Agri-food company Elian, created in 2021 in Barcelona and wholly owned by US-based Viserion International, has announced the start of the second phase in its industrial project. This is a strategic expansion in which it will invest over 200 million euros to increase the production capacity of the vegetable protein plant in the Catalan capital’s port by more than 100,000 tonnes. This new investment adds to the over 100 million euros invested so far.

With this plant, located in the Moll Álvarez de la Campa area in the port of Barcelona, Elian aims to consolidate the city as one of Europe’s major agri-food hubs. The first phase of the project started in 2024 with the company acquiring a soybean crushing plant and a processing capacity of 730,000 tonnes per year. The expansion will allow it to reach 2,800 tonnes per day and expand both its product range and customer base.

Traceability, sustainability and competitiveness
The second phase will start in the fourth quarter and is expected to be completed by the end of 2027. After its start-up, production of protein concentrates and texturised protein for both human and animal feed will be increased. More advanced processes will also be integrated with the aim of improving the final product’s traceability, sustainability and competitiveness.

The expansion will use a new 48,745 square metre concession that the company has signed with the Barcelona Port Authority for a period of 40 years. Elian foresees sustained growth of the team in the coming years, with new jobs being created and its structure being strengthened.

Reducing import dependency
The Barcelona plant is one of Elian’s three plants, alongside those in Serbia and the Netherlands. It plays a strategic role in the south of the continent in responding to the growing demand for local production of ingredients like texturised proteins and concentrates. It thereby seeks to reduce dependence on imports –currently most of the products – from markets like the United States, China and South America. According to the company, this dependence increases costs, compromises traceability and weakens supply chain sustainability.

Elian founder and CEO Andrés Martín believes that this new expansion “consolidates our commitment to Barcelona as a strategic centre of industrial and food innovation for Europe. With it, we are taking the next step in our aim to promote more sustainable, efficient production that is closer to European consumers, as well as expanding the options for the local food industry.”

^{Photo: Elian}