Area Development
BELIEVER Meats, a leading pioneer of the cultivated meat industry, will establish its first U.S. commercial facility in Wilson, North Carolina.The $123.35 million project is expected to create more than 100 jobs over the next three years.

The 200,000-square-foot 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.

"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 new facility will utilize proprietary, custom-made bioreactors that can achieve high cell densities and yield based on patented processes, as well as feature an R&D and innovation center, a contemporary kitchen to host tastings, as well as offices and conference room spaces.

“Believer Meats’ announcement is the perfect amalgamation of our rich history in agriculture and life sciences, the biotechnology assets North Carolina has created over the past 50 years, and today’s advanced technology,” noted Christopher Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC). “North Carolina is paving the way to meet America’s future nutritional needs.”

In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), other key partners on the project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, North Carolina State University, the North Carolina Food Innovation Lab, the Golden LEAF Foundation, Wilson Community College, Wilson County, the Wilson Economic Development Corporation, and Turning Point Workforce Development Board.