September 24, 2013

Cargill inaugurates integrated poultry operation in Anhui

Cargill inaugurated its fully-integrated poultry operation in Lai'an, Anhui on September 23. At a total investment of US$250 million, the facility covers a complete poultry supply chain, including chicken breeding, farming, feed production, hatching, slaughtering and processing.

When fully operational, the facility has the capacity to slaughter 65 million chickens and process 176,000 tonnes of poultry products per year. The project will provide 4,000 jobs in the coming few years, which will also boost the farmers' incomes. 

Initiated in 2009, the project is a part of Cargill's effort to support the modernisation of agriculture and food safety in China. Cargill has incorporated its state-of-the-art technologies in food safety, poultry breeding, animal nutrition, disease prevention, environmental protection and energy saving into the project.

Cargill has also utilised its global expertise to build an integrated supply chain and food safety management system, which is based on the Codex Alimentarius and ISO 22,000 principles, food safety systems include well-written and implemented Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) programs supported by strong foundational programs such as sanitation for processing equipment, proper personal hygiene, pest control, maintenance, product labelling, traceability and other key programs implemented across the business.

Cargill will also apply innovative environmental and energy-efficiency management systems that meet all applicable environment regulations in waste water treatment, waste disposal and emission control.

During the past two years, Cargill has already donated two Cargill Cares Libraries and a water purification system to local Anhui schools. Cargill also has established Cargill classes to train locals in modern farming and agricultural management systems in three universities in Anhui province.

Gary Locke, ambassador of US to China; Chris Langholz, president of Cargill Animal Protein China; Stan Ryan, corporate vice president of Cargill, and representatives from Chinese government agencies participated in the inauguration ceremony.