CJ BIO announced Jan. 10 its plan to produce L-threonine at the company’s production facility in Ft. Dodge, Iowa.

CJ BIO is completing detailed design now and will begin construction in the second quarter of 2018, the announcement said. Initial output will be 20,000 metric tons starting in mid-2019. The total investment will exceed $50 million, bringing the company's total investment in Ft. Dodge to more than $400 million since 2014.

The expansion will also create additional jobs at the Ft. Dodge plant.

“We are excited to make this additional investment to service our growing business in the North America market. This is consistent with our global strategy to invest in all key amino acids for both the food and feed markets,” said Joe Lucas, vice president and managing director at CJ BIO America

“We are pleased to continue working closely with the greater Ft. Dodge community and the state of Iowa to grow our production base,” added Lance Choi, head of CJ BIO North America. “CJ will consider additional future investments to service our customers more effectively in this important market.”

CJ BIO is a division of CJ CheilJedang, a core subsidiary in charge of the food and bioengineering business unit of the CJ Group.

CJ Group has developed its business portfolio into four core sectors: Food & Food Service, Bio & Pharma, Entertainment & Media and Retail & Logistics.