Brazilian meat company JBS has inaugurated a new $20 million innovation centre in the US, as the company aims to accelerate product innovation and culinary research.

The 36,000 square-foot JBS Global Food Innovation Center is located on the campus of Colorado State University (CSU), and JBS claims the site will act as a hub for cutting-edge global innovations in new product development, food science, food safety, and animal welfare.

JSB and CSU agreed to open the facility in 2017, and JBS invested $12.5 million to fund the construction of the site and to fund educational programming for JBS USA and its Pilgrim subsidiary’s team members.

JBS USA CEO Andre Nogueira said: “We’re so pleased to be here today to help celebrate the opening of this centre.

“Our mission at JBS is to be the best, and the mission of this facility is to advance best practices in food safety, meat sciences and animal handling and welfare. So it’s a natural partnership for us and one that we’re proud to be a part of.”

Gilberto Tomazoni, JBS Global CEO, added: “We now have the ability to create opportunities for young people to learn about our industry in the most advanced centre of its kind. These students are the future of agriculture and food.”

Ajay Menon, Dean of the CSU College of Agricultural Sciences, added: “We take a global view of our education and research, and we were looking for new ways to spur innovation in livestock and meat science, food safety, food security and animal welfare.

“JBS provides that necessary partnership – our goals and values align well with theirs – and we’re very grateful for their support.

“Our goal for this facility is not only to support teaching and research – it has to impact the industry and advance the way meat processing is done around the world.”