- First Evonik plant to produce the feed-grade amino acid L-lysine in Latin America
- New annual capacity of around 80,000 metric tons of Biolys®
- Contribution to efficient, sustainable animal nutrition in the growth markets of Latin America
Evonik has commissioned a new plant for the biotechnological production of Biolys® in the Brazilian town of Castro in the state of Paraná. It will have annual production capacity of around 80,000 metric tons. Biolys® is an efficient source of the amino acid L-lysine and is used as a feed additive in modern animal nutrition.
“With this investment we are strengthening our leading market position in feed-grade amino acids and are taking advantage of the opportunities to grow in the emerging markets of Latin America,” said Klaus Engel, chairman of the Executive Board of Evonik Industries AG, commenting on the start of operations.
“This new plant will meet the rising demand we have seen for Biolys® in Latin America, and particularly in Brazil, for a number of years,” explained Reiner Beste, chairman of the Board of Management of Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH. “By producing locally, we are moving closer to our customers in Brazil and can offer even greater security of supply.” This will be supported by the outstanding logistical connections of the Castro site and an extensive network of warehouses in the region.
Evonik produces Biolys® on site of the U.S.-based company Cargill, from which it procures site and logistics services as well as locally produced raw materials. Agricultural products from the region are used as the main raw material for the fermentation. The plant will create around 100 jobs for highly skilled workers.
Biolys®, a product produced biotechnologically from renewable resources, is globally known as a highly efficient source of L-lysine for animal feed, which helps to sustainably reduce costs in both feed production and animal breeding. And it is beneficial to the environment: In a life cycle analysis certified by TÜV Rhineland, Evonik proved that protein supply in animal feed supplemented by Biolys®, among other things, represents a particularly environmentally sound concept for the adequate, healthy nutrition of animals.
“With our amino acids and concepts for efficient animal nutrition we intend to make a contribution to meeting the world’s growing demand for meat, dairy, eggs, and fish in a sustainable manner,” said Beste.
Evonik’s Animal Nutrition Business Line has more than 60 years of experience in the production of essential amino acids and offers solutions for efficient and sustainable animal nutrition to customers in more than a hundred countries around the world. By extending its product range beyond amino acids to include innovative feed additives, Evonik plans to contribute even further to the efficiency of animal feed and to create additional value for its customers. Evonik’s products and services in the area of animal nutrition play a key role globally in healthy and affordable feed production that conserves natural resources and reduces the ecological footprint.
