An Australian group has acquired Agroisolab, a North Yorkshire-based company that uses cutting-edge technology to verify the origins of food, wine and protected species.
Source Certain International Limited, an Australian company specialising in advanced forensic traceability technologies, has successfully acquired Agroisolab UK Ltd (AIL UK), a team of experts leading the development of international projects using isotope analysis and other laboratory-based authentication technologies.
Two York firms, Clive Owen LLP and Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP, played a key role in facilitating the acquisition.
Based in Malton, Agroisolab UK is known for developing projects for retailers including wine fraud detection and verifying the authenticity of organic foods, such as eggs, vegetables and grain products.
Heather Price, Agrosolab, Michael Cantwell, Corporate Finance Partner at Clive Owen LLP, Susie Mortonson, Corporate Partner at Andrew Jackson LLP, Roger Young, Chief Executive (Image: Agrosolab)
One major growth area is timber authenticity. The EU’s deforestation regulation comes into effect for most companies on 30 December 2024, meaning they will need to prove that their timber is free from deforestation, and not linked to forest degradation or illegal harvesting and trade.
Certain technology enables verification of the authenticity of individual shipments, by identifying not only the species and origin but also the region or forest from which the wood originates.
This acquisition represents an important milestone in the company’s global expansion strategy, bringing a UK-based operation with experienced technical staff and specialist scientific solutions.
Roger Young, CEO of Agroisolab UK, will take on the role of CEO of Source Certain UK, and said: “I am excited to be joining the Source Certain team. I see a lot of opportunities in leveraging UK expertise, including the exciting opportunity to showcase Source Certain’s capabilities, reputation and expertise to our customers. Now is the time to get back to work as new regulations are imminent, requiring greater due diligence and verification of origin.”
Michael Cantwell, Corporate Finance Partner at Clive Owen, said: “This was an exciting deal to work on, given the cutting-edge technology and significant growth potential in this sector. We are delighted to have facilitated this strategic transaction which is testament to our York office’s expertise and ability to operate in a global, cross-border market.”
“Having personally worked with the Agrosolab team for over a decade, it has been a real pleasure to see this transaction come to fruition for the company,” added Susie Mortonson, corporate partner at Andrew Jackson Law Firm, who led the legal team advising Agrosolab.
The acquisition not only strengthens Source Certain’s footprint in the UK, but also enhances its ability to deliver advanced isotope testing solutions globally. With new regulations on the horizon requiring greater due diligence and provenance verification, the combined expertise is set to lead the way in ensuring authenticity and combating fraud across sectors.
