EL CHACO, ARGENTINA — The Louis Dreyfus Co. (LDC) debuted its $2.7 million investment at its grains and oilseeds storage site in Campo Largo, Chaco Province in Argentina with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Two new silos for grain storage were installed as well as product conditioning (cleaning and drying) equipment. A rail bypass was constructed to allow the Belgrano Cargas railway line to enter the plant and directly transport agricultural products from northern Argentina to agro-industrial and port complexes in Gran Rosario, Santa Fe.

The ceremony was attended by the governor of Chaco Province, Jorge Capitanich; the Minister of Industry, Production and Employment for Chaco Province, Sebastián Lifton; the president of Trenes Argentinos Cargas, Daniel Vispo; and the municipal mayor of Campo Largo, Manuel Suárez.

“El Chaco has enormous productive potential, and this investment will directly benefit its producers,” said Luis Zubizarreta, regional director of Institutional Relations for South & West Latin America of LDC. “Farmers will receive better services, streamline their logistics process and costs, and ultimately obtain greater value for their products, thus forging a virtuous process that boosts their profitability and generates greater economic resilience and development in the region, sustainably.”

LDC noted the new additions to its Campo Largo warehouse will provide more efficient and competitive logistics for the transportation of soy, corn wheat and sunflower in Argentina.

“I am extremely proud to see private companies like LDC invest in our land for the advancement of our communities,” Capitanich said. “On behalf of the people and government of Chaco Province, I encourage private and public investments that promote development, growth and job creation in our province; we are therefore grateful to those who show confidence and invest in our land.”

LDC is planning a second stage of expansion for the next four years, with the aim of increasing its current storage and loading capacity by an additional 50%.