical excellence and delivering benefits and value of integrated solutions in the field. 

“Biologicals provide farmers with sustainably-advantaged tools that complement crop protection technologies, and collectively, can work to address global challenges around food security and climate change. Stoller represents a leader in the Biologicals industry given its commercial presence and market expansion potential, while also delivering attractive growth and operating margins,” said Chuck Magro, Chief Executive Officer.  “In combination with Corteva’s leading innovation organisation, Stoller provides a platform for expanding and accelerating Corteva’s Biologicals business to become one of the largest players in the rapidly expanding Biologicals market.” 

Acquisition to reinforce Corteva's commitment to provide

Farmer-focused Features to Enhance B2B Produce Marketplace Capabilities

Full Harvest, the San Francisco, California-based business-to-business produce marketplace specialising in surplus and imperfect produce, has announced the acquisition of FarmersWeb, a farm sales and inventory management SaaS provider. Adding FarmersWeb’s proven software capabilities to its technology pipeline, Full Harvest now has the ability to speed the delivery of advanced features for its produce suppliers and buyers – driving a more efficient, sustainable produce supply chain.

“Climate change considerations have become a pressing priority across the agriculture and food industry, especially in regard to on-farm food loss. We understand the need to move as quickly as possible to provide effective solutions to reduce food waste, and acquiring FarmersWeb will help us make our vision of 100 percent full harvests a reality faster,” said Full Harvest Founder and CEO Christine Moseley. “Adding valuable software features from the FarmersWeb platform to our produce marketplace will help our farms sell their excess produce easier, more rapidly, and more efficiently than ever before.”

“Providing farmers with the software capabilities needed to better streamline and manage their business has been our core mission for many years. Working with an acquirer who shared that mission was very important to us. Full Harvest is disrupting how surplus and imperfect produce is bought and sold; I am thrilled to know that the hard work we spent creating our software will continue to be part of building a more sustainable supply chain,” added David Ross, Co-Founder and CEO of FarmersWeb. “I am looking forward to seeing Full Harvest’s vision take root even faster.”

Digitising produce buying and selling through its online marketplace, Full Harvest quickly and efficiently connects growers with produce buyers to unlock new revenue channels and minimise food waste. The addition of FarmersWeb’s advanced software features, such as inventory and order management as well as payments, will enable growers to bring even more produce to market faster.

Farmer-focused Features to Enhance B2B Produce Marketplace

The transaction, which has been approved by the Boards of Directors of Cargill and Owensboro Grain Company, is expected to close in early 2023

Cargill and Owensboro Grain Company, a fifth-generation family-owned soyabean processing facility and refinery located in Owensboro, Ky announce that they have entered into a definitive agreement where Cargill will add Owensboro Grain Company (OGC) to its North American agricultural supply chain business.

Owensboro Grain Company was founded in 1906 as a small grain merchant and today operates a fully integrated soya processing facility, producing soya products, including protein meal and hull pellets for animal feeds, crude and degummed oil, lecithin, various blends of refined vegetable oil for human consumption, biodiesel, glycerin and industrial waxes. The addition of Owensboro Grain Company enhances Cargill’s efforts to modernise and increase capacity across its North American oilseeds network to support growing demand for oilseeds driven by food, feed and renewable fuel markets.

“We are pleased to welcome Owensboro Grain Company into our Cargill family,” said Leonardo Aguiar, president of Cargill’s North American agricultural supply chain. “Our two companies have tremendous operational histories, similar heritages as grain merchants, and values, including an unwavering commitment to prioritising people ― making this a tremendous fit. Additionally, this is a significant milestone in Cargill’s journey to create a connected and modernised grain experience for our customers,” said Aguiar.

“We are excited for this new chapter in the life of Owensboro Grain Company and believe an acquisition by Cargill will ensure the long-term success of the company,” said Helen Cornell, President and CEO of the fifth-generation, family-owned soya processor. “Cargill has the ability to capitalise on growing opportunities in the industry, such as renewable energy. The acquisition will ensure that Owensboro Grain Company, its employees, farmers, customers and the community are best positioned for the future. We are excited to transfer ownership to another multi-generational family held enterprise with global access to markets and capabilities to ensure the future growth of our business. Cargill has the global resources necessary to support Owensboro Grain Company’s growth goals and operations.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The transaction, which has been approved by the Boards of Directors of Cargill and Owensboro Grain Company, is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close in early 2023.

The transaction, which has been approved by

Latest move enables Arya.ag to attain grain traceability from store to farm

Arya.ag today announced the acquisition of agriculture data science company, Prakshep. With this acquisition, Arya reinforces its position as India’s largest integrated grain commerce platform and further its tech capabilities to provide end-to-end solutions to its users. This acquisition helps to bolster Arya’s vision of bringing cutting edge AI/ML capabilities to farm digitization, crop monitoring, quality assaying and surveillance. This acquisition will help Arya to further deepen its relationship with other agri-chain stakeholders like FPOs, processors and corporates, banks, and insurance companies.

Arya.ag connects sellers and buyers of agriproduce, providing complete assurance on quantity, quality and payments. The distinct digital offerings of Prakshep will add to Arya.ag’s deep tech capability to provide traceability, transparency, quality assurance for seamless commodity commerce.  Arya.ag will now hold the largest database in agriculture adding farm details including boundaries, crop activities, health and yield valuation to its existing repository of storage and grain value chain database.

Arya.ag is currently developing India’s first public agri blockchain ledger. Prakshep’s deeptech experience and expertise will add further farm level integration and preload extensive historical farm activity data to Arya.ag’s blockchain ledger. Arya.ag promises to provide complete visibility and traceability of the commodity right from the producers’ field and build complete assurance for all stakeholders in the agri-value chain.

Prasanna Rao, Arya.ag’s MD & Co-founder said, “Leveraging our technology stack, we have already created a digital identity for over 10000 warehouses across India on Arya.ag and have built in transparency at all levels from aggregation to storage, finance, and commerce. Under this context, Prakshep’s tech-led proposition finds a natural fit as it enables a digital identity for every grain that traverses the value chain and builds in transparency in terms of where it was grown and the journey it has made. The aligned values of sustainability, climate smart agriculture and inclusive economic growth has brought us together.”

Avijeet Singh, Prakshep’s CEO commented, “The transformation brought about by digital technologies in the conventional agriculture ecosystem while seemingly overwhelming has just scratched the surface. Arya as a market leader provides us with an opportunity to create an impact in the lives of our small holder farmers on a much larger scale and value. Through this partnership, we will be able to provide our users many more new offerings based on data, scientific research and analytics creating trust and transparency in all our transactions.”

Latest move enables Arya.ag to attain grain