INDIA – Cargill has opened a US$15m high-pressure hydrogenation plant in Kurkumbh, Maharashtra western India, to manufacture superior bypass fat, a health and nutrition supplement for dairy cattle, marketed under its global brand Carfe.
India has been the largest milk producer in the world for over two decades. However, milk productivity per animal is still low in comparison to the world average.
According to Cargill, Carfe is technologically advanced, providing better digestion and more energy to the cattle.
The supplement has proven to substantially improve the quality of nutrition for dairy cattle, resulting in better reproductive health and milk production, translating to improved earnings for farmers.
It is already available in developed dairy cattle markets worldwide.
The newly built plant has an annual capacity of 35000 tons, making it one of the largest facilities to manufacture bypass fats and specialty waxes in the country.
This investment leverages Cargill’s global presence in agriculture supply chain, expertise in bio-industrial manufacturing technology and reach and market coverage in dairy nutrition in India, to bring a best in class solution for dairy farmers in India.
“This launch is in line with our ambitions of continuing to remain the leading supplier and trusted partners for feed millers and farmers in the country.
“It also demonstrates our commitment to supporting the local economy with the addition of 50 new manufacturing jobs,” said Keerthy Pethaiyan, regional director, Cargill Bioindustrial, India.
In 2017, Cargill announced that it will invest US$250 million in India over the next five years including in its animal nutrition business.
Earlier this year, the company opened a chocolate manufacturing plant in the country.
“India is a key growth market for Cargill and line with our commitment to the country, this marks a continuation of our investment in India,” said Kurtis Miller, global managing director, industrial segment at Cargill Bioindustrial.
“By building upon our operations at this facility, we will increase our regional footprint and enhance our local capabilities to better support the needs of our local customers as well as multi-national customers across the globe.”
The plant will also manufacture specialty vegetable oil-based waxes for industrial application, marketed under the brand name Agri-Pure, which has application in tyre, plastic and candle industry.
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