NEW TECH FOODS

Agriculture company Alltech has begun construction on a new $4.6 million manufacturing facility at its Kentucky headquarters.

The 15,000-square-foot facility will produce biological fertilisers and crop inputs, offering farmers environmentally responsible alternatives to traditional chemical fertilisers and reducing reliance on imported synthetic products.

The Nicholasville, Kentucky, site will be Alltech’s first US manufacturing plant dedicated solely to crop science technologies.

Modeled after Alltech Crop Science's facilities in Brazil and Spain, it is expected to produce over 66,000 gallons of biological fertilisers per shift per month and create at least six full-time jobs. The plant will also manufacture more than 30 natural products aimed at improving soil and crop vitality.

The project is supported by a $2.34 million grant from the USDA Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP), part of a $500 million initiative launched in 2022 to expand domestic fertiliser production and reduce dependence on imported synthetic inputs.

Alltech’s biofertilisers, made with beneficial microorganisms, are designed to enhance soil fertility, stimulate root development, improve nutrient uptake and support a healthier soil microbiome. The facility will also allow Alltech to expand its natural agronomic technologies both domestically and internationally.

Alltech Crop Science's vice president, Steve Borst, who leads the project, said: “This facility represents the next phase in scaling our biological innovations for agriculture. By expanding production here in Kentucky, we can bring farmers natural, science-based solutions that improve soil health, strengthen crops and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers. We’re grateful to the USDA and to our state and local partners for their support in making this vision a reality.”

Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, added: “Fermentation has always been at the heart of our business, and this facility allows us to apply that expertise in new ways to support crop health, productivity and sustainability. We’re proud to strengthen our presence at our global headquarters in Kentucky, creating an innovation and manufacturing center that will serve US farmers, strengthen our local community and continue to advance the science of agriculture.”