Cargill is expanding its soybean crush and refined oils facility in Sidney, Ohio, to better serve area farmers and to meet the growing demand for protein and refined oils.
The company will invest approximately $225 million at the site, increasing crush capacity and modernising operations.
According to Cargill, the investment creates greater market access for farmers’ crops in the area and allows those farmers to deliver their soybeans more efficiently, as the upgraded plant will unload trucks at a faster rate.
“Farmers are at the core of our business. This investment will help us provide them a better experience when they choose to sell their crops to us,” said Don Camden, commercial leader for the eastern region of Cargill’s agricultural supply chain business in North America. “This also demonstrates our commitment to invest in and grow with the Sidney community.”
Warren Feather, Cargill managing director of global crush, added: “The increased capacity will strengthen and expand our US crush footprint, enable us to meet the growing demand for soy products from our customers and further integrate our refined oil capabilities.”
The crush facility originally opened in 1978, with the refinery added a decade later. The expansion of the plant will provide Cargill’s adjacent refined oils facility with a larger, direct supply of crude soybean oil.
When the expansion is complete in 2022, Cargill expects to add approximately 12 full-time jobs to the team of 325 currently employed at Sidney.
Last year, Cargill opened its North American protein headquarters in Wichita, Kansas. in a move to bring innovative food solutions to global customers.
When the facility was inaugurated, Cargill protein president Brian Sikes said the company wants to help make Wichita the Silicon Valley of protein and bring together “the best minds, innovation and technology in the industry”.
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