GLOBAL grain giant Cargill has invested an additional US$75 million in PURIS, North America’s largest producer of pea protein, to enable it to more than double its production using an existing facility in Dawson, Minnesota.
Cargill said the spend would position PURIS to keep up with increasing demand for its pea proteins, starches and fibres all grown and produced through its vertically integrated supply chain.
“This is more than a pea-protein facility; this is the future of food,” PURIS president Tyler Lorenzen said.
“This investment will grant PURIS the ability to support more food companies, more farmers and more consumers faster.”
The plant will supply pea protein to customers in North America and in export markets.
According to Innova Market Insights, the launch of new pea protein-based food-and-beverage products grew at a compound annual growth rate of 19 per cent globally from January 2016 to December 2018.
PURIS’ non-GM and organic pea-protein products are popular in vegan diets, and with those sensitive to major food allergies.
Beginning with its own proprietary non-GM pea seed, PURIS uses its network of more than 400 US farmers to grow the peas,
In addition to the Dawson plant, PURIS owns and operates another two US facilities solely focused on pea- protein production,
These are located in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin and Oskaloosa, Iowa.
With engineering complete on the Dawson facility, construction to retrofit it for pea production will start immediately, with an anticipated operational start date of late 2020.
“I am excited that Cargill and PURIS are investing in the potential of Greater Minnesota communities like Dawson,” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said.
“Repurposing an existing facility for a new pea protein plant is an excellent example of the smart, sustainable innovation that has kept Minnesota on the forefront of the food production industry.”
Cargill announced its joint venture with PURIS in January 2018, with an initial investment of $25M that was used to add substantial capacity at the Turtle Lake facility.
Pea protein broadens Cargill’s portfolio of alternative proteins, such as cell-cultured protein, to meet consumer dietary preferences.
Source: Cargill
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