Louis Dreyfus Company opens new specialty feed protein production line in Tianjin
Tianjin, China, Nov. 2, 2025 — Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has officially inaugurated its new specialty feed protein production line in Tianjin, marking a major step in the company’s downstream expansion and diversification within its Food & Feed Solutions business. The initiative underscores LDC’s commitment to delivering value-added products for the livestock and poultry industries in China.
Located on an 11,000-square-meter site adjacent to LDC’s Tianjin oilseeds crushing plant, the new production line will initially focus on fermented soybean meal, with an annual capacity of 60,000 metric tons.
“This development represents LDC’s first commercial-scale investment in specialty feed protein production and reaffirms our commitment to long-term growth in China,” said James Zhou, Head of Food & Feed Solutions and Chief Commercial Officer at LDC. “The new facility will enable us to provide China’s livestock and poultry sectors with high-quality, sustainable feed proteins that enhance animal health and productivity.”
The facility utilizes advanced synergistic fermentation technology developed by LDC’s Shanghai R&D Center, which employs multiple probiotic strains to break down anti-nutritional compounds in soybean meal. This process improves protein content, palatability, and digestibility, while the resulting product — rich in organic acids — supports gut health and boosts immunity in animals under stress or illness.
Incorporating AI-driven monitoring and data analytics, the Tianjin plant ensures real-time optimization of fermentation parameters, including temperature, humidity, and gas levels. Predictive systems allow for precise quality control and process consistency.
According to Shengshu Huang, LDC’s Chief Technology Officer and Head of Specialty Feed Ingredients for North Asia, the facility is designed for scalable expansion. “By leveraging LDC’s processing and innovation capabilities, this site will allow us to broaden our portfolio of specialty feed ingredients from diverse plant sources, addressing the growing needs of China’s livestock and aquaculture industries,” Huang said. “China’s specialty feed protein market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7% between 2026 and 2030.”
Founded in 1851, Louis Dreyfus Company is one of the world’s leading merchants and processors of agricultural goods, operating in over 100 countries with a workforce of approximately 19,000. The company’s activities span multiple sectors — from grains and oilseeds to food and feed solutions — serving around 500 million people globally each year.
