Italian agribusiness focuses on beekeeping as a sector of excellence. Made in Italy honey, which has a turnover of around 200 million euros a year with a production of 40 tons, has entered the industrial acquisition strategies of Areté, the Bologna-based company specializing in research and consultancy in the agrifood sector. Its managers have been strategic partners, masterminding the acquisition of 85% of Beekeeping Evangelists by IDeA Agro. Vangelisti is a leading company in the transformation of honey with innovative and sustainable processes in the Tuscan territory rich in biodiversity. IDeA Agro is a fund of private equity Italian engaged in strategic sectors of the national economy. The fund is managed by DeA Capital Alternative Funds. With a quality customer portfolio, Apicoltura Vangelisti in 2021 had a turnover of 18 million euros. The acquisition by IDeA Agro took place to accelerate the development path already started by the Vangelisti family. The industrial plan envisages a strengthening towards customers and new procurement strategies.
Sustainable beekeeping was affected by the great drought of 2022
The Italian supply chainapiculture it is very articulate. About 2/3 of national consumption is covered by imports with a prevalence of Hungary, Romania, China and Argentina. Our export concerns a minor share of premium production. Companies in the sector must have a tracking and tracing system required by national and European regulations.
Secondo the Observatory Nazionale Miele until October there was a dynamic phase in the sale of the product. November is marking a gradual slowdown in demand, but the potters have managed to meet all needs. The processes are all highly sustainable and generally take place in environments which, unfortunately, have been affected by the state of severe drought of this year. ” The speed of market recovery – says the Observatory – will depend on the trend in consumption and the consequent depletion of warehouse stocks”. As far as we're concerned, he explains Ludovico Grupponi, responsible for the Areté project "we started from the business idea and then moved on to involving the Vangelisti family to evaluate the possibility of opening up to third-party capital".
Good opportunities for growth on world markets
Basically, it was assessed as a good opportunity to offer an excellent product on national and international markets. From an environmental and industrial business point of view, bees play a central role in the pollination of many plants and herbaceous crops. They are like the engine of a production process. And every year on May 20 we celebrate the day bee world. An action to protect beekeeping which in Italy assumes promotion value for the over 73 thousand beekeepers.
The turnover around thepollination, for example, is estimated at 2 billion euros. Climatic variations have very heavy repercussions here, perhaps more than in other agricultural sectors. It is the main reason why pollination is increasingly important both for the depletion of biodiversity and for the decline of pollinators. The control of an ancient beekeeping by a financial fund is indicative of the investments that are needed in order not to depress a quality product, controlled in a sustainable and ecological way.
