World’s Largest Meat Company Opens Plant-Based Tech Hub in Brazil

Brazillian company JBS—the world’s largest meat processor—has opened an advanced food technology hub to produce plant-based protein for the global market. Managed by JBS’s Seara Alimentos division, the Incredible Lab brings together experts in consumer trends, science, technology, and gastronomy with the mission to become a leader in the plant-based protein market. It has already created Biomolecule i, a breakthrough technology that combines molecules and natural elements that are added to the plant-based protein’s fermentation process to produce a similar taste and texture of meat. “The world is constantly changing. Today there is a new way for everything and with food it’s no different,” Joanita Karoleski, president of Seara Alimentos, told media outlet Food Navigator-Latam. “The search for vegetable proteins is a reality and we want to be leaders in this segment.” Last year, Seara Alimentos entered the plant-based market with the launch of its Incredible Burger, which is made with a blend of soy, wheat, onions, garlic, and beets. The company also recently announced the addition of five new ready-to-eat products in its plant-based portfolio, which include vegan beef and chicken burgers, a breaded chicken snack, beef kibe, and flavored beef. The new products will launch throughout Brazil this year.