Amber Wave has opened its state-of-the-art wheat protein ingredients facility in Phillipsburg, KS.
The $250 million project is expected to create 60 jobs.
In July, Summit Ag Investors announced the rebrand of its portfolio company Summit Sustainable Ingredients, LLC to Amber Wave. The company also announced the hiring of Randy Cimorelli as CEO.
Largest wheat protein producing facility in North America
The facility will be the largest wheat protein producer in North America within two years, according to state officials. All the wheat the company needs is grown within 100 miles of the plant
“Recognizing the rising demand for high-protein ingredients and innovative feed products, coupled with renewable fuels that reduce our carbon footprint, this investment fits with what we have successfully done many times in Summit’s history,” said Bruce Rastetter, CEO of Summit Agricultural Group, Amber Wave’s parent organization.
“We evaluated several sites in various wheat-growing areas and Prairie Horizon is ideally located. The wheat protein we will produce is a healthy ingredient used widely within baked goods, pet food and growing aquaculture feed markets.”
Producing ethanol from wheat starch
In addition to building a wheat mill and vital wheat gluten plant, the company retrofitted the existing Prairie Horizon Agri-Energy corn-based ethanol plant to produce ethanol from wheat starch.
The plant will use the latest technology in wheat milling and protein extraction while creating a significantly lower carbon footprint than traditional corn ethanol plants to produce biofuels.
