Benson Hill, a food tech company unlocking nature's genetic diversity with its leading food innovation engine, has announced a collaboration with family-owned Rose Acre Farms to optimize its soybean processing capacity in Seymour, Ind., and build out the supply chain for Benson Hill's high-protein, high-oleic, low anti-nutrient soybeans. This collaboration will allow local growers to tap into price premiums for food- and feed-grade identity-preserved, non-GMO soybeans, and support Benson Hill as it meets growing demand for high-protein animal feed and plant protein ingredients for plant-based foods, the company said, adding that the new collaboration will also support jobs in the area and boost the local economy.

Benson Hill's portfolio of high-quality soybean varieties delivers a full range of in-demand premium attributes, including better digestibility, heart-healthy omega fatty acids, and higher protein that serve the plant-based food, healthy oils, animal feed and aquaculture markets.

Benson Hill has partnered with growers to contract more than 30,000 acres of premium soybeans this growing season, including significant acreage in Indiana. To minimize cost and the carbon footprint of transportation, Benson Hill sought out Rose Acre Farms as a partner to develop a processing facility in close radius to its grower partners. This announcement will also support Benson Hill's plans to significantly increase its future contract acres in the area. Benson Hill and Rose Acre Farms are now actively enrolling interested growers for the 2021 growing season.

"We are thrilled to partner with Benson Hill to expand our crushing capacity in Indiana," said Tony Wesner, COO of Rose Acre Farms. "We believe this strategic partnership will deliver tremendous value to local farmers and, by opening a new market pathway for in-demand soybean ingredients, support higher land and commodity prices over time. As the second-largest egg producer in the United States, we also see that the market is moving towards higher-protein animal feed, a key attribute of Benson Hill's soybean portfolio."

The food tech company plans to fully commercialize a line of Ultra-High Protein soybean varieties in 2021. 

"Benson Hill's partnership with Rose Acre Farms further builds out our supply chain infrastructure and enables us to bring our identity-preserved soybeans to more commercial buyers," said Chris Wilkins, COO of Benson Hill. "Demand for high-quality, high-protein soybeans – particularly as ingredients to serve the booming plant-based foods market – continues to grow. We expect the plant protein market to continue to increase at a double-digit percentage over the next several years, and with value chain partners like Rose Acre Farms and farmer partners across the Midwest, we are well-positioned to capitalize on that demand."