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 The facility will be owned and operated by the French insect
producer Innovafeed and will co-locate with ADM’s Decatur corn
processing complex, with ADM supplying feedstocks, waste heat
and more. Together, these investments will bolster Illinois’
access to sustainable agriculture feed supply, while creating
new jobs and advancing the growing agriculture industry in
Illinois.
“InnovaFeed’s decision to bring their first ever international
facility and state-of-the-art agriculture technology to Illinois
is a vote of confidence for our state, and a win for our farming
communities,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Illinois has always
been a global leader in agriculture and technology, and we offer
the resources to support this major international expansion –
with an educated workforce, proximity to global businesses like
ADM, and access to shipping and logistics. The investments
InnovaFeed is making in Decatur will not only support our
thriving agriculture industry – a cornerstone of our economy –
but will unlock new well-paying jobs for our communities.”
“We are very pleased to launch this ambitious project, working
alongside ADM and Illinois state partners as InnovaFeed expands
to provide sustainable solutions to meet the fast-growing demand
for insect feed in the US and worldwide,” said Clement Ray, CEO
and co-founder of InnovaFeed. “Around the world, InnovaFeed is
contributing to the emergence of sustainable food systems by
developing a pioneering and sustainable industry. Our new
operations in Illinois, a global leader and destination for
agriculture, will allow us to take the next steps to innovate
and grow our business.”
Insect feed has become an increasingly popular protein
ingredient for agriculture and aquaculture industries, as demand
for animal feed has now reached an all-time high and consumers
look for food that is sustainably and responsibly grown.
InnovaFeed already operates two insect production facilities in
France, including what is today the world’s largest. The Decatur
facility represents InnovaFeed’s first international project.
“At a time when the demand for animal feed protein is steadily
increasing, insect farming stands out as a true solution for the
future,” said Chris Cuddy, ADM senior vice president and
president of the company’s Carbohydrate Solutions business.
“We’re excited to work with InnovaFeed on this ambitious
project, which further expands our participation in the growing
market for animal food and feed that comes from responsible,
sustainable sources. It is a great demonstration of how ADM is
expanding its value chain by offering opportunities for
collaboration to leading, innovative startups. It is yet another
example of how we are constantly identifying new ways to create
value from corn, oilseeds and more. And of course, we are
extremely proud that we can help bring this new, job-creating
project to Decatur, the home of our North American
headquarters.”
Construction of the new high-capacity facility is expected to
create more than 280 direct and 400 indirect jobs in the Decatur
region by the second phase. The Illinois Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the Illinois workNet Center
will partner with InnovaFeed to develop recruiting strategies as
well as on-the-job training programs. DCEO partnered with
InnovaFeed through an EDGE agreement to support this large-scale
capital investment. Additionally, InnovaFeed will benefit from
the Decatur-Macon County Enterprise Zone and customized
incentive opportunities from the City of Decatur and Economic
Development Corporation of Decatur-Macon County.
“Illinois remains open for business, and companies continue to
choose Illinois for growth based on our industry strengths,
talent, education and access to infrastructure,” said DCEO
Director Erin B. Guthrie. “With agriculture a leading industry
and employer for communities across our state, these investments
by InnovaFeed to bring their one-of-a-kind technology will
support our farmers and those who rely upon farms. We look
forward to partnering with the company on ensuring our local
residents have access to jobs and economic opportunity created
by this exciting new project in Decatur.”
Construction is targeted to begin in 2021,
pending necessary permitting and approvals. Construction and
production will come in two phases.
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When both are complete, the plant would have a target
annual production capacity of 60,000 metric tons of animal feed
protein derived from Hermetia Illucens, a type of fly with
exceptional nutritional qualities; the plant will also have the
capability to produce 20,000 metric tons every year of oils for
poultry and swine rations, and 400,000 metric tons of fertilizer.
"The city of Decatur is pleased to partner with InnovaFeed to bring
this unique and innovative facility to our community,” said Decatur
Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe. “Not only will this project fuel both
direct and indirect job creation, but it affirms that our best
prospects for creating new jobs are in the agri-business sector, in
partnership with our existing businesses, in a city that is an ideal
place for groundbreaking advanced manufacturing. ADM, the State of
Illinois, the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur-Macon
County, and the City of Decatur worked together to bring this plant
to Decatur. Our concierge approach results in joint incentive
opportunities to support InnovaFeed’s infrastructure and operational
needs."
The plant will be built using an innovative model of industrial
collaboration that InnovaFeed has already demonstrated in other
facilities enabling the French Biotech company to produce the insect
protein with the lowest carbon footprint on the market. The plant
will be co-located with ADM’s Decatur corn complex, with
complementary infrastructure that will allow ADM to directly provide
corn by-products to supply InnovaFeed’s innovative insect rearing
process, as well as waste heat and steam. This collaborative
operational model will enable the Innovafeed facility to reduce CO2
emissions by 80 percent versus standalone production.
Advancements in agriculture technology are a key component of
Governor’s Pritzker’s 5-year economic growth plan – which
prioritizes investments in high growth potential industry clusters,
including agriculture, technology, manufacturing, life sciences, and
more. Specifically, the plan seeks to boost growth in the
agriculture sector by facilitating technology adoption, encouraging
innovation, and boosting connections with global markets. With over
$8.5 billion in agricultural exports annually, 27 million acres of
farmland, and over 300,000 residents employed by this industry,
Illinois is an agriculture powerhouse. To sustain the growth of the
increasingly technology-oriented agriculture industry – Illinois is
making significant infrastructure investments, including through its
$400 million program to create universal basic broadband access, and
with a series of infrastructure upgrade investments for ports and
shipping hubs located across the state, as directed by the
Governor’s historic $45 billion capital plan.
About ADM
At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition
worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio
of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to
sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional
challenges of today and tomorrow. We are a global leader in human
and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural
origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights,
facilities, and logistical expertise give us unparalleled
capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health, and
wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the
solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more
at www.adm.com.
About InnovaFeed
InnovaFeed is a biotech company that produces a new source of
protein from insect rearing (Hermetia Illucens) for animal and plant
nutrition. InnovaFeed’s mission is to participate in the rise of
sustainable food systems by addressing the increasing demand for
natural, healthy, and competitive raw materials. Combining the
largest production capacity on the market and state of the art
research in biotechnology, InnovaFeed has developed an innovative
technology and process enabling the production of high-quality
insect ingredients at industrial scale and at a competitive price.
www.innovafeed.com
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