BENEO opens facility for fava bean processing

With the opening of a new facility in Obrigheim, BENEO strengthens its position in the market for plant-based ingredients. At the German site, locally grown fava beans are processed into high-quality raw materials for both food and animal feed. The project was completed in just a year and a half and made possible by a €50 million investment from the Südzucker Group.

Sustainable and locally sourced

The facility was built next to BENEO’s existing site, where Isomalt and Palatinose™ are produced. On a 4,000-square-metre area, fava beans are processed sustainably, without the use of water and powered entirely by renewable energy. Waste heat from production is used to heat the building. A zero-waste strategy ensures that all raw materials are fully utilised.

“The new BENEO facility demonstrates a strong commitment to Rhineland-Palatinate as a business location,” said Daniela Schmitt, Minister for Economic Affairs. The fava beans are sourced from the region and certified under REDCert2, which meets the highest “Gold” level of the Farm Sustainability Assessment.

Rising demand for plant-based options

According to figures from GFI Europe, 27% of European consumers identified as flexitarian in 2023. Within this group, 51% reported eating less meat than the previous year. With this new facility, BENEO responds to these shifting dietary habits. “The fava bean is a legume with a long history,” said BENEO’s Niels E. Hower. “Here in Obrigheim, we’ll process it into high-quality, plant-based ingredients that help make our food more future-proof.”

Beneo.com