Global agriculture company Alltech broke ground today on a new $4.6 million, 15,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that will produce biological fertilizers and crop inputs, providing farmers with an environmentally responsible alternatives to traditional chemical fertilizers and helping reduce reliance on imported, synthetic inputs.

Located on the campus of Alltech’s global headquarters, the facility will be the company’s first U.S. manufacturing plant dedicated solely to producing crop science technologies. Modeled after Alltech Crop Science (ACS) facilities in Brazil and Spain, the Kentucky site will produce more than 66,000 gallons of biological fertilizers per shift per month and create at least six new full-time jobs. It will also manufacture more than 30 natural products designed to help farmers enhance soil and crop vitality — proven solutions that can complement or substitute for synthetic chemistries.

The project is supported by a $2.34 million grant from the USDA Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP). The $500 million FPEP initiative, launched in 2022 in response to supply chain disruptions and rising fertilizer prices, aims to expand the production, availability and affordability of domestic fertilizer and nutrient alternatives and reduce reliance on imported synthetic fertilizers.

Alltech’s project was selected for its innovative approach to soil and crop health. Made with beneficial microorganisms, the company’s biofertilizers improve soil fertility, stimulate root development, enhance nutrient uptake and support a healthier soil microbiome, enabling farmers to maintain productivity while reducing environmental impact.

“This facility represents the next phase in scaling our biological innovations for agriculture,” said ACS vice president Dr. Steve Borst, 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 project aligns with Alltech’s purpose of “Working Together for a Planet of Plenty,” which unites the agri-food community in creating science-based solutions that provide nutrition for all, revitalize local economies and replenish the planet’s natural resources.

“Fermentation has always been at the heart of our business, and this facility allows us to apply that expertise in new ways to support crop health, productivity and sustainability,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “We’re proud to strengthen our presence at our global headquarters in Kentucky, creating an innovation and manufacturing center that will serve U.S. farmers, strengthen our local community and continue to advance the science of agriculture.”