The Future of Clean-Label Oilseed Processing Is Here

Alex Danelich and Kris Knudson
3 hours ago
6 min read

Safe, scalable, sustainable and alcohol-based, Monarc technology leads the clean oilseed-processing industry.

CPM|Crown recently released Monarc Clean Oilseed Processing™, a revolutionary technology that delivers what the industry has long waited for: an alcohol-based extraction process that enables clean-label production at scale. Crown has been a global leader in equipment and innovative technologies for over 75 years in oilseed processing for consumer products, animal feed and biofuels. As the world’s population continues growing, we recognize the need for innovative solutions for cooking oils, proteins and other ingredients to feed our people.

Over the past five years, our experts have developed this industry-changing technology, honing it with cutting-edge process-simulation software and continuous steady-state processing runs in our best-in-class Global Innovation Center. Monarc Clean Oilseed Processing™, our new patent-pending technology, is competitive with traditional hexane systems while delivering significant advantages in cost and efficiency. This shift makes clean-label food production economically viable and provides benefits in safety, environmental impacts and consumer appeal.

“The world increasingly wants food to be manufactured in a safe, responsible and sustainable way,” says Dave MacLennon, the former CEO of Cargill. “That’s why Monarc is such a remarkable innovation and is going to be game-changing for the industry.”

With Monarc, companies can adopt the cleanest technology for their production of meal, oil and protein concentrates. Elian Barcelona recently did just that. Installation of Monarc technology has begun for its commercial-scale facility this year. Elian Barcelona will meet the growing demand for clean-label products while moving rapidly into the future of clean oilseed-processing technology.

Sustainable Quality, Yields

Crown’s most recent efforts were aimed at maintaining economic competitiveness to provide on a global scale premium clean-label food at a lower production cost. To do this, Crown needed a solution that was scalable and sustainable so that producers would adopt this industry-leading technology. Richard Petro, commercial director at Elian Barcelona, says, “To make our sustainability vision real, we knew we needed a partner that shared our passion for innovation, for safety and for environmental leadership—and that partner is Crown. Monarc is going to allow us to leverage ethanol to unlock new possibilities for product quality and consumer trust.”

Crown experts are pioneers in oilseed extraction, a critical step in producing high-quality edible oil and meal. Our advanced extraction technologies ensure efficient removal of oil from a variety of oilseeds and are designed to maximize yield and quality. Our continuous solvent-extraction methods set the standard in the oilseed-extraction industry. This unique approach gives producers the opportunity to meet their customers’ demands for improved speed to market, high-quality products and more reliable service.

Monarc Transforms Market Dynamics

Market forces, including the need for clean foods, are converging to drive clean-food labeling using Crown’s innovative equipment solutions. Using Monarc, producers can increase clean-label options while utilizing legacy oilseed-processing methods. By being proactive in creating new ways to process foods, Monarc delivers a solution that incorporates safe facilities, regulatory resilience and cost-effective innovations to align with consumer values. Scaling operations and improving product characteristics enable companies to expand existing markets and enter new ones, including organic offerings.

Clean oilseed processing using an alcohol-based solvent-extraction method impacts human food, animal feed and biofuels in a positive way. Consumers want clean-label foods and look to companies for innovative ways to accomplish it. By being proactive in creating new ways to process foods, Monarc delivers a solution that incorporates safe facilities, regulatory resilience and cost-effective innovations to align with consumer values.

Consumers on a global basis consistently ask for products made with superior characteristics, including:

Lighter color and lower gums content in oils.

Higher-protein content meal.

Neutral taste in protein concentrate.

Monarc Clean Oilseed Processing™ provides producers with the opportunity to deliver what consumers want in a cost-effective, environmentally safe and high-quality marketplace.

With Monarc, companies can adopt the cleanest technology for their production of meal (shown), oil and protein concentrates.

Why Use Alcohol-Based Solvents?

Monarc helps processors future-proof their operations because of the advantages offered by alcohol-based processing. They gain flexibility to meet growing clean-label, regulatory, sustainability and safety demands competitively without abandoning traditional systems. Crown helps companies grow at their own pace by supplementing traditional processes with our innovative processing solutions through robust technology and our superior customer service and support.

Benefits of alcohol-based extraction include:

Alcohol is already present in or utilized to produce many foods and beverages.

The use of an alcohol-based solvent enables companies to produce clean-label products that appeal to health-conscious consumers.

Alcohol-based solvents significantly improve worker-safety profiles at factories.

Alcohol-based solvents reduce environmental impact compared to petroleum derivatives like hexane.

Alcohol-based solvents better align with sustainability goals.

Alcohol is a renewable source material, as ethanol can be produced from plants.

Alcohol-based solvents facilitate easier permitting of new extraction facilities compared to hexane.

The Clean Oilseed Trifecta

Monarc Clean Oilseed Processing™ uses alcohol as a solvent, affording producers the flexibility of scaling their clean-label products to satisfy market demand while meeting and exceeding regulatory and safety requirements. Producers can adapt and evolve at their own pace, building new plants, retrofitting existing lines or creating new, premium products to enhance revenue-growth opportunities. They have options that align cost targets with proven performance using innovation that also allows new-product creation and market differentiation.

Using Monarc, producers can increase clean-label options while utilizing legacy oilseed-processing methods.

Market-leading technology combined with reliability and speed to market makes Monarc the best choice for clean oilseed processing. Seize the opportunity to meet growing public demand for clean-label products while improving your operational and capital expenditure (opex and capex) results. Some companies report a 15 percent boost in overall revenue based on higher margins and optimized product pricing.

Consumers Demand It

Consumer demand for cleaner ingredients is growing as they seek transparency in labeling as well as ingredients they can recognize and pronounce. The rise of internet influencers creates a new opportunity for companies to be transparent about their food-processing standards and techniques. Telling a story enables companies to control the narrative, using authentic data, to educate consumers about clean food processing technology. Companies that lead the conversation about next-generation food-processing technology are aligned with consumer values and social-media trends.

Using Monarc Clean Oilseed Processing™ technology, producers are positioned to capture this market opportunity. Their labeling reflects authentic, clean processing and customers will recognize that. It opens doors to new market segments that bring greater industry recognition, higher margins and improved brand loyalty.

Proactive, Safe, Sustainable

Crown has been the global leader in oilseed processing for 75-plus years, and we continue to lead the way in clean label technology. Using Monarc Clean Oilseed Processing™ to produce high-value, clean-label products creates a safer working environment and meets sustainability goals without sacrificing scale and economic factors.

Employee safety is a top concern of companies that operate food-processing facilities. Using Monarc’s alcohol-based solvents demonstrates a proactive approach to reducing the negative side effects experienced by employees. By choosing Monarc, companies exceed current regulatory requirements and anticipate changing and more stringent future standards. It safeguards employees’ well-being and positions the company as the employer of choice in the clean food-processing marketplace. Plus, potential liability exposure is reduced as producers send a clear message about valuing employees.

Trust Crown for Clean Oilseed Processing

Monarc Clean Oilseed Processing™ is a proven, patented alcohol-based process that enables companies to replace current solvents in their extraction supply chains, deliver high-value, clean-label ingredients and products (including organic), create an overall safer working environment and meet sustainability goals—all at the scale and economics of current solvent technology. The technology allows customers to future-proof their operations while seizing the opportunity to meet growing public demand for clean-label products. Crown enables companies to expand clean-label options without abandoning legacy oilseed processing.

Learn More About Monarc

Our first Monarc plant installation is already in progress and is projected to provide economic viability comparable to traditional extraction technologies. We support companies throughout facility retrofits of existing plants or greenfield construction. Companies plan with confidence and serve emerging markets with ease knowing they are at the leading edge of this innovative technology. Partner with us on your key initiatives including reducing carbon footprint, emissions and energy use along with improving operational performance. Additionally, Crown solutions create renewable resources, supply-chain resiliency and sustainability while supporting zero waste targets and social responsibility.

Crown is the industry’s trusted partner in helping companies gain competitive advantage. Our expertise, equipment and world-class Global Innovation Center in Blaine, Minnesota, is where companies can test and sample products using Monarc Clean Oilseed Processing™ technology. Adopt the cleanest oilseed-processing technology for humans, animals and biofuels.

Crown invites customers to test and sample their products using Monarc technology at CPM|Crown’s Global Innovation Center. For more information about Monarc, contact crownsales@cpm.net or 651-639-8900.

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