Olam International, a Singapore-based processor of agricultural products and food ingredients, has opened a new A$62m ($62.8m) almond hulling and processing facility in Carwarp, Victoria.
The 12,000m2 facility is expected to de-hull and shell 14 tonnes of almonds per hour and employ approximately 73 people once in full production.
Olam stated that the plant will use laser sorter technology for the shelling and hulling of almonds, generating significant efficiencies and ensuring consistent product quality, traceability and food safety.
Olam chief executive officer Sunny Verghese said that the company has been present in Australia since 2007, and this move further strengthens the company's commitment to the country, offering advantages in agriculture, climate, R&D capability, and modern supply chain infrastructure.
"The investment in Sunraysia and the new almond processing facility is in line with our strategy of integrating the product value chain across all aspects of orchard management, harvesting, processing and marketing activities, creating growth for the business, as well as local growers and communities, such as Mildura," Verghese added.
Olam Australia executive director and country head Bob Dall'Alba said that the Carwarp facility will have a total capacity 40,000 tons of almond kernels annually, meeting all of the upstream orchard volumes and positioning the company well to meet the rapid growth in demand for almonds in India, China, south-east Asian and Middle Eastern countries.
Olam Australia owns 12,000 hectares of orchards across 11 farms in the Sunraysia district. All farms use advanced irrigation infrastructure and technology and employ the latest agronomy practices to produce quality almonds.
