BASF has acquired Horta S.r.l., an Italian company specialized in digital farming solutions. Founded in 2008 as a spin-off of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Horta is an established player for the development of highly innovative agronomic decision support systems (DSS) for crops such as grapes, tomatoes, cereals and olives.

With the acquisition, Horta continues to operate on the market with the current organization and management and its well-established brand in the agri-food market to ensure business continuity.

According to Gustavo Palerosi Carneiro, senior vice president, agricultural solutions EMEA & CIS, BASF strives to leverage the growth potential and opportunities of digitalization toward the benefit of its customers. “In this regard, Horta is complementary to our digital farming portfolio,” he said. “I am therefore very pleased to welcome the entire Horta team, who brings along profound digital know-how and a very unique technological offer.”

An Italian agro-tech leader, Horta is an example of transferring innovation from R&D and universities to agricultural practice. “We are a highly innovative company, driven by constant and intense research. To support our business’s growth both in Italy and globally we needed a strong partner who shared our vision and had access to international markets,” noted Pierluigi Meriggi, president and founding partner of Horta. “Together with BASF, we pursue a consistent growth path for the next years.”

The purchase price was not disclosed.