Cargill expands sunflower processing in France with US$150M upgrade
The investment supports local farmers, cuts emissions, and adds to recent global expansion moves.
FRANCE – Cargill has announced a US$150 million upgrade to its sunflower processing site in Saint-Nazaire, strengthening its supply chain in Western Europe while supporting local agriculture.
The upgrade will shift production from lower protein sunflower meal to high and super-high protein meal for animal feed. This move will help meet rising demand for plant-based protein and reduce the need for imports.
The company says the site will also offer a steady market for sunflower farmers in the region, where production continues to grow.
“This strategic investment strengthens our ability to connect French farmers to growing demand for high-value protein meal,” said Alexis Cazin, president of Cargill’s Agriculture and Trading group in EMEA.
“By upgrading our processing capacity in Saint-Nazaire, we’re creating more opportunities for local farmers while helping ensure France remains competitive in rapidly evolving global feed markets.”
The project will also improve energy use at the site. Cargill plans to install a biomass boiler that will use sunflower hulls to generate energy. The company expects this change to cut natural gas use by more than 100 GWh each year and reduce CO2 emissions by about 20,000 metric tons. This figure equals removing around 15,000 cars from the road and accounts for about 90 percent of the site’s emissions.
Cargill will also convert extra sunflower hulls into biomass pellets for external customers, including district heating systems. These pellets will support local energy supply while making use of agricultural by-products.
The site employs 75 people, and the upgrade will add seven more jobs. Construction will start in November 2026, with operations set to begin in March 2029. Local contractors and suppliers will take part in the project. ADEME and the France 2030 initiative support the investment.
The company has also invested about US$27 million (€25 million) in Baupte, US$54 million (€50 million) in Saint-Cyr en Val, and US$66 million (€61 million) in upgrading its Haubourdin site.
This update comes just days after Cargill opened a new canola processing plant in Regina, Canada.
The facility can process 1 million metric tonnes each year and links farmers to food and fuel markets. “This facility strengthens our ability to connect Canadian farmers to growing global demand for food and renewable fuels,” said Jeff Vassart, president of Cargill Canada.
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