Maple Leaf Sells Off Biodiesel, Rendering Segments to Texas Firm

Aug 26, 2013

Maple Leaf Sells Off Biodiesel, Rendering Segments to Texas Firm

By Amanda Briodhagen, Farms.com

Maple Leaf Foods has agreed to sell its rendering and biodiesel business to a Texas firm – Darling International Inc. for $645 million.

The deal includes the sale of the company’s Rothsay business of six rendering plants located in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, and its biodiesel facility in Quebec. Maple Leaf president and CEO calls the sale a strategic move so that the company may focus solely on consumer packaged food products.

“The sale will support future investments in our consumer facing businesses and allow Darling to build on Rothsay’s strong capabilities and deep customer relationships,” McCain said in a company statement.

Rothsay’s 550 employees will be taken over by Darling. The Texas based firm is the largest provider of rendering, bakery residuals and recycling solutions in the United States. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2013.

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.