< PreviousNature Powers Beneficial Science A griculture has long been a powerhouse of Indiana’s economy. Now, its top cash crop could propel a sustainable industrial revolution. Corn continues to be the leading source of income for Indiana famers, having drawn in $5.62 billion in 2023, according to data released by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The crop’s production is on the rise, totaling 1.08 billion bushels over the year, up 11% from 974.7 million bushels in 2022. This activity is promising for the future of an innovative company like Primient, which located within the state to harness every element of its corn kernels to create food and industrial ingredients to promote plant-based, renewable sources. The company’s production site in Lafayette has played a key role within its corn wet milling operations, representing the most energy- efficient plant around the globe within the industry, followed by its production facility in Loudon, Tennessee. “This is an easy one,” says Primient Communications Director Alesha C. Johnson. “The city of Lafayette is ideal because of the region’s strong infrastructure, existing transportation networks and supportive local policies.” Primient set a standard for the corn wet milling industry in the U.S. as the by ALEXIS ELMORE alexis.elmore@siteselection.com Indiana STATE SPOTLIGHT 178 MARCH 2025 SITE SELECTION Primient’s location in Indiana is supported by high yields of corn grown throughout the state. Photo: Getty Images180 MARCH 2025 SITE SELECTION I n January 2025, Superior Ag announced plans for a new $20 million dry fertilizer distribution facility to be located in Spencer County. The company recently acquired the 18-acre Summit River Terminal located in Rockport, positioned alongside the Ohio River that forms the border between Indiana and Kentucky. “The construction of a dry fertilizer distribution facility on the Ohio River is a significant commitment that we have been carefully considering for several years,” said Superior Ag President and CEO Richard Lloyd. “This investment will play a pivotal role in enabling us to serve our customers more efficiently and profitably, and drive the growth of our business, ultimately positioning us to best support the needs of farmers now and in the future.” Construction for the planned 32,000-ton facility is set to begin in early 2025. Once complete, it will feature direct load and shipping capabilities for local farmers. The site plans to incorporate 10 large bins which allows for efficient segregation of multiple fertilizer types and formulations. In addition, the facility will house a 600-tons-per-hour (TPH) barge receiving system and 300- TPH blending and shipping capabilities. These features allow a full barge to be unloaded in three hours and bring the ability to unload a 25-ton truck in just five minutes. Full automation of such processes as treatment for stabilizers, micros, dust control and other systems at the plant ensures high product quality and efficiency. TAKING CARE OF INDIANA FARMERS A new dry fertilizer distribution facility in Rockport, Indiana, adds to Superior Ag’s portfolio of operations in Illinois, southwestern Indiana and north and central Kentucky. Rendering courtesy of Superior AG182 MARCH 2025 SITE SELECTION fi rst and only company to move completely away from coal to power its operations, which now run on either natural gas or biomass. e Lafayette facility makes products such as high fructose corn syrup and crystalline fructose, although its local supply of corn dextrose is what caught the attention of sustainable chemicals manufacturer Sustainea in . “Primient has been in the market for ‘over the fence’ businesses for some time. Mutually benefi cial partnerships are a large part of our strategy,” notes Johnson. “We believe in a diversifi ed mix for our business and that means we seek out new opportunities with businesses that align with our goals and our vision of building a better future through nature and science.” Advancing Agbiosciences Sustainea Biologics was born three years ago as a joint venture between Latin America’s largest petrochemical company Braskem and Japan-based trading company Sojitz Corporation. e JV’s goal is to introduce commercial-scale production of a Primient CEO Jim Stutelberg and Sustainea CEO Gustavo Sergi sign a co-location and raw material supply agreement. Image courtesy of Sustainea BY THE NUMBERS INDIANA Higher Ed. R&D Expenditure in $000s: $1,954,293 Number of NCRCs: 142,942 | Percent Improved 2023–24: 0.47% Business Tax Climate Rank Change 2024–2025: 0 Industrial power cost per kWh:8.24 ¢ Total Rev. as Share of Total Expenses, FY 2008-22: 103.95% 2024 Workers’ Comp Index Rate: 0.77 Selected Top Projects by Capital Investment COMPANY CITY INVESTMENT $M Eli Lilly and Co. Lebanon 4500 Hatchworks Fort Wayne 3200 Walmart Garrett 660 Sazerac of Indiana New Albany 535 Sustainea /Primary Products Ingredients Americas Lafayette 400 Source: Conway Projects Database184 MARCH 2025 SITE SELECTION plant-based alternative to traditional petroleum- derived monoethylene glycol (MEG), called Bio- MEG, to global markets. Where to begin remained in question. Discovering Primient’s operations and feedstock availability of low-carbon dextrose led to a “carefully considered” strategic decision to co-locate alongside the company to construct the nation’s first Bio-MEG production facility. “Following a comprehensive and thorough site selection process that considered a broad range of geographies and key operational factors, Lafayette stood out as the ideal location,” says Sustainea Chief Business Officer Éverton Van-Dal. “Building on the strategic advantage of partnering with Primient, the city of Lafayette further enhances our position with access to a highly skilled workforce, world-class educational institutions, robust infrastructure, a well-integrated transportation network and strong support from state and local policies. These attributes collectively strengthen our ability to achieve long-term business and sustainability objectives.” Sustainea’s decision led to a fruitful $400 million investment announced in October 2024. Van- Dal says the partnership with Primient serves as a critical foundation for scaling Sustainea’s newly established operations globally, while aligning with its mission to decarbonize the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyester markets. “However, this is just the beginning of our journey,” he says. “This initiative aligns seamlessly with our broader business plan, marking a significant milestone in our future operations. The co-location effectively establishes Sustainea’s production footprint in the U.S. and represents an essential step in our growth trajectory.” PET Project PET is a key component in the packaging industry, covering food, beverage, textile and personal care product packaging. The PET market is projected to grow from nearly $53 billion in 2024 to $109.63 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights estimates. Leveraging Primient’s dextrose, a carbohydrate obtained from corn, affords Sustainea the ability to make a renewable chemical that can seamlessly translate to manufacturing PET. Van-Dal shares that the company is in the midst of engineering work for the new facility, which is anticipated to begin production in 2028. The project will create 191 new jobs in the region. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation plans to support the investment with up to $6.9 million in performance-based tax credits, in addition to workforce training grants totaling $100,000. “Jointly, Sustainea and Primient will significantly decrease the need for traditional fossil plastics by producing bioplastics for beverage bottles, food containers, apparel and footwear,” says Primient’s Alesha Johnson. “It’s exciting to tell the story of an end-product which can be used in existing industrial and consumer applications, delivering high quality and functionality while significantly reducing carbon footprint. We are pioneers and continue to stride toward further laying the foundation for one of the largest sustainability ventures in the world.” Expertise and talent coming out of Purdue University’s College of Engineering, notably boosted by its Center for Innovative and Strategic Transformation of Alkane Resources and Leading Energy-Transition Advances and Pathways to Sustainability programs, provide further collaboration opportunities for Sustainea. The institution’s focus within strategic fields such as clean energy, chemical innovation and sustainable agriculture sets the region apart for nurturing a viable ag-bioscience sector the company aims to bolster moving forward. “Certainly the presence of Purdue places Lafayette in the roadmap to become a hub for biomanufacturing excellence,” says Van- Dal. “Long-term, Sustainea sees tremendous potential in leveraging the region’s talented workforce, agricultural strengths and commitment to sustainability to drive innovation and growth.” 2025 INTELLIGENCE REPORTNext >