ABN says it plans a 1-million-ton, state-of-the-art feed mill
ABN, part of AB Agri, Britain’s leading manufacturer of pig and poultry compound animal feed, said it intends to build a state-of-the-art, animal feed mill in the east of England, as part of an ongoing investment program set to transform the U.K. agricultural industry.
The investment aims to provide a sustainable solution for an industry that is close to capacity, as it tries to keep pace with the rising demand for animal feed.
With the U.K. population estimated to reach 77 million by 2050, it is projected that chicken and pig production will need to expand to meet the increased demand for protein products.
“U.K. agriculture faces exciting opportunities ahead, to meet the demand for food from a growing population, not just domestically but globally too. This demand will drive the need for more protein products, from more productive animals and consequently drive even greater demand for animal feed,” said Simon Heath, managing director of AB Agri’s compound feed division.
“With an industry operating at near capacity, we are exploring all options to improve and expand our manufacturing capabilities to meet this demand, support our customers’ long-term ambitions for growth, and strengthen our own business too,” he said.
ABN has invested heavily across its mill sites and transport fleet in recent years. This new project is a key extension of that program. The business will continue to invest in its existing sites.
ABN operates 11 feed mills in the U.K. The proposed new mill will have the capacity to produce 1 million metric tons of pig and poultry feed per year.
“The complexities of building a pioneering new mill can only be considered as a long-term project, and at this stage timings cannot be confirmed,” Heath said. “We are looking at the viability of a number of sites in the east of England region. We will share our new location as soon as we are able to do so but what I can announce is that we are intending to build the U.K.’s biggest and most efficient compound animal feed mill. Not only that, the mill will deliver improved animal feed quality, improved reliability, efficiency and sustainability plus greater traceability.”
