Cargill’s USD 150 million investment is part of the company’s circular economy approach, aiming to bring added sustainability benefits to citizens, communities, and the environment. The plant will be the first in Europe to make use of the latest BDI-BioEnergy International GmbH technology, enabling the processing of all types of liquid oil and fat waste. These include by-products from food processing, waste from the food industry as well as from non-food crops grown nearby.

“We will utilize recycled products that would normally be disposed of or used for low-value applications,” explains Alexis Cazin, managing director of Cargill Biodiesel. Advanced biodiesel from waste and residues will provide concrete, cost-effective solutions to the end-user.” With the new plant, the agribusiness giant is looking to confirm its leadership position in the global biodiesel market.

Between Cargill’s biodiesel plants in Frankfurt and Ghent, the latter’s “biovalley” turned out to be the best option for the expansion.

Ghent’s biovalley is ideally located in a densely populated area where there is a lot of demand. In addition to the support of the city, the presence of North Sea Port and the vicinity of Ghent’s leading university were important assets as well. 

Alexis Cazin, managing director of Cargill Biodiesel

The new Cargill plant will initially have a biodiesel production capacity of 115,000 metric tons per year, with the aim of increasing annual production to 150,000 tons in the short term. The new facility is set to open in June 2022 and will create around 20 new direct jobs and an additional 60 indirect jobs in Flanders.