Louis Dreyfus’ Port Allen Grain Facility Poised to Help Louisiana Farmers Feed the World

By Michael Danna, Farm Bureau News Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS – The construction manager for one of the world’s largest grain buyers said Saturday Louisiana grain producers are positioned to feed a global population that could top 9 billion by 2050.

Brad Johannes, of Louis Dreyfus Commodities, told more than 100 grain farmers his company plans to spend $100 million to improve the grain facility at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, improvements that will enable the elevator to move more than 5 million tons of grain a year. He said the facility planned to move more than 250 million bushels a year onto barges and later, Panamax vessels. 

“We’re very bullish on the ag sector in North America,” Johannes said. “Our Port Allen facility is the only facility in North America for residual capacity. We plan to take 250 million bushels in and ship 250 million bushels out.”

Johannes said Louis Dreyfus entered six new grain markets in 2010, including the Port Allen facility, which for the last 55 years was operated by Cargill. Dreyfus outbid Cargill in February to win the port contract.

“We want to hear from the farmers,” Johannes said. “We want to know where the improvements need to be made.”

With the world population continuing to grow, Johannes said his company’s Port Allen facility would give area grain producers the ability to take their commodities across the globe. He said by 2050 world population would top 9.1 billion.

“That’s a 34 percent increase, mostly in Asia and Africa,” he said. “They have limited land and resources. In developed countries the population growth will be in urban areas where there is no farmland. We want to be a player in the grain market and you will be key to helping us meet the demand for food.”