August 12, 2020

The Scoular Company to produce plant-based alternative feed for aquaculture

US-based The Scoular Company announced on August 11 that it has selected Jerome, Idaho, as the location to producea new sustainable, plant-based alternative protein made from barley.

Scoular will build a 15,000-square-foot (~1,390-square-metre) facility to producethe product, called barley protein concentrate or BPC, for use in aquaculture feed and pet food.Initially from May 2021, the new plant is projected to process 1.9 million bushels of barley annually, with capacity projected to expand over the next several years. A high-energy liquid feed supplement for cattle feeders will be co-produced.

Scoular, based in Omaha, Nebraska, selected Jerome in south-central Idaho because of its proximity to its valued grain producer customers and end markets for the manufactured products, says JC Olson, product group manager for Scoular. Idaho is the leading state for barley production in the US.

"We look forward to making this investment in both Jerome and the state of Idaho," Olson said. "This facility and innovative barley product will create a new market and greater stability for farmers in the Magic Valley region and throughout Idaho."

Earlier in June, Scoular and Montana Microbial Products announced that they had entered into an exclusive licensing agreement to produce and sell the BPC in North America and Asia. BPC is made from non-GMO barley in a process that does not use harsh chemicals or solvents, and represents a clean-label solution for aquaculture and pet food manufacturers seeking high-protein nutrition for their formulas.