Valent to Build Fermentation Manufacturing Facility

Posted by Matt Hopkins|25 April 2011

Valent BioSciences Corporation (VBC) will construct a new state-of-the-art fermentation manufacturing facility in Osage, Iowa, for the production of biorational agricultural, horticultural, public health and forestry products, according to a press release.

The 73-acre campus will include a 130,000-square-foot building along with associated processing and purification equipment, offices, warehouses and quality assurance laboratories. The facility will have annual fermentation capacity in excess of 15 million gallons, according to Valent.

Fermentation is a critical process in the manufacturing of biorational products and uses naturally occurring microorganisms to produce low-risk, environmentally compatible products for use in targeted markets around the world.

Michael Donaldson, VBC president and chief executive officer, said the facility represents an estimated $150 million investment, with full-scale commercial operations to begin in 2014. Until then, manufacturing will continue at the current facility in North Chicago, Ill. VBCʼs corporate headquarters will remain in Libertyville, according to the company.

Construction is slated to start in 2012.