Oilseed Crushing
Rapeseed, sunflower seeds, and soy are processed into oil, some of which is used for foodstuffs and for industrial use some of it is also used to produce meal high in vegetable protein which is used in animal feed. Grain processing is carried out in our plants at Brest and St Nazaire, the latter location is one of the largest sunflower seed processing plants in Europe.
On 18 September 2008, Cargill inaugurated a new rapeseed crush plant in the port of Montoir in western France. The company has made the investment in partnership with Sofiprotéol, which promotes the marketing and processing of oilseeds in France.
The rapeseed crushed produces 250,000 metric tonnes of rapeseed oil per year, as well as 350,000 metric tonnes of rapeseed meal. The oil supplies the French food and biodiesel industries, with a significant volume transferred via pipeline to Diester Atlantique’s biodiesel production plant. The biodiesel produced by Diester Atlantique – in which Cargill is a minority shareholder – will help France meet the renewable fuel obligations outlined by the French government.
As a co-product of the crushing operations 350 000 tonnes of rapeseed meal will also be produced annually at the new plant. This meal will then be sold to be used in the animal feed market. This facility is an important new market for farmers in the region. The new plant will complement Cargill’s existing food operations in St Nazaire, which specialise in the crushing and refining of sunflower oil and which represent more than half of the national sunflower production. Meanwhile, Cargill’s plant in Brest will focus on rapeseed and soya production for use in animal feed and biofuels.