DES MOINES, IOWA, U.S. — Ag Processing Inc. said recently it will offer production contracts for Pioneer brand Plenish high-oleic soybeans for 2016 in Nebraska, U.S. Plenish high-oleic soybean oil offers an alternative to partially hydrogenated oils (phos).

“AGP is excited to bring this value-added opportunity to area soybean farmers to help improve their return per acre, and to develop the first Plenish high-oleic soybean production footprint west of the Mississippi,” said Mark Sandeen, vice-president of processing and marketing for AGP, a cooperatively owned agribusiness. “The improved fry life and shelf life characteristics that Plenish high-oleic soybean oil brings to food industry applications, along with the product’s nutrition benefits, will help build long-term soybean demand.”

AGP will contract with growers around the company’s soybean processing plant and refinery in Hastings, Nebraska, U.S. Farmers will receive an incentive of 50¢ per bushel for producing and storing the beans or an incentive of 40¢ per bushel for a harvest delivery contract.

DuPont Pioneer, Des Moines, developed Plenish high-oleic soybeans. They already are grown east of the Mississippi River, in states such as Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Plenish high-oleic soybean oil has zero grams of trans fat per serving and 20% less saturated fat than commodity soybean oil, according to DuPont Pioneer. The oil has a high oxidative stability that adds to fry life in restaurants applications and to shelf life in packaged food products.