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Chitosan Plant to Open in Opelousas

Governor Bobby Jindal and AgraTech International Chairman Richard DeMarco announced Wednesday the company will renovate a former Opelousas bottling facility to produce chitosan.

Chitosan is a natural, bio-degradable material processed from seafood shell waste and used in commercial products for the automotive, defense and medical industries.

Jindal said AgraTech “chose Louisiana because of our strong business climate, incomparable workforce and our world-class seafood industry.”

The venture will bring about 100 jobs to the area. Renovation and equipping of the facility will begin in early 2013, with commercial operations starting by the end of next summer.

AgraTech will also partner with the University of Louisiana’s College of Engineering in Lafayette, providing instruction and research assistance in exchange for lab space.