CHICAGO — American multinational food company ADM is expanding its alternative protein capabilities with a US$300 million investment in its facility in Decatur, Georgia to meet accelerating customer demand.

The project — which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025 – will significantly increase soy protein concentrate capacity and nearly doubling extrusion capacity at ADM’s Decatur complex.

The enhancements will improve production capabilities by utilizing the latest cutting-edge technologies and processes, including best-available control technology, the company said.

“The global trends of food security and sustainability are driving structural changes in the food industry, including strong growth in alternative proteins, and we’re investing to ensure ADM remains a leader in this vast and exciting space,” said Leticia Gonçalves, president of Global Foods at ADM.

 “The array of opportunity areas for alternative proteins in foods and nutrition solutions is continuing to grow at 10% CAGR, with alternative meat and dairy sales alone expected to grow by 14% a year and reach $125 billion in 2030.

The project is only the latest to expand ADM’s global alternative protein production capacity. Last year, the company acquired Sojaprotein, a leading European provider of non-GMO human nutrition protein solutions.

Addition of Sojaprotein and the expansion at Decatur are expected to increase ADM’s global alternative protein production capacity by more than 30%.

The Chicago, Illinois headquartered commodity trading company added that it will further enhance its alternative protein capabilities by opening a new Protein Innovation Center, also in Decatur.

The Protein Innovation Center will further expand ADM’s Decatur-based innovation complex, joining the company’s Food Application Center and Animal Nutrition Technology Center.

It will also enhance the company’s ability to work closely with customers to develop custom solutions to meet their needs, the company said.

The new Decatur Innovation Center will bring together labs, test kitchens, and pilot-scale production capabilities to power new innovation, from novel and diversified ingredients, to more sustainable and efficient processing, ADM said.

“Our customers choose ADM because we can innovate across the entire value chain, from seed to fork and around the globe, to arrive at the perfect solutions to meet growing consumer demand,” Ms. Gonçalves said.

 “We’re proud to be the alternative protein partner of choice for global CPGs, foodservice companies and startups alike, with the highest-quality ingredients, unparalleled global scale, unmatched speed to market, and a value chain that no other company can offer.”

Earlier, ADM announced a multi-million-dollar investment to add the ability to process non-GMO soybeans at its oilseeds facility in Mainz, Germany.

The project is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2023 and follows a similar investment in the company’s oilseeds processing plant in Straubing, Germany, in 2016.  

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