ADM to Produce More Alternative Protein

ADM Announces $300M Expansion of Decatur, Illinois, Alternative Protein Plant

Todd Neeley
By  Todd Neeley , DTN Staff Reporter
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Archer Daniels Midland announced a $300 million expansion of its alternative protein plant in Illinois. (DTN file photo)

LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- Archer Daniels Midland announced on Monday a planned $300-million expansion that will double soy protein concentrate production at its plant in Decatur, Illinois, in the latest of what has been a long list of actions to expand ADM's alternative-protein business.

ADM said in a news release it also plans to open a new protein innovation center in Decatur designed to "power partnership, innovation and speed" to meet customer needs.

The project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025, according to the company.

The alternative protein market is continuing to grow.

Alternative meat and dairy sales alone are expected to grow by 14% a year and reach $125 billion in 2030, the company stated in a news release.

"Our sales in this space have been growing at rates much faster than the industry's," said Leticia Goncalves, ADM's president of global foods.

"Our work to expand our leadership position with new innovation and capacity is an important driver of future growth for our nutrition business."

Along with other alternative-protein investments, ADM said its overall global production capacity will increase by more than 30%.

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The protein innovation center is expected to bring together laboratories, test kitchens and pilot-scale production capabilities to power new innovation, ADM said.

ADM has made a number of investments in the alternative-protein business.

In May 2020, ADM announced a joint venture with beef-patty producer Marfrig to launch PlantPlus Foods to produce plant-based burgers.

As part of the joint venture, Marfrig will initially own 70% of PlantPlus Foods, with ADM owning 30%.

ADM built a new soy-protein $250 million complex in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, in 2014. ADM provides ingredients produced at the plant to the joint venture.

Ingredients produced at the plant are marketed by ADM's Foods and Wellness group as part of several specialty ingredients and products for beverage, meat, snack, bakery, cereal, wellness and personal-care markets.

ADM also operates a new pea-protein plant in Enderlin, North Dakota.

In January 2021, ADM invested $32 million in Air Protein. Air Protein is a start-up company that is using the money to launch a research and development laboratory.

The technology under development produces a protein flour used to convert into meat, using air and water.

In April 2021, ADM opened a plant-based innovation lab at the company's research hub in Singapore. The facility is expected to develop new food and beverage products in the Asia-Pacific region.

ADM announced in May 2021 plans to build a $350 million crush and refining complex in Spiritwood, North Dakota, expected to be online by the first quarter of 2022. In addition, ADM announced plans to launch a $25 million expansion of refining and storage capacity at its crush and refining plant in Quincy, Illinois, also expected to come online in the first quarter of next year.

In November 2021, ADM announced the final acquisition of Sojaprotein.

Sojaprotein is a European company specializing in non-GMO soybean ingredients. The Serbia-based company exports into 65 countries.

The company offers a range of non-GMO vegetable protein ingredients for European and global customers in the meat alternative, confectionery, protein bar, pharmaceutical, pet food and animal feed segments.

Read more on DTN:

"ADM Grows Plant-Based Protein Business," https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

Follow him on Twitter @DTNeeley

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Todd Neeley

Todd Neeley
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