Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) announced the start-up of a new specialized crushing line at its agro-industrial complex in Timbúes, in the province of Santa Fe. The addition brings new capacity to process high-oil-content seeds and marks another step in the productive diversification of the agro-export hub in the northern Greater Rosario area.
The investment enables the plant to expand its processing mix and incorporate alternative oilseed crops such as camelina, carinata, canola, and sunflower, alongside traditional soybean crushing. In this way, the complex improves year-round utilization of its infrastructure5, adapting to the seasonal availability of different crops.
According to the company, the new line allows these seeds to be processed to produce both protein meal for animal feed and vegetable oils, which will be used in the production of advanced biofuels, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO). These products are key to supporting global decarbonization commitments and the energy transition.
LDC noted that the addition not only expands the operational flexibility of the Timbúes complex, but also strengthens its commercial offering for domestic and international customers. “The incorporation of these new processing capabilities in Timbúes improves the complex’s operational efficiency throughout the year and allows us to more efficiently integrate a broader range of crops into our regional operations,” said Fernando Correa, LDC’s Regional Head of Oilseeds for Southern and Western Latin America.
From an operational standpoint, the new line enables the processing of up to 3,000 metric tons per day of additional oilseeds during periods of lower seasonal activity, alternating with the complex’s usual 7,000 metric tons per day of soybean crushing capacity maintained during the rest of the year. The investment included the installation of equipment specifically designed for high-oil-content seeds, such as specialized presses, rotary and vertical cookers, impurity separators, and decanters, all aimed at maximizing process efficiency.
The initiative is also part of a broader strategy linked to regenerative agriculture. LDC promotes the integration of cover and intermediate crops into crop rotation schemes, particularly brassicas such as camelina, whose planted area has been growing steadily in Argentina and the region. Since 2023, the company has been advancing this development through a joint program with Camelina Company (Argentina), part of the Grapevine Energy group, with the goal of expanding camelina cultivation in South America over the next decade.
With this new investment, the Timbúes complex strengthens its role within the Up River agro-industrial network, adding value, increasing productive diversification, and establishing a direct link to emerging global energy markets, at a time when demand for advanced biofuels is gaining increasing prominence.