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For Immediate Release
– April 25, 2005
MEXICO, MO – Mid-America Biofuels, LLC, has announced plans to
build Missouri’s first major biodiesel production plant in Mexico, MO.
Mid-America Biofuels, LLC is a joint venture of Biofuels, LLC, a
farmer-owned biodiesel business based in Jefferson City, MO;
Ray-Carroll County Grain Growers, Richmond, MO; and MFA Oil Company,
Columbia, MO. Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) of Decatur, IL, one
of the world’s leading agriculture processors, has entered into a
letter of intent to purchase an interest in Mid-America Biofuels and
provide key products and services to this joint venture. The facility
will have a nameplate capacity of 30 million gallons of biodiesel
production per year and will use soybean oil as feedstock.
“Biodiesel demand is growing rapidly, and we
believe Missouri is the right place to produce biodiesel and fill that
demand,” said Warren Stemme, St. Louis-county farmer and president of
Mid-America Biofuels. “Additionally, I believe we have put together an
unbeatable team, with each member providing resources and experience
that will make Mid-America Biofuels a success.”
“This is excellent news for growers, processors,
our economy and our environment,” said Paul B. Mulhollem, President
and Chief Operating Officer of ADM. “This
project
demonstrates how farmers and processors can partner for growth and
success while also extending our nation’s energy supply. We are
pleased to leverage the extensive experience and tremendous success
that ADM has had in the biodiesel market in Europe. The anticipated
extension of federal support will serve as a vital catalyst to develop
demand for biodiesel in the United States.”
With federal and state tax incentives in place,
Missouri is poised to become the center of biodiesel production for
the nation. Missouri’s soybean programs have been instrumental in
leading the charge toward a Missouri biodiesel production facility.
“Missouri’s farmers were the first to make
investments in the biodiesel industry, contributing their check-off
dollars to basic research on the fuel over a decade ago,” notes Dale
R. Ludwig, executive director/CEO of Missouri’s Soybean Programs. “Our
soybean farmers view biodiesel as the most promising soy product to
date, and we have spent a lot of time building markets and interest in
the fuel. Mid-America Biofuels’ decision to build this plant will have
a tremendous impact on the Missouri economy, and confirms our
dedication to expanding the biodiesel industry.”
Biodiesel, produced from renewable fats and oils
such as soybean oil, works in any diesel engine with few or no
modifications. It offers enhanced lubricity and cetane, plus similar
horsepower and torque when compared to petroleum diesel. More than
fifty percent of Missouri’s soybean farmers use biodiesel in their
operations. Many major fleets also use biodiesel commercially
statewide including the City of Mexico, MO; Audrain County, MO; City
of Columbia, MO; Fort Leonard Wood; Whiteman Airforce Base; and the
Missouri Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Energy and
others. Nationally, more than 400 retail filling stations make various
biodiesel blends available to the public, and more than 1,000
petroleum distributors carry biodiesel and biodiesel blends.
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is a world
leader in agricultural processing. ADM is one of the world's largest
processors of soybeans, corn, wheat and cocoa. ADM is also a leader in
the production of soy meal and oil, ethanol, corn sweeteners and
flour. In addition, ADM produces value-added food and feed
ingredients. Headquartered in Decatur, Illinois, ADM has over 26,000
employees, more than 250 processing plants and net sales for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 2004 of $36.2 billion. Additional
information can be found on ADM's Web site at
http://www.admworld.com.
For more information, contact:
John Kleiboeker, MSA director of field services: 573/635-3819
Warren Stemme, MAB chairman: 314/614-8897
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