Key Takeaways
- Evogene has completed the sale of major Lavie Bio assets to ICL Group
- The transaction includes Lavie Bio’s tech platforms, microbial assets, and key personnel
- Evogene also transferred its MicroBoost AI for Agriculture platform as part of the deal
- Lavie Bio’s existing commercial agreements remain under its ownership
- The deal supports Evogene’s strategic focus on maximizing the value of its subsidiaries
Evogene Concludes Strategic Transaction with ICL Group
Evogene Ltd. has officially completed the previously announced divestiture of the majority of assets and operations of its ag-biologicals subsidiary, Lavie Bio Ltd., to ICL Group Ltd. The transaction, first disclosed on April 21, 2025, includes Lavie Bio’s proprietary technologies, product pipeline, microbial bank, and its core team of personnel.
As part of the agreement, the company has also transferred its MicroBoost AI for AG platform—a computational tool designed to accelerate microbial product development in agriculture—to ICL Group.
Details of the Divestiture Agreement
ICL’s acquisition includes:
- Lavie Bio’s Biology Driven Design (BDD) technology platform
- A diverse microbial bank and development-stage biological programs
- Current commercial product offerings
- The transfer of key personnel from Lavie Bio to ICL
In parallel, Evogene has divested its MicroBoost AI Tech-Engine for Agriculture, a system that integrates artificial intelligence with predictive biology to streamline microbial discovery and product optimization in the ag-biologicals sector.
Evogene clarified that Lavie Bio’s existing strategic partnerships and commercial contracts are excluded from the deal and will continue to be managed under Lavie Bio. These may generate future revenue for Lavie Bio’s shareholders.
Leadership Perspectives on the Deal
Evogene CEO Ofer Haviv described the deal as a “strategic milestone,” aligning with the company’s long-term goal of unlocking value across its portfolio. “We believe that combining Lavie Bio’s innovative capabilities with ICL’s global reach and operational expertise will significantly advance the ag-biologicals sector and contribute to the development of sustainable agricultural solutions,” Haviv stated.
From ICL’s side, Dr. Elinor Erez, Vice President of R&D for Growing Solutions, highlighted the strategic fit of the acquisition: “This move enhances our end-to-end innovation pipeline and reinforces ICL’s role in advancing sustainable agriculture at scale.”
Positioning Evogene for Future Growth
The completion of this transaction allows Evogene to focus more narrowly on its core technology platforms and other subsidiaries, while ICL integrates Lavie Bio’s biological assets into its broader crop nutrition and agtech offerings. With the transfer of the MicroBoost AI system, ICL gains additional capabilities to accelerate product development in microbial agriculture.
This agreement illustrates Evogene’s strategy to streamline operations while creating opportunities for long-term shareholder value through targeted divestments and technology partnerships.
Evogene
Evogene is a computational biology company focused on developing life-science products using artificial intelligence and big data. Its approach aims to increase development success rates while reducing time and cost.
The company has built three technology platforms: MicroBoost AI (microbial products), ChemPass AI (small molecule discovery), and GeneRator AI (genetic element identification). These platforms support product development via subsidiaries such as Biomica (human therapeutics), AgPlenus (agrochemicals), and Lavie Bio (biologicals).
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