Cormo USA, which utilizes technology to turn corn field waste into sustainable products, has officially registered as an Indiana company. Earlier this year, Cormo announced they were establishing operations in Rushville, creating up to 250 new, high-wage jobs by the end of 2023.
Cormo USA, which was incorporated as a joint venture between Switzerland-based Cormo AG and Florida-based Sustainable Projects Group Inc., will invest approximately $30 million to establish its first U.S. production plant in Indiana, constructing and equipping a state-of-the-art facility on 10 acres in the Commerce Park at Rushville, by 2023.
Cormo will process corn straw from up to 150,000 acres of corn fields each year into a 100 percent sustainable peat moss substitute (TEFA) for agricultural uses and into foam products (BABS) for material science uses. This patented process has been utilized at the company’s pilot plant in France since 2016.
Corn straw is unsuitable as litter for animal husbandry, as feed and as fuel. It therefore remains worldwide as crop residue on the field and is plowed under. Cormo uses only the stems for the production of TEFA and BABS, all other straw components remain on the field. The Cormo utilization regime does not affect grain production or harvest.
The use of the raw material straw requires cooperation between the farmer, the contractor, and the processor. This cooperation offers income opportunities for agricultural production partners.
Peat is a fossil resource similar to coal. The replacement of peat with TEFA reduces these CO2 emissions by 85%. This advantage of TEFA has been proven in a life cycle analysis conducted by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences.
“Companies like Cormo USA continue to help bring to life Governor Holcomb’s vision of increasing our state’s global connectivity,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. “The strength of Indiana’s agriculture and tech sectors make us a perfect destination for innovative companies like Cormo USA, and we couldn’t be more excited to support them as they expand and bring more of the world to Indiana.”
The company is excited for the work that lays ahead and is confident that the production of TEFA peat moss will have lasting impacts on Indiana, its economy and local communities.
