Canola research and development facility opens in Great Falls

Press release

Cargill Inc. announced it chose Great Falls as the location of a new facility conducting research developing omega-3 fatty acids from canola plants to reduce reliance on fishmeal, increase the viability of farm-raised fish and reduce pressure on oceans.

“We’re thrilled one of the world’s largest privately held companies has chosen Great Falls … for their innovative research facility,” Great Falls Montana Development Authority President and CEO Brett Doney said in a press release. “This type of international research partnership is the first of its kind. Projects like this are essential components for advancing our food system and the heart of Montana, Great Falls, is the perfect location to achieve those breakthroughs.”

Cargill said in the release that it plans to use 500,000 acres of farmland throughout The Golden Triangle to grow canola crops and extract omega-3 fatty acids from them through an intricate breeding process. The project is currently under review by the United States Department of Agriculture for regulatory approvals.

“The omega-3 enriched canola is managed in a similar manner to conventional canola,” Cargill Senior Trial Agronomist Keith Horton said. “The farmer will grow the crop and harvest in the same manner as a standard canola crop. The main difference with the omega-3 canola is that a plant-based algal gene has been added to the plant that increases the amount of omega-3 produced by the canola plants.”

Cargill’s work on the omega-3-generating canola started as a joint effort with Germany-based BASF Plant Science in 2011. The goal is to produce enough omega-3 by 2020 from canola plants to heighten sustainability of farmed fish production and reduce pressure on fish populations. Omega-3 is typically extracted from fish oil for nutritional purposes in daily products including dietary supplements, food, beverages and pharmaceuticals. 

Cargill said the unique climate of The Golden Triangle, with its warmer winters, cooler summers, lighter winds and evenly distributed rainfall, paired with the region’s rich soil, has made the location an ideal breeding ground for its pioneering research.

“The Great Falls location, in the heart of The Golden Triangle of Montana, has made us one of the most attractive areas for agriculture and agri-processing operations throughout the northwestern U.S.,” said Barnett Sporkin-Morrison, who leads Great Falls’ Food and Agriculture Development Center. “Companies can reap the benefits of the Montana quality of life and low cost of doing business while conducting cutting-edge research, achieving bio-science innovation and making incredible products. We love working on these revolutionary projects!”

Great Falls has seen a boom in investment, including larger, Japan-based companies like Pasta Montana, Columbia Grain, Montana Specialty Mills and Helena Chemical.

In 2016, GFDA opened the Great Falls AgriTech Park to provide fully-served heavy industrial sites for food and agricultural processors. The 197-acre AgriTech Park offers customized heavy industrial lots ranging in size from seven to 300-plus acres. It’s the region’s first industrial park and is certified by BNSF Railroad to offer ready-to-build lots with access to utilities and rail.