Cargill Opens Integrated Chinese Poultry Plant

ANHUI, ChinaCargill held the inauguration ceremony Sept. 23 of its integrated poultry operation in Lai'an, Anhui. The approximately $250 million project covers each stage of the poultry supply chain, including chicken breeding, raising, feed production, hatching, slaughtering and processing.

The facility has the capacity to process approximately 65 million chickens per year, as well as 176,000 metric tons of poultry products per year.

The project, which launched in 2009, is a part of Cargill's effort to support the modernization of agriculture and food safety in China. Food safety systems include Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) programs supported by foundational programs, such as sanitation for processing equipment, proper personal hygiene, pest control, maintenance, product labeling and traceability. Cargill also will apply environmental and energy efficiency management systems that meet all applicable environment regulations in waste water treatment, waste disposal and emission control.

"I firmly believe that when our two countries are able to deepen our commercial partnerships, we can bring positive, long-term benefits to the consumers of both our countries," said Gary Locke, U.S. ambassador to China, who participated in the ceremony.

Cargill continues to develop an international presence. The company has already donated two Cargill Cares Libraries and a water purification system to local Anhui schools. And in September it began construction on a new $200 million sunflower oil plant in southern Russia.