Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) has formed an industrial chemicals group with a focus on increasing the company’s presence in industrial markets.

Decatur, IL - Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) has formed an industrial chemicals group with a focus on increasing the company’s presence in industrial markets. This business will leverage ADM’s processing expertise, fermentation and separation technologies, and global distribution network to expand ADM’s product offerings in industrial chemicals by working to commercialize additional chemicals from renewable feedstocks.

“Renewable, biobased industrial chemicals fit into two major trends that we’re seeing in the marketplace: the desire to improve a product’s environmental footprint and the desire to reduce the use of petroleum-based products. In the short-term, we see opportunity to commercialize direct replacements for typically petroleum-derived chemicals. And in the longer term, we see even more opportunities to develop new chemicals that provide increased functionality and are better for the environment. As one of the world’s largest processors of renewable feedstocks, ADM has a unique opportunity to succeed in this area,” said John Rice, Executive Vice President, Commercial and Production.

To lead the new industrial chemicals business, ADM has hired Janet Mann as General Manager, Industrial Chemicals, reporting to Rice.