NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. – Alltech broke ground Oct. 14 on a $4.6 million, 15,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at its global headquarters in Nicholasville that will produce biological fertilizers and crop inputs, providing farmers with alternatives to traditional chemical fertilizers, company officials said.

“This facility represents the next phase in scaling our biological innovations for agriculture,” said Steve Borst, vice president of Alltech Crop Science (a division of Alltech), who leads the project. “By expanding production here in Kentucky, we can bring farmers natural, science-based solutions that improve soil health, strengthen crops and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers. We’re grateful to the USDA and to our state and local partners for their support in making this vision a reality.”

The expansion is partially funded by a $2.34 million award from the USDA’s Fertilizer Production Expansion Program: “Alltech’s nearly $4.6 million expansion into Jessamine County is going to create more new jobs for our people, and I am grateful to this long-standing Team Kentucky partner for their continued investment in our state and workforce,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said.

Company officials said the new facility will be Alltech’s first U.S. manufacturing plant, dedicated solely to producing crop science solutions, biological fertilizers and crop inputs, with over 66,000 gallons of biological fertilizer products per shift per month, creating six new manufacturing jobs.

Modeled after the company’s crop science production facilities in Brazil and Spain, company officials added the new manufacturing plant will produce more than 30 products that help farmers enhance soil and crop vitality, and reduce chemical inputs.

Borst told Farm World the idea for the biofertilizer manufacturing plant grew from the company’s goal to bring farmers natural, science-based solutions that improve soil health and strengthen crops, while reducing reliance on imported synthetic inputs.

“The support of the USDA’s Fertilizer Production Expansion Program grant allows us to play a major role in strengthening domestic production of fertilizers, while delivering reliable and sustainable natural alternatives,” he said.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), biofertilizers are organic products that contain specific microorganisms obtained from plant roots and root zones, boosting plants’ growth and yield by 10 to 40 percent. They not only add nutrients to the soil to improve soil fertility and crop yield, but they also protect the plant against pests and diseases, NIH added.

Made from the fermentation process of beneficial microorganisms, the company’s biofertilizers improve soil fertility, stimulate root development and enhance nutrient uptake, Borst said.

“They support a healthier soil microbiome (the community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and viruses, that live in the soil), enabling farmers to maintain productivity, while reducing environmental impact,” he said.

“Through microbial fermentation (the process where microorganisms like bacteria, yeasts and molds break down carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen to produce acids, alcohols and gases) and nutrigenomics (a scientific field that studies the interaction between genes, nutrition and health) research, Alltech Crop Science develops biological solutions that restore soil balance, maximize yields, and promote stewardship across the food chain,” he added.

Ultimately, he said, the company’s focus is supporting soil health, “because all plants depend on soil to survive and grow. Our biological technologies promote healthy microbial populations, helping nutrients and soil metabolites (fatty acids, amino acids, lipids, organic acids, sugars and volatile organic compounds that often contain essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur) work more effectively. In essence, we are stimulating what’s already there to help the soil and the crops it sustains to thrive naturally.”

He said the new facility will deliver many meaningful benefits to farmers: “By producing our crop science technologies here in Kentucky, we’re expanding access to high-quality, domestically-made biological solutions that help farmers overcome their specific challenges. Local production means greater reliability, lower transportation costs and less exposure to the supply chain disruptions we’ve all seen in recent years.”

At the same time, he said, the new facility enables the company to tailor its biosolutions (products and processes derived from biology and technology) for specific crops and growing conditions, supporting farmers as they adopt more sustainable and regenerative practices.

“Globally, this expansion allows us to scale our new innovations with our research team at Ideagro (a Murcia, Spain-based agri-food research and development company Alltech acquired in January 2023), enabling us to continue developing new technologies that restore soil balance, maximize yields and promote stewardship across the food chain,” he said.

“Ultimately, it will strengthen the resilience of our agricultural system and provide farmers with effective, environmentally-friendly options to enhance soil and crop vitality, boosting farm productivity and profitability, while supporting sustainable growth,” he added.

Nicholasville Mayor Alex Carter said Alltech’s expansion is a win for Nicholasville, and for the future of sustainable farming in America.

“This investment brings a new facility that will create good jobs, drive innovation and provide our farmers with the tools they need to thrive,” he said. “I’m proud to support a project that strengthens food security and promotes innovation right here in Nicholasville, Ky. We are excited to celebrate Alltech’s expansion and presence in Nicholasville.”