BELIEVER Meats, a pioneer in the cultivated meat industry, officially broke ground today on its first US commercial facility in Wilson, N.C. Once operational, the 200,000sq-ft facility will be the largest cultivated meat production center in the world with the capacity to produce at least 10,000 metric tons of cultivated meat, without the need to slaughter a single animal. This is a watershed moment for the cultivated meat industry that will allow BELIEVER Meats to meet growing demand for decades to come.
"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."
The company explored several well-established manufacturing corridors in Eastern North Carolina because of its highly qualified 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, located approximately 40 miles east of Raleigh, N.C., and includes plans to create over 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, 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, its R&D breakthrough with cultivating lamb, and the creation of a global leadership team, to name a few.
