Louis Dreyfus Company opens feed protein line in China

Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) today inaugurated its new specialty feed protein production line in Tianjin, as part of the Group’s strategic plans to expand its activities further downstream in the value chain and diversify its offering with value-added products, including specialty feed ingredients, as part of its Food & Feed Solutions business.

Covering an area of 11,000m2 near LDC’s existing Tianjin oilseeds crushing plant, the new specialty feed protein production line will initially focus on producing fermented soybean meal, with an annual production capacity of 60,000 metric tons.

“This development represents LDC’s first investment in a facility to produce specialty feed proteins on a commercial scale, and reflects our commitment to continued growth with China,” said James Zhou, LDC’s Head of Food & Feed Solutions and Chief Commercial Officer. “In addition to supporting the growth of our Food & Feed Solutions Platform, the facility enables us to supply China’s livestock and poultry industry with high-quality specialty feed proteins that can contribute to enhanced animal health and productivity across species.”

The facility employs synergistic fermentation technology developed by LDC’s R&D Center in Shanghai, that utilizes multiple probiotic strains to break down anti-nutritional factors in soybean meal, enhancing its feed protein content, palatability and digestibility. Rich in small-molecule organic acids, LDC’s fermented soybean meal supports animal gut health and helps strengthen immunity during stress or illness.

The fermentation process is enhanced with data analytics for real-time monitoring and optimization of key parameters such as temperature, humidity and gas concentration. AI-powered systems also forecast potential variations, enabling precise quality control.

“Leveraging LDC’s processing and innovation capabilities, this facility is designed for future expansion into a broader range of specialty feed ingredients that derive from a wider range of plant sources and cover more animal farming or aquaculture scenarios,” added Shengshu Huang, LDC’s Chief Technology Officer and Head of Specialty Feed Ingredients for North Asia. “This development will allow us to meet growing demand in China’s specialty feed protein market, projected to grow at a 7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2026 to 2030.”

www.ldc.com