Believer Meats building world's largest cell-cultivated proteins facility in North Carolina

On 7 December, 2022, Believer Meats broke ground on its first U.S. commercial facility in Wilson, North Carolina, U.S.A. 

At 200,000 square feet with potential to be expanded in the future, it the largest cultivated meat and seafood development and production center in the world, according to the Rehovot, Israel-based company.

"Our facility propels Believer forward as a leader in the cultivated meat industry," Believer Meats CEO Nicole Johnson-Hoffman said in a press release. "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." 

At full production capacity, the facility will be able to produce approximately 10,000 metric tons, or 22 million pounds, of cultivated meat and seafood products.

"We're pleased to welcome Believer Meats to North Carolina," North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said. "This important decision to build its first U.S. commercialization operation in Wilson County validates our innovative research and development and highly skilled talent while further cementing our state as the best in the nation to do business."

Believer has invested USD 123 million (EUR 116 million) in the new facility, which is located approximately 40 miles east of Raleigh, North Carolina. The new facility will create more than 100 new jobs over the next three years, it said.

"We celebrate this milestone and are thrilled to see the North Carolina and Wilson County officials and community providing critically important support to scale cultivated meat production," Good Food Institute Vice President of Science and Technology Liz Specht said. "These steps pave the way for cultivated meat to come to market in the U.S. at scale and helps ensure as many consumers as possible have access to these groundbreaking products. Further government investment like this will advance the sector toward commercialization, helping to feed a growing population more sustainably, spurring economic growth, and improving environmental and global health outcomes." 

Photo courtesy of Believer Meats