Qore, the joint venture between Germany’s HELM and Cargill, on Tuesday officially opened its $300 million QIRA® production facility in Eddyville, Iowa, marking the world’s first commercial-scale plant converting corn into bio-based 1,4-butanediol (BDO).
The plant, located in southern Iowa, is expected to produce 66,000 metric tons of QIRA® annually using corn sourced within a 100-mile radius, helping reduce CO₂ emissions and shrink reliance on overseas fossil feedstocks.
Jon Veldhouse, Qore’s CEO, said the venture combines Cargill’s agricultural network with HELM’s market reach to deliver renewable, traceable feedstock to manufacturers, aiding shifts away from fossil-derived materials.
Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa hailed the facility as “a bold step forward,” noting its benefits for local farmers using regenerative agriculture and boosting supply chain sustainability.
QIRA®, a direct substitute for fossil-derived BDO, is already being integrated into products by the LYCRA Company—aiming to reduce fiber carbon footprints by up to 44%—and BASF, which has secured long-term supply agreements.
A grand opening event is scheduled later this week, bringing together state leaders, farmers, Qore executives and customers to celebrate the milestone
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