What Green Plains does

Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ: GPRE) is a vertically integrated, publicly traded biorefinery platform headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, operating nine biorefineries across five Midwest states (Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska) with combined capacity to process over 300 million bushels of corn annually into nearly 1 billion gallons of biofuels, 290 million pounds of renewable corn oil, and 2.5 million tons of distillers grains and Ultra-High Protein. The company is structured around four wholly owned subsidiaries — Green Plains Processing (core operations), Green Plains Trade Group (in-house sales, marketing and distribution), Green Plains Grain (corn procurement and storage), and Fluid Quip Technologies (patented biorefining technology) — and is currently executing a strategic transformation initiated in 2018 under its Portfolio Optimization Plan, shifting from a commodity ethanol producer into a producer of low-carbon, high-value sustainable ingredients for the energy, feed, food, and bioeconomy markets.

The platform's core technologies are anchored by Fluid Quip's patented Maximized Stillage Co-products (MSC™) system, which produces ultra-high protein feed (>50% protein with a path to 60%+), the proprietary Sequence™ specialty feed ingredient (60%+ protein from corn and yeast concentrate), and Clean Sugar Technology™ (CST™), which transforms a dry-milling facility into a low-carbon dextrose and glucose biorefinery producing carbohydrates with up to 40% lower carbon intensity than competitors. Revenue is generated through transaction-based B2B sales across five primary streams: biofuels sold under fixed and indexed pricing arrangements to integrated energy companies, retailers, traders, resellers and export buyers; renewable corn oil (20-point lower CI than soybean oil) sold to biodiesel and renewable diesel manufacturers; protein and feed ingredients sold across pet food, aquaculture, dairy, beef, swine, and poultry markets; low-carbon dextrose and glucose syrups sold to biochemical, synthetic biology, bioplastics, and food manufacturers; and federal 45Z clean fuel production tax credits, which contributed $55.2M to Q1 2026 adjusted EBITDA. Distribution occurs through the Green Plains Trade Group direct sales force, an exclusive marketing partnership with Eco-Energy (May 2025), a 32-location biofuel storage network (32M gallon capacity), and multimodal truck/rail/barge transport.

Green Plains is undergoing a structural transformation from a commodity ethanol producer into a low-carbon biorefinery platform. The Advantage Nebraska carbon capture project, partnered with Summit Carbon Solutions' 18 million ton-per-year CO2 sequestration network, is positioned to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 800,000 tons annually and enables the company to capture 45Z production tax credits across all nine facilities. The 2025 divestiture of the Obion plant to POET for $170 million, the appointment of a new CEO (Chris Osowski) and CFO (Anne Reese), and the construction of the first commercial-scale CST facility at Shenandoah, Iowa all signal active execution of the platform strategy. Q1 2026 financials demonstrate the turnaround's earnings impact: net income of $32.9M (vs a $72.9M loss in Q1 2025), adjusted EBITDA of $71.5M, and 2026 EBITDA guidance raised to $188-212.5M driven primarily by 45Z credit realization.

Name

Green Plains

Legal name

Green Plains Inc.

Website

https://gpreinc.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ: GPRE) operates nine Midwest biorefineries processing 300+ million bushels of corn annually into biofuels, renewable corn oil, and high-protein ingredients for B2B customers across energy, feed, food, and bioeconomy markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biofuel Production

NAICS

Grain and Oilseed Milling (3112), Starch and Vegetable Fats and Oils Manufacturing (31122)

SIC

Grain Mill Products (2040)

akta.pro primary industry

Grain & Sugar-Based Ethanol Production (EUAAAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biochemicals & Bio-based Platform Chemicals (cellulose sugars, lignin derivatives, organic acids) (IMAMALAB), Biofuels & Renewable Fuels Switching (Biomethane/RNG, Bio-oils, Sustainable Biomass) (EUABAJAD)

Keywords

• Ethanol production
• Renewable corn oil
• Biorefining technology
• Protein feed ingredients
• Low-carbon biofuels

Headquarters

HQ city

Omaha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Biofuels (Ethanol) Sales: Green Plains produces and sells nearly 1 billion gallons of biofuels annually from 9 biorefineries. Revenue is generated through direct sales to integrated energy companies, retailers, traders, resellers, and export buyers. Products are priced under fixed and indexed pricing arrangements.
2. Renewable Corn Oil Sales: Corn oil is sold primarily to biodiesel and renewable diesel manufacturers, as well as for livestock and poultry feed supplements. Transported by truck to southeastern and midwestern regions, by rail to national markets, and for export.
3. Protein & Feed Ingredients: Ultra-High Protein (>50% protein), Sequence™ (60%+ protein), post-MSC distillers grains, and traditional DDGS are sold to pet, aquaculture, dairy, beef, swine, and poultry markets. Revenue from high-value protein ingredients growing as platform transformation progresses.
4. 45Z Production Tax Credits: Federal clean fuel production tax credits (45Z) provide significant EBITDA contribution. Q1 2026 saw $55.2 million in 45Z production tax credit value. Full-year 2026 guidance projects $188-212.5 million in 45Z-related adjusted EBITDA from carbon capture projects.
5. Dextrose & Glucose Syrups: Low carbon-intensity carbohydrate products sold for use in fermentation and catalytic conversion in food formulations, bio-based materials, renewable chemicals, and synthetic biology applications.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Green Plains operates 9 biorefineries across the US Midwest processing 300+ million bushels of corn annually to produce nearly 1 billion gallons of biofuels, 290 million pounds of renewable corn oil, and 2.5 million tons of distillers grains and Ultra-High Protein feed ingredients. The company is transforming into a sustainable ingredients platform producing low-carbon biofuels, high-protein animal feed, renewable corn oil for biodiesel/renewable diesel, and low-carbon-intensity dextrose and glucose syrups via its proprietary Fluid Quip Technologies partnership (MSC™ and CST™).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ultra-High Protein: Nutritional feed ingredient with more than 50% protein concentration, high digestibility, and nutritional value. Ideal for poultry, swine, aquaculture and pet diets. Contains up to 25% yeast component.
• Sequence
• Post-MSC Distillers Grains

Products and services

• Ethanol / Biofuels Nearly 1 billion gallons of low-carbon ethanol biofuels produced annually across 9 biorefineries. Sold under fixed and indexed pricing arrangements to integrated energy companies, retailers, traders, resellers, and export buyers in the US, Canada, Netherlands, India and Brazil.
• Renewable Corn Oil Low-carbon-intensity corn oil (290 million pounds annual capacity) sold as feedstock for biodiesel and renewable diesel manufacturers, and for livestock/poultry feed supplements. Carbon intensity is approximately 20 points lower than soybean oil.
• Ultra-High Protein High-protein (>50%) feed ingredient with up to 25% yeast component, high digestibility and improved amino acid profile. Produced using MSC™ technology with 46% lower carbon intensity than corn gluten meal. Targeted at pet food, aquaculture, dairy, beef, swine and poultry markets.
• Sequence™ Specialty Feed Ingredient Cutting-edge specialty feed ingredient combining corn and yeast protein, concentrated at a minimum 60% protein. Designed to raise the nutritional baseline of animal rations with greater versatility, performance and lower-carbon footprint.
• Dextrose and Glucose Syrups (Clean Sugar Technology) Low carbon-intensity dextrose and glucose syrups produced via Clean Sugar Technology™ (up to 40% lower CI than competitors). Sold for fermentation, catalytic conversion, bioplastics, biochemicals, synthetic biology and food applications.
• Distillers Grains (DDGS and Post-MSC) Wet distillers grains (65-70% moisture), modified wet distillers grains (50-55% moisture), dried distillers grains (DDGS), and cleaner post-MSC distillers grains sold as high-energy feed ingredients for dairy, beef, and other ruminant markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 46% lower GHG emissions per gallon vs gasoline (USDA verified)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Eco-EnergycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 May 2025Major ethanol partnership with Eco-Energy as exclusive marketer for ethanol and related products. Industry-shifting deal leveraging Eco-Energy's established distribution network and customer relationships for broader market reach.
• Summit Carbon SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Summit Carbon Solutions (subsidiary of Summit Agricultural Group) for carbon capture and sequestration. SCS is developing CO2 network connecting dozens of biofuel producers to large-scale CCS system capable of carrying up to 18 million tons of compressed CO2 annually to North Dakota for geologic storage. Green Plains' Nebraska facilities participate in the Tallgrass Trailblazer project. Also evaluating truck and rail alternatives to Summit carbon pipeline due to Iowa legislative developments.
• Fluid Quip TechnologiescoreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive technology partnership with Fluid Quip Technologies providing access to patented biorefining technologies including MSC™ (Maximized Stillage Co-products) system for ultra-high protein production and Clean Sugar Technology™ for low-carbon dextrose. Fluid Quip focuses on development of industrial-scale applications for extracting additional value-added components from sustainable biorefining processes. Green Plains benefits from automation solutions and efficiency drivers to accelerate technology deployment.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• POET: POET is the largest ethanol producer in the US with 28+ biorefineries producing over 3 billion gallons annually. POET directly competes with Green Plains in corn ethanol production and acquired Green Plains' Obion plant for $170M in 2025, making it the most direct comparable peer.
• Alto Ingredients: Alto Ingredients (formerly Pacific Ethanol) is a pure-play corn ethanol producer with multiple Midwest biorefineries producing ethanol, distillers grains, and CO2. As a focused direct competitor in the same geography and product mix, Alto is highly comparable to Green Plains' commodity ethanol operations.
• REX American Resources: REX American Resources operates multiple ethanol production facilities through its subsidiary One Earth Energy. As a focused ethanol producer with similar exposure to federal renewable fuel policy, REX is a direct comparable peer for evaluating ethanol plant economics and ethanol sector dynamics.
• MGP Ingredients: MGP Ingredients produces high-value protein, starch, and alcohol ingredients from grain at facilities in Kansas and Indiana. The company shares Green Plains' strategic focus on shifting from commodity alcohol to higher-margin specialty ingredients, making it highly comparable on business model transformation.
• Darling Ingredients: Darling Ingredients is the world's largest rendering company producing sustainable protein ingredients for animal feed and renewable diesel feedstock (Diamond Green Diesel joint venture with Valero). Darling's protein feed ingredient and renewable diesel feedstock businesses directly overlap with Green Plains' Ultra-High Protein and renewable corn oil positions.
• The Andersons: The Andersons operates ethanol plants producing approximately 475 million gallons annually alongside grain handling and merchandising. The Andersons' combination of grain trading, ethanol production, and plant nutrient businesses makes it a directly comparable peer across commodity grain processing and biofuel production.
• FutureFuel Corp: FutureFuel Corp produces biofuels (including biodiesel) and specialty chemicals from plant-based feedstocks. Its focus on biofuels and bio-based chemicals overlaps with Green Plains' Clean Sugar Technology dextrose production for bioeconomy applications.

Broad incumbents

• Valero Renewable Fuels: Valero operates 11 ethanol plants producing ~1.2 billion gallons annually through its Diamond Green Diesel joint venture. As a major integrated oil company with substantial renewable fuels operations, Valero is a broad incumbent competitor across fuel distribution channels and renewable diesel feedstocks.
• Archer Daniels Midland (ADM): ADM is one of the world's largest agricultural processors and grain merchants, with significant corn wet milling, ethanol, and corn oil production. ADM's broad agricultural value chain presence and protein/ingredient businesses make it a relevant broad incumbent comparable to Green Plains' vertically integrated corn processing model.

Emerging players

• Aemetis: Aemetis is a renewable fuels and specialty chemicals company focused on low-carbon renewable diesel, ethanol, and biogas from agricultural and forestry waste. Its carbon capture and renewable diesel expansion ambitions position it as an emerging peer overlapping with Green Plains' low-CI ethanol and renewable corn oil businesses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GPREINC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/green-plains-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Green Plains