USA – Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), a global powerhouse in agriculture and food processing, is set to revolutionize the industry with bold plans for a cutting-edge soybean processing plant in Upper Sandusky, Ohio.
This state-of-the-art facility promises to become an integral link in LDC’s supply chain, featuring integrated crushing, refining vegetable oil, and lecithin production and packaging capabilities.
The grand vision behind this venture is to fortify LDC’s core merchandising operations while elevating the status of the United States as a significant contributor to value-added soy products. This development will solidify LDC’s role as a trusted partner in the Food & Feed Solutions sector.
“This strategic development will further strengthen LDC’s core merchandising capabilities with additional capacity to originate and process US soy into value-added products—in this case, edible oils and lecithin—reinforcing our position as a partner to our customers as we grow our Food & Feed Solutions business established in January,” LDC’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Gelchie emphasized.
This newly announced plant is not just a facility for soybean processing; it’s also a leap into renewable energy. LDC aims to meet the surging demand for biofuels while aligning with sustainability goals, making it a key player in the renewable energy feedstock market.
“Reflecting our long-term commitment to North America as a key market for LDC, both in terms of origination and distribution, this new facility will leverage LDC’s existing regional logistics network and synergies with our other integrated oilseed processing facilities in the region,” Gordon Russell, LDC’s US Head of Grains & Oilseeds, stated, underscoring its commitment to North America.
He pointed out the synergy with LDC’s recently expanded crushing, biodiesel refining, and glycerin and lecithin production complex in Claypool, Indiana, and the ongoing expansion of their canola processing plant in Yorkton, Canada.
Construction of this groundbreaking plant is scheduled to commence in early 2024, promising to inject vitality into the local economy by creating over 100 employment opportunities.
Once operational, the facility will boast an impressive annual soy crushing capacity of 1,500,000 metric tons, an edible yearly (RBD) soybean oil production capacity of 320,000 metric tons, and an annual lecithin production capacity of 7,500 metric tons.
This ambitious project underlines Louis Dreyfus Company’s unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainable practices, and catering to the evolving needs of the food and feed industry.
With this forward-thinking approach, LDC positions itself at the forefront of agribusiness developments and emerging markets, promising to shape the future of agriculture and sustainability.
