Cotecna Expands Its European Laboratory Network and Expertise

Cotecna acquires Fitosoil Laboratorios to enable the former to further expand its European laboratory network and expertise.

FREMONT, CA: Cotecna announces Fitosoil Laboratorios SL's acquisition, a pioneering Spanish laboratory in the agriculture and food safety market. Founded and managed by Don Antonio Abellán, Fitosoil employs 70 highly qualified technicians in its laboratory-based in Murcia.

Fitosoil offers its clients a complete range of services from agronomy to chemical testing on an extensive range of products and services, focusing on fruits and vegetables and fertilizers. Fitosoil holds a pioneering position in the fertilizer sector. They have developed innovative analytical techniques at the international level and enjoy one of the largest accreditation scopes in Europe.

The acquisition of Fitosoil, following the ones of NOFA in the Netherlands and NEOTRON in Italy, enables Cotecna to further expand its European laboratory network and expertise in the food safety sector. With more than 5000 employees and a network of over 100 offices and laboratories, Cotecna is a pioneering provider of Testing, Inspection, and Certification services (TIC) in the agriculture and food supply chains.

The acquisition is part of its business strategy to expand its presence in the food testing market and increases its service portfolio in the broader agri-food segment. Fitosoil unique reputation and analytical skills in the fertilizer, agronomy, and fruit and vegetable sectors strengthen Cotecna's offering and potentials to help the trend for more organic and sustainable farming. Fitosoil also reinforces its position in Spain, which is a vital growth area for the Group.

Don Antonio Abellán, Managing Director of Fitosoil Laboratorios SL, and his team will continue leading Fitosoil on its new journey within the Cotecna group. The international network of Cotecna will certainly offer growth opportunities for Fitosoil, and the complementarities with its present inspection, certification, and testing activities are very strong.