We trace our roots back to 1971 in the countryside of the state of São Paulo, with the incorporation of Biosoja.
Over the years, we have focused on the research and development, method, practice, technology and nature of manufacturing new technologies in plant nutrition and disease and pest control for the Brazilian agricultural market.
In 1998, in order to increase our portfolio of products, we opened Biosoja Fertilizantes and launched our first line of special fertilizers, initially known as foliar fertilizers. This allowed us to expand our product offering to other crops, since special fertilizers were sold specifically to soybean crops.
In 2001, continuing our strategy of strengthening our portfolio, we acquired ML Indústrias Químicas, adding adjuvants, which are products used to maximize the efficiency of other agricultural inputs, and organominerals lines to our product portfolio. In 2004, we organically entered the soy microgranular fertilizer segment, with the incorporation of our subsidiary Granorte Fertilizantes Ltda., or Granorte, which uses industrial waste to produce certain fertilizers.
In 2014, private equity fund Brasil FIP, managed by BRZ Investimentos, acquired a minority stake in our business, and we used the funds to consolidate our strong position in an expanding market. Subsequently, we started a process of professionalization of our management by improving our management and corporate governance practices, which included (i) the establishment of our board of directors; (ii) the establishment of our finance and sustainability committees; (iii) the reorganization of our board of executive officers; (iv) the preparation of our budget and a variable compensation plan; (v) the engagement of independent auditors registered with the CVM to audit our financial statements; (vi) the engagement of industrial consulting services; (vii) the preparation of our strategic planning; and (viii) our corporate reorganization, among other initiatives, as well as a registered gross revenue of R$214.0 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.
In 2016, considering the expansion of our business as a result of our strategic planning and vision, and in order to better position ourselves in the market and avoid name conflicts between our business, we changed our name from Grupo Biosoja to Grupo Vittia.
In 2020, in light of our organic growth strategy, we inaugurated our new biological products industrial facility, consisting of an area of 110,000 square meters and located next to our main facility in the city of São Joaquim da Barra, state of São Paulo. This new industrial facility has an installed capacity of 5.0 million kilos per year and a research and development department of more than 1,300 square meters (compared to the current industrial plant in Uberaba/MG of 145 square meters), representing the most important investment in our history.
As we operate in a highly diversified market, we also invest in our inorganic growth and seek to acquire strategic assets that have synergies in terms of technologies, culture or location. Accordingly,
- in November 2014, we completed the acquisition of a 100% equity interest in Samaritá, which produced fertilizers, biological defensives and solutions for the biological treatment of industrial waste;
- in March 2017, we completed the acquisition of an 80% equity interest in Biovalens, which operates in the biological defensives segment;
- in August 2020, we completed the acquisition of a 75% equity interest in Vitória, which operates in the organomineral fertilizers, bran and pellet segment; and
- in December 2020, we acquired 80% of JB Biotecnologia, which develops, produces and markets biological pesticides based on macroorganisms (parasitoids and predators) for integrated pest management in agriculture and forestry.