History

A family presence at the heart of the Alps

It is in Ribiers, in the Hautes-Alpes, that the company OvinAlp has its origins. This mountainous territory, located between Haute-Provence and the Prealps, forms a preserved ecosystem, where nature dictates its cycles and shapes ways of life. It is in this demanding environment, well suited to mixed farming and livestock breeding, that several generations of the Giovale family have worked as farmers.

The first steps of a sustainable agricultural project

In the early 1960s, Jean Giovale began valuing manure from his alpine pastures by supplying it to local farmers. This practice followed the circular logic of mountain agriculture. It responded to a growing local demand for organic fertilisation. In 1974, the activity became more structured with the bagging of the first batches of migon. Migon refers to Provençal sheep manure, traditionally used as a soil amendment. This product, recognised for its agronomic qualities, remained at this stage artisanal, produced and distributed through short supply chains.

The creation of OvinAlp

In the 1980s, Éric Giovale, a business school student in Montpellier, formalised the project. He envisioned an innovative approach to fertilisation. He created the OvinAlp brand and developed a process to transform this exceptional raw material into pellets. These pellets facilitate use while guaranteeing the technical and environmental qualities of the material.

In 1988, OvinAlp built its first production unit in Ribiers. OvinAlp became a fully-fledged company, driven by a clear ambition. It offers natural fertilising solutions derived from living matter, based on a well-mastered agricultural tradition and reasoned innovation.

Process optimisation and automation

In the early 2000s, OvinAlp entered a new phase of industrial development. Automation of production lines – weighing, dosing, granulation and packaging – improved performance while ensuring consistency and product quality.
In 2001, the company developed a unique cold granulation technology, preserving the integrity of active materials and maintaining the agronomic richness of amendments. Three years later, in 2004, dust extraction systems were installed in the factories, protecting teams and reducing environmental impact.
In 2005, OvinAlp became the first company in France to create a solid biofermentation platform certified ISO 14001, with a rigorous hygienisation process. This momentum continued with the creation of the Logistics division in 2010, followed by the Research & Innovation division in 2012.

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In 2013, the company inaugurated its production workshop dedicated to biostimulants and installed more than 10,000 m² of photovoltaic panels, reaffirming its environmental commitment.

Industrial investment and innovation

Between 2016 and 2021, OvinAlp continued its efforts in scientific and agronomic innovation. From 2016 onwards, OvinAlp initiated research to identify and characterise the micro-organisms present in the Ov active ingredient.
In 2018, OvinAlp entrusted this characterisation to the French National Museum of Natural History, which confirmed the agronomic value of this unique microbiological complex.
The year 2019 marked the expansion of the biofermentation platform to support increasing production capacity. At the same time, OvinAlp developed a European distribution network (Italy, Spain, England, Benelux, Poland…), strengthening its presence on international sustainable agriculture markets.

Moving forward with biosolutions!

Since 2022, OvinAlp has been firmly committed to developing next-generation biosolutions. The company has filed several Marketing Authorisations (AMM) for non-microbial (amino acids) and microbial biostimulants with high agronomic potential, derived from its Ov active ingredient. Bioprotection has also joined OvinAlp’s catalogue with PNPPs and biocontrol products.

Driven by this innovation dynamic, OvinAlp is also launching international development projects targeting major export markets, while maintaining its roots in local, sustainable and soil-respecting agriculture.

An independent, family-run company

To this day, OvinAlp remains an independent company, led by Éric and Chantal Giovale, together with their two sons, Mathieu and Bastien. This family continuity ensures stability, transmission of founding values and a constant commitment to serving farmers.

More than 35 years after its creation, OvinAlp continues to anchor its development in a strong territorial and agronomic approach. The company supports the evolution of agriculture towards more sustainable, soil-respecting and higher-performing practices.