ADM opens fertilizer plant in Paraguay

Decatur, Ill.-Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) said Dec. 2 that it has officially opened its fertilizer blending plant in Villeta, Paraguay the first large-scale facility of its kind in the nation, with a daily production capacity of 2,500 mt. ADM has approximately 80 employees at the facility and utilizes an extensive contractor workforce. A ceremonial ribbon-cutting event featured remarks from the Honorable President of the Republic of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo, and from ADM Chairman, CEO, and President Patricia Woertz. “ADM connects the harvest to the home and serves vital needs for food and energy,” said Woertz. “So as global population continues to grow, and with it demands for food and energy, we seek growth to continue serving these vital needs. With Paraguay growing its agricultural sector and increasing its role as a food producing and exporting country, this new facility symbolizes a shared future of agricultural growth and success.” The fertilizer plant in Villeta is part of ADM’s strategy to expand the reach of its core model in key geographic regions around the world. “This plant is ADM’s latest addition to our operations in Paraguay, and we are pleased to share this moment with our colleagues, our community and our nation’s leaders,” said John Grossmann, president, ADM Paraguay. “In 2012, the Villeta fertilizer facility will be joined by an adjacent soybean processing facility with a daily crush capacity of 3,300 metric tons. This fertilizer facility and the forthcoming soybean processing facility will create hundreds of additional, permanent jobs for the area, benefiting the entire community.” ADM began operations in Paraguay in 1997. Today, ADM has approximately 1,000 employees in Paraguay and processes about 30 percent of the country’s output of grain and oilseeds. ADM operates crop origination, processing, and transportation facilities throughout Paraguay, including a fertilizer blending plant, 32 elevators, 14 tugboats, and 200 barges. ADM also owns one port facility and leases three additional port facilities.