Cargill has inaugurated its newly expanded European Research and Development Centre in Vilvoorde, Belgium.
The expansion is the result of €8 million (US$11.1 million) investment in line with the highest technological and food safety standards.
The center has a pilot plant, adding 5,000 sqm of space where Cargill’s 145 scientists and technologists can develop new ingredients, perfect reformulations and test new manufacturing processes.
It will help meet the needs of the company’s customers, covering food and feed ingredients science as well as non-food applications such as personal care and fermentation technology.
The center originally opened on the site in 1965.
Cargill said it paid attention to food safety principles during the expansion.
“Food safety is one of our most important goals at Cargill. This is why we implemented the zoning model in our new pilot plant, to not only meet today’s standards in food safety, but also to anticipate future needs,” says Marijana Petrovic, R&D centre food safety leader.
“The prevention of contamination is a fast-moving discipline, and Cargill wants to be at the forefront in this field, so that we can provide safe food every time, everywhere.”
“This includes the products produced in our research and development facilities and product samples provided to our customers.”
The facility is Cargill’s primary technology center serving Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The company has application centers in North American and Latin American Food Innovation Centres.
In the past few years, it has opened Innovation Centres in Campinas, Brazil; Wichita Kansas, US; and New Delhi, India.
