Arysta LifeScience Buys Share in Protecta

Posted by Matt Hopkins|21 December 2010

Arysta LifeScience South Africa reached a partnership agreement and an equity position with Novon Protecta, a leading summer grain, cereal and potato crop-protection distributor in the Eastern Free State region of South Africa. The partnership will give Eastern Free State farmers access to a wide range of crop-protection solutions to combat many of the challenges associated with crop production, according to a statement by Arysta.

“This is the culmination of a relationship built over many years, and it will ensure a consistent supply of high-quality products to our customer base,” Protecta Managing Director Johann Smit said in a press release. “A further advantage to Novon Protecta is preferred access to the wide Arysta LifeScience product range.”

For Arysta LifeScience, this agreement reinforces the company’s commitment to agriculture in South Africa. Previously, Arysta LifeScience had purchased the sugar-focused company Volcano AgroScience as well as an equity position in the leading fruit and vine distributor in the Cape, Nexus AG. In addition, in January 2010, Arysta LifeScience announced the acquisition of the Tsunami Crop Protection and Tsunami plant protection businesses.

“Arysta LifeScience is committed to establishing preferred regional distribution networks to ensure long-term recurring business to both parties,” said Jan Botha, commercial manager, Arysta LifeScience South Africa. “Distribution partnerships with strong local collaborators allow us to provide more growers access to important crop-protection solutions. We are very proud of this partnership with Novon Protecta as it positions us with the leading marketers in the Eastern Free State and supports our strategy to create seamless, value-added channels from the factory to the farm.”

Both Arysta LifeScience and Novon Protecta emphasized that the partnership represents their confidence in the future of agriculture in South Africa.