The investment allows the site to shift from today's lower protein meal to high and super-high protein sunflower meal, creating a new regional source of plant-based protein for the animal feed sector and reducing reliance on imported meal.

As sunflower crops continue to increase in France, the region around the site is an important supplier and this investment will provide local farmers with a reliable outlet for their seeds and enhances collaboration with many cooperatives.

'This strategic investment strengthens our ability to connect French farmers to growing demand for high-value protein meal,' said Alexis Cazin, president of Cargill's Agriculture and Trading group in EMEA. 'By upgrading our processing capacity in Saint-Nazaire, we're creating more opportunities for local farmers while helping ensure France remains competitive in rapidly evolving global feed markets."

The investment also represents a significant step forward in improving the site's energy resilience. By using processed sunflower hulls to generate energy on site through a new biomass boiler, Cargill expects to reduce its natural gas use by more than 100 GWh per year and cut CO2 emissions by approximately 20,000 metric tons annually, based on independent engineering estimates. Based on current estimates, that would be equivalent to removing around 15,000 cars from the road and would represent about 90% of the site's CO2 emissions.

In addition, excess sunflower hulls will be converted into agricultural biomass pellets and supplied to external customers, including district heating networks. These pellets are expected to contribute to local energy needs, while supporting a more circular use of agricultural by-products.

The site currently employs 75 people, and the project is expected to create 7 jobs. Construction is expected to begin in November 2026, with commissioning planned for March 2029. During this period, the project is expected to engage local contractors and suppliers, contributing to economic activity in the region. The project is supported by ADEME and the France 2030 initiative.

This investment also reflects Cargill's broader commitment to France, including approximately €25 million invested in Baupte, €50 million in Saint-Cyr en Val near Orléans, and €61 million overall in the progressive transformation of its Haubourdin site.

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