WEST CENTRAL SOY
Ralston, Iowa

West Central Cooperative of Ralston, Iowa has a goal to create extra value for their members and customers. It was the search for innovative, value- added products and processes that led West Central Soy, West Central Cooperative's soy processing division, to methyl ester processing and biodiesel production. Iowa's first soy biodiesel production plant began producing biodiesel at West Central's Soy Center in Ralston in 1996 West Central believed there was tremendous growth potential for environmentally preferred cleaners and alternate fuels like biodiesel.

West Central's vision for soy biodiesel is very promising because biodiesel is easy to use and integrate into the existing petroleum infrastructure. Soy biodiesel is a reliable renewable fuel that can be used in any diesel engine, and biodiesel fuel blends don't require any engine modifications. As our nation looks to reduce its dependency on foreign oil and improve air quality for our citizens1 domestically grown and produced soy biodiesel will continue to play an important role in meeting these goals.