SPAIN – BioTech Foods, a subsidiary of Brazil’s JBS, has inaugurated a new cultivated meat production plant in San Sebastián, Spain.
This is part of the company’s plan to increase its presence in the alternative protein sector.
The facility, backed by an investment of approximately R$ 200 million (US$36.1 million), is designed to produce over 1,000 metric tons of cultivated meat annually, with the potential to scale up to 4,000 metric tons in the near future.
The plant will contribute to diversifying BioTech Foods’ product range and responding to growing consumer demand for more sustainable and nutritious food options.
BioTech Foods, a Spanish biotechnology firm, specializes in cultured meat derived from muscle cells harvested from animals.
It became a subsidiary of Brazilian food giant JBS S.A. following JBS’s purchase of a 51 percent stake in 2021 for US$100 million.
Out of that investment, US$41 million has been allocated to the construction of the new cultivated beef production facility.
While the new Spanish plant is smaller in scale compared to Believer Meats’ U.S. facility, which can produce 10,000 metric tons of meat annually, the BioTech Foods hub stands out for its focus on cultivated beef.
In comparison, the cultured meat industry has largely concentrated on chicken, which is already being sold in markets like Singapore and Israel and has received preliminary approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The growing interest in meat alternatives is evident in Spain, where sales of vegan meat reached €87 million (U$96.8M) in 2020, a 31% increase from the previous year.
Most of these sales came from plant-based refrigerated meat products, which accounted for nearly €80 million (US$89M).
Revenue in Spain’s meat substitute market is projected to reach US$186.5 million in 2024, with an expected annual growth rate of 10.6% over the next five years.
According to JBS. the new production facility will play a key role in meeting this increasing demand for alternative protein products, while also advancing BioTech Foods’ mission to offer innovative and sustainable solutions in the food industry.
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