Scoular, offering agriculture supply chain solutions, plans to recommission the former sunflower crush plant outside of Goodland that it purchased in 2021. The Nebraska-based company will make an investment to retrofit the facility to crush soybeans and canola.

Canola has high-oil content, which makes it highly valued in the renewable fuels sector, particularly for use in the growing renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel markets. 

The facility will process 11 million bushels of oilseeds per year, switching between canola and soybeans as availability dictates. As low-carbon crops such as camelina develop in the future, Scoular will be able to process those new seeds as well.

"Scoular is bringing the canola market back to Kansas and Oklahoma," said Ed Prosser, the company's senior vice president of Emerging Businesses. "This investment will provide producers with the opportunity to participate in the booming renewable fuels market."

Scoular is partnering with Kansas State University to advise farmers on best practices for growing canola. 

"The recommissioning of the crush facility in Goodland will breathe new life into the Great Plains canola industry," said Michael Stamm, a K-State agronomist and canola breeder. "This facility will provide new opportunities for renewable diesel feedstock production, generating greater value for the canola grown in the region."

"Scoular's decision to invest in the crush facility in Goodland will increase marketing opportunities for farmers and contribute to the economic prosperity of northwest Kansas," said US Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas. "The Goodland oilseed processing plant is an important juncture for farming in western Kansas and food and fuel production for the nation."

Scoular expects up to 40 new jobs created in Goodland. The facility is expected to begin operations in fall 2024.

Just last week on March 8, Scoular announced it is partnering with Nepra Foods Inc. on a manufacturing and distribution partnership for specialized plant-based ingredients. The partnership will include co-development and collaboration on sales and marketing.

Nepra Foods focuses on allergen-free and plant-based food ingredients, and consumer products in multiple categories.