Area Development
A company that provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services, Cargill completed its new $10 million seed innovation center in Fort Collins, Colorado. The facility will be the center of Cargill's specialty canola hybrid development.

Cargill invested $10 million to build the new research and development facility, where the company will select the next generation of VICTORY seed varieties. “VICTORY canola hybrids have been market leaders in Canada over the last decade and are grown and harvested in Canada and the U.S. before being crushed and refined to become Clear Valley high oleic canola oils, the company said.

"The Ft. Collins facility is the starting point for our high oleic canola supply chain and arguably the most strategic piece to the puzzle," said Jenny Verner, President, Cargill Specialty Seeds & Oils. "Seed development is a forward-looking process because the seed genetics we select today will produce crops that will be harvested about 10 years from now."

The 45,700-square-foot Ft. Collins facility includes; laboratory and warehouse space to promote collaboration and innovation for its 48 employees so they can bring unique products to farmers and food customers. The operations center includes; 9,400 square feet of laboratory space, a 15,800-squarefoott dedicated seed wing, 4,000-square-foot basement for seed storage. 16,500 square feet of office space featuring meeting and conference rooms, and a training facility.

According to company officials, the Ft. Collins facility is a key piece in the balance between agronomics and oil innovation. Cargill focuses on developing seeds that will grow disease-resistant and high-yielding crops in a variety of regions, and improve the oil profile of high oleic canola.