Minot, N.D. – AGT Foods CEO Murad Al-Katib and members of the North Dakota U.S. Congressional Delegation joined the North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, the Minot Area Chamber EDC (MACEDC) and the community today in marking the opening of the new AGT Foods - Extrusion Center in Minot. The Extrusion Center continues to put AGT Foods and Minot at the center of innovation in both pulse-based ingredients and now extruded products such as gluten free pasta.
“AGT Foods is proud to open our Extrusion Center of Excellence in Minot. This community has been a key part of our operations in the United States and in the great State of North Dakota, with this being our second facility in Minot,” said AGT Foods CEO Murad Al-Katib. “The opportunity to develop and produce innovative plant-based products made in this new facility, such as our gluten-free pasta including our Veggi line, extruded crispy snacks, meat alternatives that are being used in burgers and other meat substitutes as well as pulse ingredients for food companies and some of the best-known consumer packaged goods brands, is exciting for AGT Foods and our team in Minot.“
“Our Minot Extrusion Center of Excellence is an important part of AGT’s growth and our business strategy as we continue to offer high quality, plant-based products,” Al-Katib continued. “North Dakota and the agriculture sector here has a long history of growing high quality pulses and grains, and has logistics advantages to distribute these products in the U.S.A. and around the globe as well. Demand for plant-based protein and gluten-free products is growing and we are proud to produce and deliver our plant-based and gluten-free products from farm to fork from right here in Minot.”
With the renovated multi-million-dollar facility, AGT Foods’ long-term goal is to position the location and the region as the center of gluten-free pasta production and packaging in North America.
“North Dakota is the number one producer of pulse crops in the nation, and that comes as a result of our efforts to attract added-value agriculture investments, like AGT’s recent expansion, which gives our pulse growers a local market and reduced transportation costs,” said Senator U.S. Senator John Hoeven (N.D.). “Value-added processing facilities like this solidify our state as an ag powerhouse for the world. That’s exactly why I’ve worked since my time as governor to prioritize projects like AGT’s extrusion plant, while supporting agriculture research to strengthen our ability to grow all kinds of crops in our state with better yields and lower input costs. However, at the end of the day, all of this hinges on providing an adequate safety net for our producers, so they can continue growing the highest-quality, lowest-cost food supply in the world. That is why we continue our efforts to keep the farm in the farm bill.”
“Today’s event commemorates an exciting addition to our agricultural processing capabilities here in North Dakota,” said U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer (N.D.). “This investment in Minot is a recognition of the critical role our state plays in feeding the country and world. Congratulations to the team at AGT Foods on their new Extrusion Center.”
The Extrusion Center currently features one production line with more than 9 million pounds of capacity with the ability to expand to more than 40 million pounds of gluten free pasta, making the Minot facility one of the largest gluten free pasta production facilities in the world.
“Congratulations to AGT Foods on their new Extrusion Center in Minot,” said North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “This is a welcome addition to our value-added agriculture chain in the state and will assist producers throughout the region in bringing greater value to their crops while continuing to showcase the agricultural innovation and excellence that exists in North Dakota."
“We are very proud as a community, region and state to see the continued growth of AGT Foods in Minot, North Dakota,” said Minot Area Chamber EDC President | CEO Brekka Kramer. “As one of the region’s largest employers, AGT Foods is highly influential in growing the value-added agriculture industry and we are excited to see what the future holds as they position the new Extrusion Center and Minot to be the heart of innovation and growth in a variety of products, such as gluten free pasta.”
The Extrusion Center joins more than $100 million in existing AGT Foods facilities in Minot and the area that have offered services for producers in the region and state for more than a decade.
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About AGT Food and Ingredients Inc.
AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. (AGT Foods), global leader in plant based proteins and value-added processing of pulses, grains, staple foods and ingredients for export and domestic markets. AGT Foods was founded on the principle 'From Producer to the World', buying pulses, grains, oilseeds and specialty crops from farmers around its facilities in the United States as well as Canada, Turkey, Australia and South Africa, processing and exporting its pulses, milled durum wheat and canola products, pulse ingredient flours, starches, fibres, proteins and extruded products and retail packaged foods to customers in over 120 countries around the world. In the United States, AGT Foods USA operates facilities in Minot and Williston, North Dakota, processing pulses, including lentils and peas, producing gluten-free and plant-based products such as the Veggi line of gluten-free pasta, extruded products and a range of Pulse+ pulse ingredients. More information is available at www.agtfoods.com.
About the Minot Area Chamber EDC
The Minot Area Chamber Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is a non-profit organization formed with the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce and the Minot Area Development Corporation (MADC) merged into one organization on January 1, 2021. The organization’s mission is to advocate for and invest in business activity by being a collaborate partner in the community, focused on improving quality of life for all. Its vision is to be the go-to organization for our business community to drive key initiatives that build and strengthen our economy.
