The first shipments of corn syrup are expected to begin in mid-2024.

Cargill leaders had announced a planned investment in the plant in February 2022 and released details of the project in August 2022.

The company will add some engineering workers and food safety and quality employees as a result of this project. Some current employees will be given the opportunity to learn new skills to work in the corn syrup production process, a move which will enable them to get raises.

“As the global population continues to grow, the demand for corn syrup continues to grow, especially given its important functional benefits in products ranging from infant formula to confection,” Mike Wagner, managing director for Cargill’s starches, sweeteners and texturizers business in North America, said in a written statement.

-Submitted graphic
Cargill will soon begin making corn syrup, thanks to a $50 million investment to expand the plant. The new facility shown in this rendering will be in the southwest portion of Cargill’s property in the industrial park west of Fort Dodge.

“Adding this new corn syrup refinery further fortifies our supply network and ensures customers can continue counting on Cargill to be a reliable source of this sought-after ingredient,” he said.

Cargill officials said the new corn syrup refinery will be energy efficient and noted that because the MidAmerican Energy electrical grid is made up of more than 88 percent renewable sources, the new setup will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by almost 50 percent compared to typical corn syrup production methods.

“This new refinery is the latest example of how Cargill is working to lower our environmental impact across operations using advanced technology to minimize our carbon footprint,” said Sydney Pokorny, the Cargill Fort Dodge Biotechnology Campus facility manager.

Local leaders welcomed the announcement by Cargill.

Webster County Supervisor Mark Campbell said the corn syrup production will be “the first food grade line in Webster County.”

“They are great partners with Webster County,” he said of Cargill.

According to Campbell, there was some competition between various Cargill facilities seeking to become the site of the corn syrup facility.

“As everyone knows, Cargill has facilities all over the United States and all over the world,” he said. “We were extremely lucky to get that corn syrup refinery in Webster County.”

The Cargill plant already produces dextrose, ethanol, feed for cattle, corn gluten meal fed to poultry, corn germ and a molasses like substance called corn steep liquor.

Adding another product to the mix is good for the future of the plant, according to Dennis Plautz, the chief executive officer of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance.

“It’s going to continue to make this plant more diverse,” he said. “The more diversification we get, the more competitive we get.”

Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich said he was excited to see Cargill expanding.

“We’re excited to see Cargill continue to make investments, especially investments of this magnitude,” he said.

The Cargill plant is west of Fort Dodge in the ag industrial park known as Iowa’s Crossroads of Global Innovation. The new corn syrup facility will be in the southwest portion of Cargill’s property in the industrial park.