Cargill's Krefeld site transformation
from corn to wheat
Cargill is transforming its production site in Krefeld, Germany, from a corn to a wheat processing plant, representing an investment of US$ 200 million. The diversification project was announced in 2019, and is well underway and scheduled for completion in H1 2023.
The transformation will allow Cargill to address market changes in the area of nutrition and packaging to even better serve its customers’ needs. The increasing demand for protein rich foods, driven by the growing world population and the rising need for industrial starches in the packaging industry, are stimulating the need for vegetable proteins and specialized starches.
What will happen to corn?
The Krefeld plant today produces a range of corn starches and sweeteners for the food and industrial markets:
- The increasing demand for protein rich foods* and rising need for industrial starches in the packaging industry are driving the need for vegetable proteins and specialized starches.
- By transforming the Krefeld plant from corn to wheat, Cargill strengthens its supply position by creating additional capacity of wheat protein and specialized starches to meet increased customer demand.
- New technology being established, based on Cargill’s extensive global experience of processing wheat that promotes sustainability benefits across carbon emissions and water use.
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The investment will support the local economy and the regional farming community while positioning the business for future growth.
The site transformation
Today the Krefeld plant produces a range of corn starches and sweeteners for the food and industrial markets. By transforming the site from corn to wheat, Cargill can add wheat proteins and specialized starches to its portfolio, thereby strengthening its supply position through additional capacity of wheat protein and specialized starches to meet increased customer demand.
As of spring 2023 the Krefeld site will produce 100% wheat-based products. Therefore, all products in which corn as a raw material is critical for functionality (for example food starch), will no longer be produced in Krefeld.
Sustainability
The Krefeld site is strategically located in Germany next to the river Rhine, allowing transport over water and rail to effectively service European and global customers. This investment will support the local economy and the regional farming community while positioning the business for future growth.
The new facility will source 100% of the wheat in Europe, with the vast majority coming from local suppliers in Germany and France.
“Cargill has operated wheat plants for several decades. All the processing and technology experience gained over the years has been invested in this new plant, to make it as efficient as possible, for example by optimizing both energy and water usage.’’
Menno Timmermans, Regional operations leader
Cargill Starches & Sweeteners Europe
Wheat processing
The new wheat processing section (below) is being integrated into the current factory site and will be connected to the existing production system. This new unit will use the latest available production technologies to meet our high standards of reliability, hence contributing to Cargill’s goal of feeding the world in a sustainable and responsible way.
Impacted product lines
Transforming the front-end of the site from corn to wheat processing has an impact on the product portfolio.
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Food & Beverage
- C☆Dex® Dextrose
- Wheat Protein
- Starches & Derivatives
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Bioindustrial
- Dextrose
- Polyols
- Starches & Derivatives