Bunge to build protein concentrate facility in the U.S.

St. Louis, Mo. – Agribusiness, food and ingredients company Bunge will spend about $550 million to build a fully integrated soy protein concentrate and textured soy protein concentrate facility adjacent to its Morristown, Ind., plant.

The new facility is expected to meet rising customer demand for key ingredients in the production of plant-based foods, processed meat, pet food, and feed products, Bunge said in a news release.

Construction of the facility, that will be adjacent to and integrated with Bunge’s soybean processing plant in Morristown, Ind., is expected to start in the first quarter of 2023 and to be commissioned in mid-2025, creating around 70 full time jobs. It is expected to ultimately process close to an additional 4.5 million bushels of soybeans.

“This new facility is an important step in our long-term strategy to strengthen our capabilities in downstream higher value food ingredients,” said Greg Heckman, Bunge chief executive officer.

The new facility is expected to add significant scale, efficiencies, and non-GMO capability to the company’s existing U.S.-based conventional soy protein concentrate and textured soy protein operation in Bellevue, Ohio. The company plans to contract with farmers to establish a traceable soybean sourcing program starting with the 2025 harvest.

As part of Bunge’s growth and its commitment to customers, the company also recently invested an additional $10 million to enhance its plant protein technical capabilities at the Creative Solutions Center near its St. Louis headquarters. Adding to its existing lipids and carbohydrates resources, the center now offers commercial pilot plants for alternative meat and dairy, processed meat, and beverages that complement its bakery and fry labs. It also features a sensory testing facility, an extrusion lab and a full-scale food-service kitchen.