Funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff
Incobrasa is one of the few family owned, privately held soybean crushers in the industry. Early adopters of biodiesel, they both crush and produce biodiesel in one place.
Illinois Celebrates Incobrasa's Expansion By Joli A. Hohenstein
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$250 million expansion announcement sparks excitement, especially in the heart of soybean country. With Incobrasa currently processing 10 percent of the state’s soybeans, the ag industry certainly took notice. But when the dust settled (pun intended), and the coffee shop talk commenced, one question made the rounds the most: What's it mean for us? It’s a fair question, so we thought we’d break it down. First, a bit on where we are now. Incobrasa is one of the few family owned, privately held soybean crushers in the industry. Early adopters of
8 January 2024
biodiesel, they both crush and produce biodiesel at the same location, something fairly unusual in the industry. But what’s even more unusual is the incredible integration that goes on at the site. They crush and refine on-site, and the oil can be used in biodiesel and bottled for commercial and retail use, also on-site. They built their own bottling plant, and their primary contract is supplying vegetable oil to Dollar General. “So if you’re buying that, you’re buying Illinois soybeans,” says Andrew Larson, ISA Director of Government Relations & Strategy. The plant has created another competitive advantage for Illinois
to add to its belt. With Incobrasa, Illinois is able to create a closedloop system for soybean oil that most states can’t, explains David Kubik, ISA Public Policy Manager. “Soybeans come to the plant. They’re crushed and refined into oil, then shipped out to truck stops like Love's. The oil never travels more than 50 miles, so we have a lower carbon impact,” says Kubik. “That’s good for the environment and good for Illinois farmers.” Incobrasa is also one of the few biodiesel plants that exclusively uses soybeans for feedstock. And for the expansion, they’re also solely using soybean-based feedstock. More competitive advantages:
“It shows our industry continues to grow,” Kubik says. It also shows Incobrasa is a company of innovators, and they’re using Illinois competitive innovations to grow their own. Market Certainty & Stability Along with the massive soybean processing capacity it brings, the Incobrasa expansion also creates stronger markets for Illinois farmers’ soybeans. “What the plant provides is a more stable market for those soybeans,” says Kerry Fogarty, Incobrasa Quality Control Manager, who points out that currently 50 percent of soybeans in the U.S. head down the river and go over-
