Believer Meats has broken ground on a 200,000-sq-ft, $123.35 million cultivated meat production facility in Wilson, N.C., its first U.S. commercial-scale facility. Once operational, the facility will be the largest cultivated meat production center in the world, with the capacity to produce at least 22 million lb of cultivated meat annually, without the need to slaughter a single animal. The site is expected to create more than 100 new jobs over the next three years.
The facility will utilize proprietary, custom-made bioreactors that can achieve high cell densities and yield based on patented processes. In addition, the state-of-the-art facility will feature an R&D and innovation center and a contemporary kitchen to host tastings, as well as offices and conference room spaces. The site is being built with possible expansion in mind to meet growing demand for cultivated meat for decades to come.
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“Our facility propels Believer forward as a leader in the cultivated meat industry,” says Nicole Johnson-Hoffman, CEO of Believer Meats. “Our brand has continually proven our commitment to scale production technology and capacity, and with our new U.S. production center, we are one step closer to commercialization. Believer is setting the standard globally to make it possible for future generations to eat and enjoy meat. Through affordability, approachability, and availability, we want our products to become the meat of choice globally.”
“Today’s announcement is another example of the growth, progress, and increased interest in this cutting-edge industry,” says Robert Rankin, executive director of the Association for Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Innovation (AMPS). “Members of AMPS Innovation look forward to continued advancements in this industry to support commercialization of cultivated meat, poultry, and seafood.”