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MGP Ingredients has announced that it will build a new extrusion plant in Kansas to produce its ProTerra line of texturised proteins. The $16.7 million plant will be located next to the company's facility in Atchison, and is expected to produce up to 10 million pounds of ProTerra each year once it begins operations. The new plant will help MGP meet growing demand for its ProTerra product line, which includes pea and wheat protein ingredients for applications such as plant-based meat alternatives. The company – which currently uses co-packers to produce its texturised proteins – also expects the investment to give it more control over the manufacturing process. “Building this new extrusion plant gives MGP the capacity and flexibility required to continue to meet the growing demand for our ProTerra line of texturised proteins," said Michael Buttshaw, MGP's vice president of ingredient solutions sales and R&D. “By transitioning the manufacturing process in-house, we reduce lead times related to co-packer scheduling issues, increase flexibility related to R&D projects and enhance our ability to effectively commercialise new products.” Construction of the facility will begin this summer and is expected to be completed by the end of next year.