What CJ Selecta does

CJ Selecta is a Brazilian soybean processor headquartered in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, with its main industrial complex in Araguari and a footprint of 13 origination/sales branches spanning Minas Gerais, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Bahia and Tocantins. Founded in 1973 and acquired by South Korean conglomerate CJ CheilJedang in 2017, the company employs 548 professionals and operates as part of the parent's bio-business unit (CJBio). Its core business is the crushing of conventional non-transgenic (NGMO) soybeans into Soy Protein Concentrate (SPC) targeted at the animal feed industry — particularly aquaculture, including salmon-feed customers in Norway — alongside soybean oil, lecithin, tocopherol and fatty acids sold into human food, chemical and pharmaceutical applications.

The company's technical platform centers on soybean processing and SPC production using soy ethanol as the solvent, with a 30,000 L/day hydrated alcohol plant commissioned in 2023 making the operation self-sufficient in process alcohol. CJ Selecta's commercial differentiators are non-GMO and deforestation-free sourcing, satellite monitoring of suppliers, full traceability via the proprietary Soy Trace App, and a verified carbon footprint for Non-GMO SPC of less than 1 kg CO2/kg product, certified under PEFCR, PAS 2050-1 and ISO 14067. The asset base is supported by an EcoVadis Silver score (67/100) and a stack of certifications (GMP+, Halal, Kosher, FSSC 22000, ProTerra, SMETA).

The revenue model is industrial-B2B and sales-led: CJ Selecta sells manufactured soy derivatives (one-time/contract sales) and earns transactional revenue from soybean trading and Barter operations that bundle NGMO seeds and plant nutrition with soybean purchases from producers. Distribution runs through direct export (notably to European aquaculture feed buyers) and a regional origination network that buys and trades soybeans from Brazilian producers across five states. Sustainability-linked financing from J.P. Morgan and active participation in ANEC, RTRS, Abiove, Sedex Global and the ProTerra-led aquaculture dialogue function as both commercial moats and prerequisites for premium, compliance-gated end markets.

Name

CJ Selecta

Legal name

CJ Selecta

Website

https://cjselecta.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

CJ Selecta is a Brazilian soybean processor (548 staff, Araguari/Uberlândia) that, under CJ CheilJedang ownership, manufactures non-GMO Soy Protein Concentrate, soybean oil, lecithin, tocopherols and ethanol for global animal feed (including Norwegian aquaculture), food, chemical and pharmaceutical buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Soy Protein Concentrate & Soy-Derived Ingredients

NAICS

Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing (311224), Fats and Oils Refining and Blending (311225), Soybean Farming (11111), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Fats & Oils (2070), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Plant-Based & Alternative Proteins (Packaged) (CRADAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Soybean Farming (AFAGABAA)

Keywords

• Soy protein concentrate
• Non-GMO soybean processing
• Soybean origination
• Animal feed ingredients
• Soybean oil and lecithin

Headquarters

HQ city

Uberlândia

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Soybean Trading & Processing: Commercialization of transgenic and conventional non-transgenic soybeans (NGMO) across Brazilian states, including Barter operations.
2. Soy-derived Products: Manufacture and sale of products derived from soybeans including soybean oil, lecithin, tocopherol, fatty acid, and Soy Protein Concentrate (SPC) for animal feed, human food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
3. Seeds and Barter: Sale of conventional non-transgenic (NGMO) seeds combined with Barter trading operations.
4. Plant Nutrition: Nutritional solutions for crops, offered in conjunction with Barter operations.
5. Soy Ethanol: Production of hydrated alcohol at 30,000 L/day capacity, used as solvent in SPC production making the company self-sufficient, with surplus potentially marketed to fuel distributors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CJ Selecta manufactures and commercializes a broad range of soy-derived products for industrial customers worldwide. Its flagship offering is Non-GMO Soy Protein Concentrate (SPC) used in animal feed and aquaculture, alongside soybean oil, lecithin, tocopherol, and fatty acids for human food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. The company also operates a soybean origination business with regional offices across five Brazilian states, supported by ethanol production, conventional seed sales, barter operations, and plant nutrition solutions.

Product overview

CJ Selecta operates as a unified platform for soybean processing and衍生产品, comprising multiple integrated business units: CJ Products (soybean oil, lecithin, tocopherol, fatty acids) forms the core product line alongside SPC (Soy Protein Concentrate), their flagship high-value ingredient for animal feed. The portfolio is supported by three modular add-on offerings—Ethanol (self-sufficient solvent production with 30,000 L/day capacity), Plant Nutrition (crop nutrition solutions), and Seeds and Barter (conventional non-transgenic seed sales)—all connected through the Origination unit that manages soybean sourcing across five Brazilian states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Soy Trace App: Exclusive traceability application for CJ Selecta customers providing access to documents and information about traceability of non-transgenic exported products
• SPC (Soy Protein Concentrate)
• X-Soy
• SPC

Products and services

• SPC (Soy Protein Concentrate) Non-GMO high-value vegetable protein ingredient manufactured by CJ Selecta and exported internationally, primarily used in animal feed and aquaculture (notably salmon farming in Norway). Carbon footprint is less than 1 kg CO2/kg product, certified under PEFCR, PAS 2050-1, and ISO 14067 standards.
• CJ Products (Produtos CJ Selecta) Soy-derived products including soybean oil, lecithin, tocopherol, and fatty acids manufactured under rigorous quality standards, targeted at human food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries requiring high-purity certified inputs.
• Hydrated Alcohol (Ethanol) Hydrated alcohol produced at CJ Selecta's 30,000 L/day plant, used as solvent in SPC manufacturing (making the company self-sufficient in ethanol) with surplus marketed to fuel distributors as vehicle oxidizing alcohol.
• Plant Nutrition Crop nutrition solutions tailored to each stage of crop development, offered by CJ Selecta as part of its business unit portfolio and bundled with Seeds and Barter operations for soybean producers.
• Seeds and Barter Sale of conventional non-transgenic (NGMO) soybean seeds combined with Barter trading operations, allowing producers to exchange soybeans for seeds and plant nutrition inputs through CJ Selecta's origination team.
• Origination Commercialization of transgenic and conventional non-transgenic (NGMO) soybeans across five Brazilian states (Minas Gerais, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Bahia, and Tocantins), supported by a qualified commercial team and 13 branch offices with origination representatives, and bundled with Barter operations involving Plant Nutrition and Seeds.

Quantifiable outcome

• Carbon footprint of SPC is less than 1 kg CO₂/kg product — the lowest among producers, certified under PEFCR, PAS 2050-1, ISO 14067
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ProTerra FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCJ Selecta is certified by the ProTerra Foundation for Non-GMO products and participates in the Dialogue for Soy Improvement in Aquaculture initiative involving the ProTerra Foundation, soy processing companies, environmental organizations, and aquaculture feed producers.
• ANEC (National Association of Cereal Exporters)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCJ Selecta is a member of ANEC, demonstrating its commitment to the non-commercialization program for soybeans originated in the Amazon Biome, working continuously to eliminate any type of origination in this biome.
• RTRS (Roundtable on Responsible Soy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCJ Selecta is an active member of the RTRS Foundation, promoting responsible production, processing, and marketing of soy worldwide, and participating in global discussions on environmentally friendly, socially just, and economically viable production.
• Abiove (Brazilian Vegetable Oil Industries Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbiove represents 13 companies producing bran, vegetable oils, and biodiesel, cooperating in sector policy execution, promoting sustainability programs, and generating sector statistics.
• Sedex GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCJ Selecta is affiliated with Sedex Global, reinforcing its commitment to seeking improvements in responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chains, in accordance with SMETA audit guidelines.
• Bureau VeritasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBureau Veritas verified and assured CJ Selecta's GHG emissions inventory, quantifying emissions based on the GHG Protocol methodology.
• Dialogue for Soy Improvement in AquaculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-stakeholder initiative involving CJ Selecta, other soy processing companies, environmental organizations, aquaculture feed producers, and the ProTerra Foundation, seeking to develop and implement a code of conduct for suppliers ensuring safe working conditions, responsible soy cultivation, and accurate carbon footprint studies.
• CJ CheilJedang (Parent Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCJ Selecta was acquired by the South Korean group CJ CheilJedang in 2017. Since then, CJ Selecta has undergone cultural transformation, with a careful PMI process blending Korean and Brazilian cultures.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Imcopa: Brazilian soybean crusher and refiner producing soy protein concentrate and refined oils, with comparable non-GMO and specialty protein positioning serving both food and feed customers.
• Caramuru Alimentos: Brazilian soy processor producing refined soybean oil, lecithin, and protein concentrates with a similar integrated origination and value-added ingredients model, competing head-to-head with CJ Selecta in the domestic soy derivatives market.

Broad incumbents

• Louis Dreyfus Company: Global merchant and processor of oilseeds with Brazilian origination, crushing, and refined soy product operations, comparable to CJ Selecta in value-chain integration and international export footprint.
• Wilmar International: Asia's leading agribusiness group with extensive oilseed crushing, refining, and specialty fat operations globally, comparable to CJ Selecta in soybean processing capability and export reach to Asian food/feed customers.
• Bunge Limited: Global agribusiness major with large Brazilian origination and crushing operations producing soy protein concentrate and refined oils, competing with CJ Selecta on scale, certification breadth, and global customer relationships.
• Cargill: World's largest privately held agribusiness, with significant Brazilian soy origination and crushing assets producing specialty soy proteins and refined oils, directly comparable in product portfolio to CJ Selecta.
• ADM (Archer Daniels Midland): Global agricultural processor and food-ingredient producer with substantial soy protein concentrate capacity and Brazilian origination, serving the same animal feed, aquaculture, and human nutrition end-markets as CJ Selecta.
• CJ CheilJedang: South Korean conglomerate and CJ Selecta's parent company, with a global bio business producing amino acids, alternative proteins, and feed ingredients — partially overlapping end-markets and channel infrastructure with CJ Selecta.

Emerging players

• Hamlet Protein: Danish specialty soy protein producer focused on young animal feed (piglets, calves, aquaculture) — directly comparable to CJ Selecta's non-GMO SPC business serving European aquaculture feed producers.

Regional players

• Sojaprotein (Victoria Group): Serbian non-GMO soy protein concentrate producer and one of Europe's largest specialty soy protein players — comparable to CJ Selecta in product mix and European food/feed customer base, though serving from a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cjselecta
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cj-selecta

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about CJ Selecta