Chicago-based ADM said it will significantly expand its broad portfolio of health and wellness products and solutions with an agreement to purchase Kennesaw, Ga.-based Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes.

“The microbiome represents one of ADM’s six strategic growth platforms, and with global demand for health and wellness products estimated at more than $775 billion, today’s investment represents a significant step forward for ADM,” said ADM Chairman and CEO Juan Luciano. “Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes is a leader in probiotic, prebiotic and enzyme technology, with global sales and manufacturing in the U.S. and Europe, and is a perfect fit for our growing portfolio of functional ingredients and solutions for health-conscious consumers. We expect the addition of the Deerland capabilities and portfolio to deliver synergies for our Health & Wellness business and support growth across our Nutrition business unit.”

Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes is a global provider of probiotic and dietary supplements, including 12 branded product lines. The company’s products and solutions include spore probiotics, which offer enhanced stability for a wider use in food and beverage, pet nutrition and supplement applications. Deerland operates five manufacturing facilities, one fermentation facility and eight research and development and quality control laboratories globally, ADM said.

“The hand-in-glove fit of Deerland’s vast portfolio of branded technologies, clinical studies and world-class dosage-form production capabilities combined with ADM’s health and wellness solutions is strong and unparalleled, allowing us to provide our dietary supplement, food/beverage and companion animal customers with a much broader array of products and capabilities,” said Scott Ravech, Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes’ CEO. “The Deerland team could not be more excited at the opportunity to be a part of the ADM family.”

The Deerland acquisition is the latest in a series of ADM strategic investments to build a full-scale global Health & Wellness business to help meet fast-growing demand for food, beverages and supplements that enhance health and wellbeing, the company said. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to be completed in the coming weeks; when that occurs, Deerland’s approximately 320 colleagues will transfer to ADM.