Key Takeaways
- Bunge is investing €4.4 million in its Porto Corsini facility near Ravenna, Italy, to double processing volumes of soybeans grown in Italy.
- The upgrade includes a modernized seed receiving system, expanded storage capacity, and a larger in-house testing laboratory.
- A new rear-loading dock for trucks will complement the existing side-loading dock, while a new silo and chain conveyors will boost storage capacity and improve seed flow to the processing line.
- The expanded plant will let Bunge increase purchases of soybeans from Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Piedmont, Lombardy and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, supplying the feed, food and biofuel sectors.
- Construction was completed in June, with the upgraded plant expected to reach full operation by the end of summer, ahead of the next harvest season.
Bunge Upgrades Porto Corsini Plant to Double Soybean Volumes
Bunge has announced a €4.4 million investment in its Porto Corsini plant near Ravenna aimed at doubling the volume of Italian-grown soybeans the facility can process. The investment covers modernization of the seed receiving system, an increase in storage capacity, and an expansion of the site's in-house testing laboratory.
The upgrades are designed to strengthen seed receiving and delivery operations to accommodate modern transport vehicles, including a new rear-loading dock for trucks that will complement the existing side-loading dock. A new silo and additional chain conveyors will increase storage capacity and improve the flow of seeds toward the processing line, while the in-house laboratory has been expanded to allow faster and more thorough testing.
Bunge Aims to Boost Local Soybean Purchases
The upgraded plant will allow Bunge to increase purchases of soybeans grown across Italy's major agricultural regions, including Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Piedmont, Lombardy and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The soybeans will supply a range of uses, including the animal feed and food sectors, as well as biofuel production. Bunge said the investment also reinforces Ravenna's role as a hub connecting local harvests to customers across Italy and Europe.
Saverio Panico, Bunge's Country Manager for Italy, said the investment reflects the company's commitment to Italian farmers and customers.
“Our investment in Porto Corsini reflects our commitment to Italian farmers and to customers in the food, feed and fuel sectors. It strengthens our ability to source locally, while integrating crops from other origins, contributing to Italy's food security and to the supply of sustainable raw materials through stable and reliable sourcing,” said Saverio Panico, Bunge's Country Manager for Italy.
Plant Targets Completion Before Next Harvest
Construction at the Porto Corsini site was completed in June, and the upgraded plant is expected to reach full operation by the end of summer, in time for the next harvest season.
