The facility in Yorkton will have crush capacity of over 2 million metric tons upon completion
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
A food processing company is expanding its operations at a Saskatchewan facility.
Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) is investing in its Yorkton, Sask. facility to double the plant’s canola crush capacity, the company announced on April 11.
The facility on 500 Sully Ave. opened in 2009 with a crush capacity of about 850,000 tonnes. It currently employs about 120 people.
Construction of a new canola crushing line is expected to begin sometime in 2023.
Upon completion, the facility will have an annual crush capacity of over 2 million metric tons.
This investment will have multiple positive effects on Canadian agriculture, said Michael Gelchie, CEO of LDC.
“This investment supports the Group’s strategic growth plans by reinforcing core merchandizing activities, in this case with additional capacity to originate and process Canadian canola seeds to provide nourishment for people and livestock,” he said in a statement. “It also positions LDC as a strategic feedstock provider to renewable energy producers and accelerates our contribution to a global energy transition that we are excited to be a part of.”
The provincial government is pleased with this commitment to Saskatchewan agriculture.
The Province has set ambitious goals for canola processing, and this investment will help the industry meet those targets, said Jeremy Harrison, Saskatchewan’s trade and export development minister.
"This expansion brings Saskatchewan even closer to several of the 2030 Growth Plan goals, including the ambitious goal of crushing 75 per cent of the canola produced in the province,” he said in a statement. “This investment strengthens the province's position as a global leader in agriculture value-added processing and will further increase Saskatchewan's international exports."
Canola oil and canola seed were among Saskatchewan's top three agri-food exports in 2022, with a value of $3.5 billion and $2.7 billion, respectively.
Farms.com has contacted SaskCanola for comment.