New fertilizer manufacturing facility adding 6 jobs in Central KY
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- Alltech will build a $4.6M biofertilizer facility in Nicholasville, creating 6 jobs.
- The USDA awarded a $2.34M grant to support increased domestic fertilizer output.
- New facility boosts local economy while advancing sustainable crop science.
One of Central Kentucky’s largest employers is building a new facility.
Alltech Crop Science is adding a biological fertilizer production and manufacturing facility to its global headquarters in Nicholasville. The company announced in a news release the additional facility will create six full-time jobs. Construction is anticipated to begin in October.
The facility is the company’s first production plant in the country dedicated solely to crop science. With the expansion, the company will produce more than 66,000 gallons of fertilizer made with microorganisms per shift per month.
Alltech makes biological fertilizer, a kind of soil supplement made with bacteria and fungi instead of salt or synthetic materials.
“We are proud to expand our presence here in Kentucky, where Alltech was founded and continues to thrive,” Alltech President and CEO Mark Lyons said in the release.
“This investment in U.S. production scales the accessibility of our natural solutions, contributing to the long-term health of our soils, crops and ecosystems, and human nutrition and well-being.”
The company employs 5,000 people worldwide and serves customers in 140 countries. It has five bioscience centers and operates more than 75 manufacturing facilities across the globe. The new Nicholasville facility is modeled after the company’s crop science buildings in Brazil and Spain, and the Kentucky spot will make more than 30 products.
The company’s facility expansion is being supported by a $2.34 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture’s Fertilizer Production Expansion Program. The $500 million program launched in 2022 and looks to increase production and availability of domestic fertilizer and alternatives to imported synthetic products.
Alltech Vice President Steve Borst said the company was selected for its innovative approach to soil and crop health.
“The USDA grant is a major step forward for farmers seeking natural, science-based solutions,” Borst said.
“By expanding our production capabilities here in Kentucky, we are investing in our local economy, providing farmers with high-quality biological solutions that improve soil and crops and contributing to a more resilient agricultural system.”
In the release, Alltech said the grant award will go toward construction of the $4.6 million, 15,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Biofertilizers made at the facility will improve soil fertility, simulate root development and give farmers an “environmentally responsible alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers,” the company said.
The agriculture grant application was supported by Kentucky’s local leaders and its Congressional delegation, Alltech’s leadership said.
“Alltech is a global leader in agricultural innovation and the largest employer in the city of Nicholasville,” said Rep. Andy Barr in the news release. He sent a letter of support to the Department of Agriculture for Alltech’s grant application. “Expanding Alltech’s presence with this grant is a huge win for Jessamine County.”
Nicholasville Mayor Alex Carter said the expansion is a “win” for the future of sustainable farming.
“This investment brings a new facility that will create good jobs, drive innovation and provide our farmers with the tools they need to thrive,” Carter said. “I’m proud to support a project that strengthens food security and promotes innovation right here in Nicholasville, Kentucky.”
Two-term Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said he is looking forward to seeing the company expand.
“Kentucky’s manufacturing and agriculture sectors have been crucial in contributing to our state’s recent economic momentum,” he said in the release. “We continue to see global companies like Alltech invest and reinvest in the commonwealth and our communities.”
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