Ardabelle Capital acquires majority stake in biostimulant producer Plymag

Paris-based Ardabelle Capital has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Plymag, a Spanish producer of biostimulants and crop nutrition products, marking the private equity firm’s first investment as it builds a portfolio focused on sustainable agri-food supply chains. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The transaction brings Ardabelle in alongside minority shareholders Sofiprotéol, the investment arm of French agribusiness group Avril, and agtech-focused fund Capagro. Ardabelle said the deal is intended to accelerate Plymag’s international growth and anchor its broader strategy to support decarbonization and resilience across essential agricultural value chains.

Founded in 1978 and based in Pego, Spain, Plymag specializes in seaweed-based agricultural inputs, including biostimulants, specialty nutrition products and biological crop protection. The company operates a vertically integrated model, controlling sourcing, extraction, formulation and commercialization, and uses a proprietary chemical-free seaweed extraction process. Plymag has reported double-digit growth since 2010 and holds the largest market share in seaweed-based biostimulants in Spain.

The company sells products in more than 30 countries and operates subsidiaries in Portugal, Chile, Colombia and Peru, giving it a strong presence in Europe and Latin America. Its products are positioned around improving soil health, input efficiency and crop resilience, areas that have drawn increased attention as growers face climate volatility and tighter regulatory pressure on conventional inputs.

Under Ardabelle’s ownership, Plymag plans to accelerate commercial expansion in Europe and Latin America, invest further in field trials and data infrastructure to strengthen scientific validation, and deepen its vertically integrated operating model to protect margins and supply chain resilience. The investors also see Plymag as a platform for a broader biosolutions strategy, potentially including add-on acquisitions.

Ardabelle said the investment aligns with its goal of building “European champions” in sustainable agriculture, while Sofiprotéol and Capagro pointed to the growing role of biological inputs in supporting lower-carbon and regenerative farming systems. The founding Feliu family, which has owned Plymag for more than four decades, will remain involved as the company enters its next phase of expansion.

The deal underscores rising private equity interest in biological crop inputs, as investors seek exposure to growth tied to sustainability mandates, Scope 3 emissions reduction targets and demand for alternatives to synthetic chemistries in global agriculture.