Construction of Olam Food Ingredients’ (OFI) plant in Tokoroa is well underway and on track to open for the start of the 2023-24 milking season.
When fully operational, the new plant on an 11.8-hectare site is expected to generate 50 to 60 full-time jobs, with more anticipated in the future.
OFI New Zealand operations director Paul Rennie says at a global level, OFI works to a comprehensive sustainability framework that is aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Global Compact.
OFI is adopting technology that helps it minimise its environmental impact, he says.
“All aspects of our new plant are being designed to maximise renewable energy use, minimise pollution and water use and ensure waste is handled in the most sustainable way possible,” Rennie said.
“One of the key commitments is that we will operate a biomass boiler that will be fuelled with sustainably-sourced wood fibre. This will help us ensure our milk processing is energy efficient and low impact.”
The Tokoroa site is well placed to maximise the use of that biomass, being close to some of NZ’s largest forestry operations.
OFI is also exploring ways to repurpose ash waste from the wood fiber burning process in commercial compost.
“We’re pleased to see our plans coming to life as the plant construction progresses and we are looking forward to playing a constructive role in the New Zealand dairy sector’s sustainability journey in the future,” he said.
Warren Landles has been appointed as sustainability manager, joining from Miraka, where he held senior sustainability and on-farm excellence roles.
“All aspects of our new plant are being designed to maximize renewable energy use, minimise pollution and water use and ensure waste is handled in the most sustainable way possible.”
Paul Rennie
Olam Food Ingredients
Landles said the focus will be supporting existing efforts and partnering with OFI farmers to help them achieve their goals under He Waka Eke Noa, the industry blueprint for reducing emissions and building resilience to climate change.
“At a farm level, one of our focus areas is methane, so we are looking at tools and technologies that can support farmers to achieve meaningful on-farm emission reductions through methane mitigation,” Landles said.
“We will also help them with riparian planting by providing cost-price native plants that we will grow in a nursery facility on site, using treated wastewater from our milk processing operations in the nursery.”
The plant is being developed in stages, starting with a spray dryer with a capacity of one million litres of milk a day, capable of producing more than 45,000 tonnes of milk powder annually.
This product will form part of OFI’s wider natural ingredients portfolio that includes cocoa, coffee, nuts and spices.
These ingredients combine well with dairy for customised products such as yogurts, protein bars, ready-to-drink tea, coffee and cocoa beverages and for adding to desserts, bakery, beverages and confectionery.
Its second phase of construction will see more facilities added in time to meet growing demand for high-quality NZ dairy products from OFI’s global customers and to expand the range of products manufactured.
