BENEO inaugurates US$65M pulse-processing plant in Germany to boost sustainable food innovation
The new facility will focus on processing faba beans into high-quality, plant-based ingredients for the food and feed industries.
GERMANY – BENEO, a leading functional ingredients manufacturer, has officially inaugurated its first pulse-processing plant in Obrigheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, following a significant investment of nearly US$65 million by the Südzucker Group.
The facility, built alongside BENEO’s existing plant, marks a major milestone in the company’s commitment to sustainable food innovation and regional economic development, with up to 25 new jobs set to be created.
Spanning approximately 4,000 square meters, the new facility will focus on processing faba beans into high-quality, plant-based ingredients for the food and feed industries.
According to BENEO, faba beans are recognized for their environmental benefits, including their ability to improve soil health and eliminate the need for nitrogen fertilizer.
Sourced locally in Germany and certified at the highest “Gold” level by REDCert2 (equivalent to the Farm Sustainability Assessment), the faba beans support both traceability and sustainability goals.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by prominent regional and national figures, including Daniela Schmitt, Minister of Economic Affairs for Rhineland-Palatinate, and Dr. Niels Pörksen, CEO of the Südzucker Group. Other notable attendees included Johannes Steiniger, Member of the German Bundestag, Nicole Eicher, Mayor of Obrigheim, Olivier Roques, CEO of BENEO GmbH, and Niels E. Hower.
“BENEO’s new plant represents a strong commitment to Rhineland-Palatinate as a business hub. It’s a driver of innovation and regional value creation that also enhances job security and rural development,” Minister Schmitt stated.
The plant’s sustainability credentials are a standout feature. It is powered entirely by renewable energy, with additional electricity generated via rooftop photovoltaic panels. Waste heat is recycled for heating, and notably, the pulse-processing operation requires no water, underscoring BENEO’s zero-waste, low-impact production model.
“This development is a continuation of over 30 years of innovation at our Obrigheim site. We are now harnessing the potential of a traditional legume to meet modern nutritional needs with plant-based, future-proof solutions,” said Niels E. Hower, Executive Board Member of BENEO GmbH.
On his part, Dr. Pörksen, CEO of the Südzucker Group, reinforced the company’s broader strategic direction, noting that feeding a growing global population sustainably is one of the greatest challenges of our time.
With the investment, he reiterated that the plant-based protein plant is vital to realizing their vision of a healthier, more sustainable world.
“The Südzucker Group pursues the vision of contributing to a healthy and sustainable world worth living in, and one of the many ways we are doing this is by investing in the expansion of our plant-based protein division. Today is therefore an important milestone for us.”
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