Leonardo and BF: A New Dawn for African Agriculture

In a significant move towards sustainable development and food security, Italian aerospace, defense, and security company Leonardo, along with BF Spa, has partnered with the Italian government to launch agricultural projects in Africa. This strategic alliance aims to leverage advanced technologies and innovative farming models to address the continent's agricultural challenges and promote sustainable development.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Leonardo and BF Spa seeks to generate a positive and lasting impact by collaborating on strategic global projects and creating synergies to access Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) initiatives. The agreement focuses on conducting research and development activities in geographically significant areas of shared interest, including countries involved in the Mattei Plan, while promoting biodiversity protection and sustainable development with the full engagement of local communities.

Leonardo, with its digital and satellite technologies for monitoring crops, soils, and water resources from space, will play a crucial role in enhancing agricultural productivity in Africa. The company's expertise in cybersecurity, combined with the geo-information capabilities of its subsidiaries Telespazio and e-Geos, will enable it to manage critical aspects of "smart agriculture" and climate transition. By providing enabling factors for managing these challenges, Leonardo will help address security concerns related to changing environmental scenarios, such as climate change, soil erosion, and inefficient resource management.

BF Spa, on the other hand, will integrate Leonardo's competencies with its agricultural and agribusiness activities. The company aims to replicate its agro-industrial infrastructure, with the control of the genome-food product chain, developed in Italy on over 11 thousand hectares of UAA, through the development of modern model farms, BFuture Farm. These innovative, sustainable, and inclusive agro-industrial farm models will adapt to the needs of each country and community, becoming the largest network of high-tech agricultural management ever established worldwide.

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, fostering the development of local expertise and capacity building.

The expected return on investment for both Leonardo and BF in these African agricultural projects is not explicitly stated. However, the collaboration between the two companies and the Italian government is expected to generate a positive and lasting impact, with a common goal of the well-being of vast communities through the production of safe food. The agreement also aims to promote biodiversity protection and sustainable development with the full engagement of local communities.

In conclusion, the partnership between Leonardo, BF Spa, and the Italian government marks a significant step towards enhancing agricultural productivity and promoting sustainable development in Africa. By leveraging advanced technologies and innovative farming models, this collaboration seeks to address the continent's agricultural challenges and contribute to food security, ultimately fostering the well-being of local communities.