Leonardo and BF SpA join forces

Leonardo and BF Spa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at effectively and collaboratively addressing global challenges in the agri-industrial sector and the fight against climate change. By leveraging their respective competencies, the agreement seeks to generate a positive and lasting impact. The MoU – signed by Leonardo's Co-General Manager, Lorenzo Mariani, and BF Spa’s CEO, Federico Vecchioni – was presented by Leonardo's Chairman, Stefano Pontecorvo, during the XXII International Forum on Agriculture and Food, organised by Coldiretti in collaboration with The European House – Ambrosetti. This agreement will enable the two groups to collaborate on strategic global projects and create synergies to access Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) initiatives, thereby strengthening the scope of their respective efforts in key sectors.

The MoU aims to conduct research and development activities in geographically significant areas of shared interest, including countries involved in the Mattei Plan, and to jointly identify new opportunities while promoting biodiversity protection and sustainable development with the full engagement of local communities. The collaboration between Leonardo and BF Spa is a further confirmation of their shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the creation of shared value.

Leonardo, with its digital and satellite technologies for monitoring crops, soils, and water resources from space and improving land productivity, can help address the security challenges posed by changing environmental scenarios characterised by climate change, soil erosion, and inefficient resource management. Through its expertise in cybersecurity, as well as the geo-information capabilities of its subsidiaries Telespazio and e-Geos, combined with advanced technological solutions such as artificial intelligence applications, big data collection and analysis, and cloud computing, the company is positioned to provide enabling factors for managing critical aspects of "smart agriculture" and climate transition.

“Today, security can no longer be discussed solely within the realm of Defense. Leonardo's Strategic Plan speaks of global security. Global security encompasses energy security, infrastructure security, and even food security. This agreement brings our capabilities to the agricultural sector, enabling the advancement of more technological agriculture and the fight against climate change,” stated Stefano Pontecorvo, Chairman of Leonardo.

These competencies will be integrated with the agricultural and agribusiness activities of the projects underlying the internationalisation of BF Spa, a path managed through the subsidiary BF International Best Fields Best Food Ltd. The BF Group is already present in four strategic geographical areas: Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Central Asia. The objective is to replicate, on a global level, the agro-industrial infrastructure, with the control of the genome-food product chain, developed by the BF Group in Italy on over 11 thousand hectares of UAA through the development of modern model farms, BFuture Farm. 

BFuture Farms represents an innovative, sustainable, and inclusive agro-industrial farm model that adapts to the needs of each country and community. It will become the largest network of high-tech agricultural management ever established worldwide. Within both ongoing and upcoming projects over the next years, training will be a fundamental component of the Group's presence in various countries. BF Educational, a BF Spa subsidiary, will oversee training and applied research in agriculture and agribusiness within the model farms. Its goal is to train future professionals in the respective communities.

“Today with Leonardo, we trace a further path of collaboration and growth in the implementation of the most advanced technologies for the protection of natural resources,’ said Federico Vecchioni, CEO of BF Spa, who added, ’Our common goal is the well-being of vast communities through the production of safe food. BF Spa believes in strategic alliances as the basis for its consolidation and growth in recent years”.