December 29, 2020

 

Cherkizovo shares interesting facts about soybeans

 

 

Cherkizovo Group is building an oil extraction plant in the Lipetsk Region, Russia, to meet its soybean processing needs.

 

Accompanying this announcement, the company stated several interesting facts about soybean that plays an important role in the modern-day agricultural industry. These facts are:

 

- Today, the largest soy producers and exporters are the United States, Brazil and Argentina, aggregately accounting for 80% of global soy supply;

 

- In addition to soybean being widely used in the food industry, it is also a common protein-rich ingredient in livestock and poultry feed. Soymeal, a result of oil extraction from soybeans, is included in feeds for poultry, pigs and cattle;

 

- Soybeans are particularly valued for their high concentrations of plant protein (over 35%). Soybeans contain B vitamins, polysaturated fatty acids, calcium and potassium;

 

- Russian farmers are now actively expanding production of soy crop that used to be considered niche. In 2019, Russia recorded its highest soy harvest of 4.6 million tonnes (a 13-fold increase from 2001). Over time, oil and soybean meal production has grown by 20 times;

 

- In Russia, soybean is mainly grown in the Far East and the Central Federal District;

 

 

Cherkizovo said that the group has been growing soybean since 2012, giving it a significant share of the crop area. The crop is grown in all regions where the group operates its grain business, specifically in the Orel, Lipetsk, Tambov, Penza and Voronezh regions of Russia.

 

In 2020, 35,600ha was planted with soybeans compared to 25,000ha in 2019. According to Alexander Kashirsky, chief agronomist at Cherkizovo Group, the crop area will be increased to 60,000ha in 2021 and to 90,000ha over the next two years.

 

With the oilseed processing plant in place, Cherkizovo Group will be able to improve self-sufficiency in feeds, reduce dependency on soybean meal imports and guarantee the highest quality of its products, the company said.

 

The plant in the Lipetsk Region will process soybean and produce oil. With a total capacity of 2,500 tonnes per day, the project is expected to cost ₽7.2 billion (US$97.2 million).

 

- Cherkizovo