Saudi company will invest in Córdoba to export more alfalfa

The Saudi company Fondomonte will build a modern plant in Tránsito to dehydrate and press alfalfa for international trade. The complex will have the capacity to produce 100,000 metric tons (220,462,000 pounds) annually, all intended for export to the Middle East. With this investment, Córdoba strengthens its role as the national leader in the production of this strategic crop.

The announcement was confirmed by Fabián Russo Pittaro, president of the Alfalfa Cluster, during the sector's annual plenary session. The Saudi firm already operates a plant in Traslasierra with a similar export capacity. By adding both facilities, the province will reach a volume of 200,000 metric tons (440,924,000 pounds) per year.

The company will invest in a site already acquired in the area, and the project will require between a year and a half and two years to complete. The choice of location was based on the region's alfalfa tradition and its proximity to strategic routes such as Route 19. Producers from Córdoba will supply all the raw material required for the operation.

A global player with local presence

Fondomonte is part of the Almarai group, one of the largest food manufacturers and milk producers in the Middle East. Its plant in San Vicente produces part of its own alfalfa and purchases the rest from third parties. In contrast, the Tránsito plant will depend 100% on local producers.

Quality requirements for suppliers

Saudi buyers require that the exported alfalfa belongs to the Premium and Supreme categories, the highest quality in the market. To meet these standards, the cluster works with INTA Manfredi and crop genetics specialists. The goal is to increase yields and production efficiency.

Leading producers in the province already achieve levels of 20,000 to 24,000 kilograms (44,092 to 52,910 pounds) per hectare, far exceeding the provincial average of 15,000 kilograms (33,069 pounds). With this knowledge, the aim is to raise the average throughout the entire production chain. The strategy aims to ensure the exclusive supply of high-quality alfalfa to the new Tránsito plant.

Currently, the cluster has 113 members distributed across 11 provinces, of which 250,000 hectares (617,763 acres) are located in Córdoba. The installation of the plant will boost the growth of this group and raise production standards. The final destination of the alfalfa will be for self-consumption in Saudi dairies, which import about 800,000 metric tons (1,763,698,000 pounds) each year.