Canada’s agriculture and food processing company Richardson International unveiled plans to invest in its canola crush plant in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

Through this investment, the company aims to double the plant’s capacity to 2.2 million metric tonnes.

The investment will also be used to upgrade the facility and optimise operational efficiencies to meet the increasing global demand for canola oil and meal products.

Richardson International processing, food, and ingredients senior vice-president Darrell Sobkow said: “The global outlook for Canadian canola oil is promising, and this latest investment emphasises our ongoing commitment to best-in-class facilities.

“Yorkton lies right in the heart of canola country and we are focused on providing our producer customers with increasingly efficient means for meeting the needs of a growing global consumptive market.”

The company said that the construction works at the facility will begin immediately and be completed in early 2024.

once completed, the Yorkton facility will feature high-speed shipping system with three 9,500ft loop tracks, as well as be served by both major railways and dedicated to moving canola crush products.

The site will also feature three high-speed receiving lanes, providing producers and trucking partners a fast and effective means for seed delivery.

The company also plans to add full-time positions in the plant after upgrade completion.

Richardson International Yorkton operations director Keith Belitski said: “This state-of-the-art facility represents a good news story for all industry participants for our producer customers and end-use buyers across North America and abroad.

“A construction project of this magnitude will be significant, economically, to the province of Saskatchewan, the city of Yorkton, and surrounding areas.”