AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. announces the acquisition of Pace International LLC including its domestic and overseas operations.

Prior to the transaction, Pace was a subsidiary of Valent BioSciences LLC, a Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. group company.

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, in key fruit-growing regions in North and South America.

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 new innovation in the freshness protection space.

According to a news release, the combined platform will provide its customers with a broader portfolio of postharvest products, services, technologies and digital solutions, offering a range of innovative solutions to meet their evolving needs for productivity, quality protection and freshness extension.

“By combining our products, capabilities and technical expertise, customers will have access to an even broader portfolio of postharvest solutions and digital technologies that can be tailored to their specific crops, operations and needs,” said Clint Lewis, CEO of AgroFresh, in a news release.

“We are excited about this future collaboration and the benefits it can bring to the crop and food protection industry,” added Salman Mir, president and CEO of Valent BioSciences. “Combining Valent BioSciences’ expertise in the development of sustainable biorational solutions for food crops with AgroFresh’s expanding global reach and postharvest expertise will help accelerate the launch of the next generation of sustainable postharvest solutions for the long-term benefit of our customers, end users and the environment.”