MARSHALL, Minn., April 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Solugen, a rapidly
scaling climate technology company revolutionizing everyday
chemicals, broke ground on its new state-of-the-art
biomanufacturing facility today during a ceremony held in
Marshall, Minn. The new facility
is the result of a strategic partnership with ADM (NYSE: ADM), a
global leader in sustainably sourced solutions from nature, and
aims to meet the increasing demand for sustainable solutions while
bolstering domestic biomanufacturing capabilities.
"Today's groundbreaking underscores our
commitment to innovation and the future of biomanufacturing in the
U.S."
The 500,000-square-foot Bioforge™ Marshall is being
constructed on a 34-acre parcel adjacent to ADM's existing corn
processing complex. The facility will utilize ADM-sourced dextrose
to manufacture low-carbon organic acids for applications in water
treatment, agriculture, energy, and home and personal care.
"Today's groundbreaking represents a key milestone in our growth
journey, underscoring our commitment to innovation and the future
of biomanufacturing in the U.S.," said Gaurab Chakrabarti, CEO and Co-Founder of
Solugen. "As the demand for sustainable products continues to rise,
we look forward to partnering with our customers in their
decarbonization efforts."
Bioforge™ Marshall will house three modular
trains, or production lines, boasting a total production capacity
of up to 120 kilotonnes per annum (KTA) of product. The facility
will employ up to 100 temporary workers during construction and is
expected to create over 50 high-skill manufacturing jobs upon
reaching full production.
The pioneering process employed by Solugen's
Bioforge™ Marshall facility is estimated to avoid the
emissions of up to 18 million kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) per
year compared to the base case of similar petrochemical and
fermentation-based products.
"Solugen's chemienzymatic technology is a transformative force
in sustainable chemical manufacturing," said Sean Hunt, Co-Founder and CTO of Solugen. "The
new facility will significantly increase our existing capabilities,
enabling us to expand the market share of low-carbon
chemistries."
Dextrose will serve as the primary feedstock, with an estimated
150 million pounds converted annually at full production. The
facility will feature two dextrose pipelines connecting directly to
the adjacent ADM plant, boosting production and significantly
lowering the cost and emissions associated with transport.
"We are excited to be taking the next step in our partnership
with Solugen and to help meet the increasing demand for sustainable
products," said Chris Cuddy, Senior
Vice President, President of ADM's Carbohydrate Solutions business
unit. "Sustainability is core to ADM's purpose and one of the
enduring global trends powering our strategic growth. Our
partnership with Solugen offers another avenue in which ADM can
diversify the products made from our corn stream and continue to
support plant-based solutions for use in a wide variety of consumer
and industrial products."
In support of the project, Solugen was awarded $760,000 in financial incentives from the
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's Job
Creation Fund (JCF).
"DEED is proud to support the advancement of sustainable
biomanufacturing in Minnesota
through our investment in Solugen's expansion to Marshall," said
DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek.
"This transformative project not only creates quality jobs but also
builds upon our state's rich legacy of innovation. Congratulations
to Solugen and thank you for your commitment to investing in
Minnesota's future."
The facility, which is expected to come online in the fall of
2025, is primed to serve as a powerful economic driver for the city
of Marshall. The investment demonstrates Solugen's commitment to
onshoring domestic manufacturing while ensuring communities like
Marshall reap the benefits of the growing bioeconomy.
"As a community deeply rooted in agriculture and innovation, we
warmly welcome Solugen to Marshall," said City of Marshall Mayor
Bob Byrnes. "We appreciate Solugen's
commitment to sustainable development, job creation, and
diversifying our industrial base. ADM's continued investment in
Marshall has made opportunities
like this possible. We look forward to strengthening these
partnerships and advancing our mission of economic vitality and
community well-being."
Solugen has initiated collaborations with local educational
institutions and workforce development groups, including Marshall
Public Schools, Minnesota West Community and
Technical College, Southwest Minnesota
State University (SMSU), Southwest Minnesota Private
Industry Council, and Marshall
Chamber of Commerce.
About Solugen
Solugen is a groundbreaking technology company on a bold mission
to decarbonize the physical world. At the heart of our innovation
is the world's first sustainable molecule factory—the Bioforge.
This unique manufacturing platform uses a chemienzymatic process to
convert plant-derived substances into essential materials that have
historically been made from fossil fuels—all with no or low
emissions and waste. A highly scalable and localized alternative to
conventional approaches, the Bioforge enables us to produce a range
of high-performance, cost-competitive, and sustainable solutions to
meet the diverse needs of our customers.
For more information, visit www.solugen.com. For our press kit,
visit www.solugen.com/press-kit.
About ADM
ADM unlocks the power of nature to enrich the quality of life.
We're a premier global human and animal nutrition company,
delivering solutions today with an eye to the future. We're blazing
new trails in health and well-being as our scientists develop
groundbreaking products to support healthier living. We're a
cutting-edge innovator leading the way to a new future of
plant-based consumer and industrial solutions to replace
petroleum-based products. We're an unmatched agricultural supply
chain manager and processor, providing food security by connecting
local needs with global capabilities. And we're a leader in
sustainability, scaling across entire value chains to help
decarbonize our industry and safeguard our planet. From the seed of
the idea to the outcome of the solution, we give customers an edge
in solving the nutritional and sustainability challenges of today
and tomorrow.
Learn more at www.adm.com.
Contacts
Solugen
Javier Vargas
media@solugentech.com
ADM
Jackie Anderson
media@adm.com
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SOURCE Solugen Inc.