Solugen and ADM have announced a strategic partnership to build a new biomanufacturing facility in Marshall, Minnesota. The 500,000-square-foot facility will use ADM-provided dextrose to scale Solugen’s line of lower-carbon organic acids and develop new, innovative molecules to replace existing fossil fuel-based materials. The companies will work together to commercialize these biomaterials for various applications, including energy, water treatment, agriculture, and personal care.
Solugen’s Bioforge platform converts plant-derived substances into essential materials using computationally engineered enzymes and metal catalysts. The high efficiency and scalability of the process can result in a significant reduction in carbon footprint compared to conventional ingredients. The partnership with ADM will enable Solugen to bring its process to a commercial scale and cater to increasing customer demand for sustainable products.
“The initial phase of the project will significantly increase Solugen’s manufacturing capacity, which is critical for commercializing our existing line of molecules and kicks off plans for a multi-phase large-scale U.S. Bioforge buildout,” said Sean Hunt, Co-Founder and CTO of Solugen. “The increase in capacity will also free up our Houston operation for research and development efforts into additional molecules and market applications.”
Solugen plans to start offsite construction this year and commence on-site construction in early 2024, with the initial phase scheduled to start up in the first half of 2025. The project is expected to create at least 40 permanent jobs and another 100 temporary construction jobs during commissioning. With a robust and cost-competitive supply of corn in Marshall, alongside advanced corn-to-dextrose conversion technology, the city is an ideal location to support Solugen’s products.
Marshall’s local and regional governments are enthusiastic about welcoming Solugen to the city, which they believe will drive economic growth and diversify the industry. The strategic partnership further strengthens ADM’s commitment to sustainability and will diversify its product stream while supporting plant-based solutions for various sectors.
