Israel-based Believer Meats broke ground Dec. 7 on its first U.S. commercial facility in Wilson, North Carolina.
Once operational, the 200,000-square-foot facility will be the one of the largest cultivated meat production centers with the capacity to produce at least 10,000 metric tons of product, without the need to slaughter a single animal.
“Our facility propels Believer forward as a leader in the cultivated meat industry,” said Nicole Johnson-Hoffman, CEO.
“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.”
The company explored several well-established manufacturing corridors in Eastern North Carolina because of its talent pool and the region’s success in integrating technology-driven solutions to improve the lives of residents, which aligns with the company’s mission.
Believer is making an initial planned investment of $123.35 million in Wilson County and includes plans 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 facility will feature a research, development and innovation center, a contemporary kitchen to host tastings, as well as offices and conference room spaces.
The facility’s groundbreaking is the latest in a series of developments as Believer prepares to bring its products to consumers, including its recent rebrand from Future Meat Technologies to Believer Meats and the creation of a global leadership team.
“Today’s announcement is another example of the growth, progress and increased interest in this cutting-edge industry,” said Robert Rankin, executive director of the Association for Meat, Poultry and Seafood Innovation. “Members of AMPS Innovation look forward to continued advancements in this industry to support commercialization of cultivated meat, poultry and seafood.”
For more information, visit believermeats.com.
