USA- ADM, a premier global human and animal nutrition company, and Marathon Petroleum Corp. have marked a significant milestone with the official opening of their collaborative venture, the Green Bison Soy Processing facility, in Spiritwood, North Dakota.
The facility, representing the state’s first dedicated soybean processing complex, is a strategic response to the escalating demand for renewable fuels, particularly renewable green diesel.
According to a report by Allied Market Research, the global renewable energy market is expected to reach over two trillion U.S. dollars by 2030, driven by rising concerns about climate change and its effects.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by key executives from both companies, underscored the joint commitment to sustainability and innovation in the energy sector.
Green Bison Soy Processing will play a pivotal role in sourcing and processing local soybeans, with the resulting oil exclusively supplied to Marathon as a feedstock for the production of renewable fuels.
Expected to produce approximately 600 million pounds of refined soybean oil annually, the facility will contribute enough feedstock to generate around 75 million gallons of renewable green diesel each year.
The US$350 million complex is equipped with state-of-the-art automation technology and can process 150,000 bushels of soybeans per day.
Since receiving its first soybeans in September 2023, Green Bison Soy Processing is currently in the commissioning and startup phase, processing soybeans for meals and oil.
Greg Morris, President of ADM’s Ag Services & Oilseeds business, emphasized the strategic importance of sustainability, stating, “Sustainability is one of the enduring trends driving changes in structural global demand, and this investment helps position ADM, as a leader in our industry, to deliver on that demand.”
Morris highlighted the transformative opportunity the growth in demand for renewable green diesel presents for the industry, producers, and the overall sustainability of the transportation system.
Dave Heppner, Marathon’s Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, spoke about the venture’s role in advancing sustainable energy.
“Our joint venture with ADM not only strengthens our presence in North Dakota but also gives us the opportunity to collaborate further with a world-class partner as we continue investing in a sustainable, energy-diverse future,” he said.
Heppner described Green Bison Soy Processing’s Spiritwood facility as a crucial milestone in sourcing and optimizing logistically advantaged feedstock for Marathon’s expanding renewable fuels business.
The new complex has had a positive economic impact, supporting hundreds of regional jobs and currently employing approximately 75 people.
In recognition of its economic contributions, the Economic Development Association of North Dakota awarded Green Bison Soy Processing the 2023 Economic Development Project of the Year in September 2023.
This accolade acknowledges the facility’s positive impact on the economic health of the community, region, or state.
“While this facility provides added value for our farmers, it is also a significant investment in the community of Spiritwood through job creation. We are very appreciative to ADM and Marathon for their collaboration to make this project possible,” Dwaine Heinrich, Mayor of Jamestown, North Dakota, stated, expressing his appreciation for the collaboration between ADM and Marathon.
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