Koppert Brazil opens large formulations unit and announces further investments
Koppert Brazil inaugurated its new formulations unit on Wednesday, 28 September. This increases the production capacity of the entire range of microbiologicals up to 15 times. For this special occasion, Koppert Brazil directors Danilo Pedrazzoli and Gustavo Herrman were joined by CEO René Koppert, CBO Agri, Martin Koppert, CFO Joram Oosthoek, and former board member Paul Koppert. The investments in production units total 130 million euros over the next three years.
The new unit is located in an area of more than 8,000 m² and increases the production capacity of the entire range of microbiologicals up to 15 times. In addition, it has a high index of automation and robotization of processes, ensuring more safety in operation and product quality. The 13 million euro investment generated 70 direct jobs this year and allows for three shifts per day.
Koppert Brazil’s Industrial Director, Danilo Pedrazzoli, announced that the company plans further investments in three more production units over the next three years to ensure that the company remains on the forefront of the Brazilian and global market in biological solutions for agriculture.
Extensive growth
The expansions are a consequence of Koppert’s growth in Brazil and the Southern Cone (Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) and the growth of the biologicals market in these regions. This year, Koppert Brazil expects to reach the 150 million euro mark in revenue, which represents a growth of 100% over the previous year.
‘What was previously restricted to niche crops such potatoes, tomatoes, onions, carrots, peppers and garlic, has now expanded into large-scale outdoor crops such as soybeans and corn. The rural farmers now recognize biological control as superior to chemical solutions,’ Gustavo Herrmann explains.
Besides Brazil, the production capacity in the Netherlands has increased as well. The micro production facility in the headquarters in Berkel and Rodenrijs has expanded with five new bioreactors. This results in a production increase of sixty percent.
