JBS Biotech unit in Florianópolis receives $37m investment
JBS is set to inaugurate a research center in Florianópolis focused on the development of cultivated protein. Named JBS Biotech, the facility has been designed to operate across the full value chain—from early-stage research to industrial scale—in the market for lab-built protein supplements derived from cells similar to animal muscle tissue.
The multinational’s biotechnology arm aims to advance research and development to produce “superproteins” with tailored characteristics. According to CEO Gilberto Tomazoni, “it is not meat, but cultivated protein.”
Lab-produced biotechnology will serve as a food supplement ingredient to be used in shakes, cereal bars, and JBS products. Tomazoni added that the goal of JBS Biotech is to accelerate proof-of-concept work and pave the way for future industrial-scale applications.
The new complex includes more than 20 laboratories spread across 4,000 square meters at the Sapiens Parque innovation center. Chemical engineer Fernanda Berti, who holds a postdoctoral degree from the European Institute of Excellence in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, will lead the division.
Four years ago, JBS announced a $100 million investment to enter the cultivated protein segment. The outlay included the construction of the biotechnology center in Florianópolis, which received $37 million, and, in Spain, the first cultivated protein plant of BioTech Foods, in which the multinational is the majority shareholder.
Berti said the research center in Santa Catarina’s capital focuses on developing technology rather than finished products—namely functional proteins and bioactive ingredients that complement JBS’s existing portfolio. “We are entering a new frontier, where it is possible to understand the potential of protein-based foods at the molecular level and develop solutions with tailored nutritional and functional characteristics for different consumer needs,” she said.
The global protein supplements market is estimated to have generated $30 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach $63 billion by 2033, growing at an average annual rate of 10.3% between 2026 and 2033, according to U.S. market research firm Grand View Research. The consultancy said rising awareness of health and wellness is driving the segment.
Tomazoni said consumer behavior is increasingly focused on longevity and quality of life. “Now we have the [weight-loss] injections, a medical technology that has been changing consumer behavior. This is a group seeking advanced precision nutrition,” he said.
*By Marcos Fantin, Globo Rural — São Paulo
Source:Valor International https://valorinternational.globo.com/