Lantmännen invests SEK 1.2 billion in protein plant – unique investment in Swedish food production
The investment of SEK 1.2 billion in a new plant for plant-based protein in Lidköping is the largest investment of its kind in Sweden.
Today, plant-based protein is mainly used as an ingredient in vegetarian foods and beverages – such as vegetarian mince, hamburgers, sausages and liver pâté, but also in sports drinks, gluten-free pasta and bakery products.
The new plant will mainly produce plant-based proteins from peas but will also use faba beans as raw material. Approximately 35,000 tonnes of peas and about 5,000 tonnes of faba beans will be processed each year in the plant, and a total of 7,000 tonnes of concentrated plant-based protein, or so-called protein isolate, will be produced annually. The ambition is to contribute to increasing Swedish cultivation of peas by 50 percent – from about 80,000 tons of peas today to around 120,000 tons.
"We need to produce more food to supply the world's growing population, and there is a global and long-term increasing demand for plant-based proteins as a food ingredient. The investment is an investment that will strengthen the entire value chain from farm to fork. This means new cultivation opportunities for farmers and creates conditions for increased Swedish food production and exports – which in turn is positive for Sweden's food supply," says Magnus Kagevik, Group President and CEO of Lantmännen.
With the investment in Lidköping, Lantmännen is strengthening its position in plant-based proteins.
"Lantmännen Biorefineries already produces wheat and oat protein in our facilities in Norrköping and Kimstad, and now we are taking another step by also using legumes as a protein raw material. We see a steadily increasing demand for plant-based proteins and together with our members, active Swedish farmers, want to be a leader in this development and production. It is a long-term investment for Swedish agriculture and Swedish food production," says Lars-Gunnar Edh, Head of the Energy Division
Peas and field beans are climate-smart crops and beneficial to grow. They require relatively little water and plant nutrients, and they bind nitrogen in the soil and have many uses. In addition, by increasing the use of domestically grown plant-based proteins, the share of imported soy in Swedish food production can be reduced, which provides further sustainability benefits.
The plant in Lidköping is expected to be completed in the first half of 2027 and will contribute approximately 30 new jobs.
More information
- The plant is based on 16,000 meters of concrete piles, consists of 1,000 tons of structural steel and has a total of 5,300 square meters of production area.
- Around 30 employees will work with production, production support, planning and administration, maintenance and sales at the plant. Hundreds more jobs will be created in adjacent industries and during construction.
- The Lidköping plant complements Lantmännen Biorefineries' previous three facilities in Norrköping, Kimstad and Lidköping.
- Lantmännen's pea school educates and advises on pea cultivation.
- The project has applied for and received support from Klimatklivet.
For more information, please contact:
Lantmännen’s Press Service
Phone: +46 10 556 88 00
E-mail: press@lantmannen.com
About Lantmännen
Lantmännen is an agricultural cooperative and Northern Europe’s leader in agriculture, machinery, bioenergy and food products. Owned by 18,000 Swedish farmers, we have 12,000 employees, operations in over 20 countries and an annual turnover of approximately SEK 70 billion. With grain at the heart of our operations, we refine arable land resources to make farming thrive. Some of our best-known food brands are AXA, Kungsörnen, Scan, GoGreen, FINN CRISP, Schulstad and Vaasan. Our company is founded on the knowledge and values acquired through generations of farmers. With research, development and operations throughout the value chain, together we take responsibility from field to fork. For more information: www.lantmannen.com
