JBS Biotech will focus on animal health, precision nutrition and the development of functional and alternative proteins
JBS inaugurates JBS Biotech, an advanced biotechnology center dedicated to the development of science applied to the production chain, in Florianópolis (SC), to create and add value to food production. The opening ceremony was attended by Wesley Batista, J&F shareholder and member of the Board of Directors of JBS; Gilberto Tomazoni, Global CEO of JBS; and Fernanda Berti, CEO of JBS Biotech. The unit operates in animal health, precision nutrition and development of functional and alternative proteins, raising the competitive standard of the animal protein chain.
Installed in Sapiens Park, the complex is led by chemical engineer Fernanda Berti, PhD in Chemical and Biotechnological Process Development, and was structured to work from initial research to the validation of new technologies for industrial application. With a structure of more than 4,000 m2 dedicated to research and development, JBS Biotech has more than 20 highly specialized laboratories, designed according to international standards of quality and operational safety, ensuring excellence and flexibility to meet the company’s strategic demands in a sustainable and continuous manner. The unit’s activities cover the entire cycle of technological development, from basic science to applied science, including everything from cellular and molecular biology to engineering, data simulation, and validation of results.
“JBS Biotech is capable of developing everything from functional proteins – the so-called superproteins – to new bioactive ingredients for the supplement and food market. More than producing a finished product, our goal is to develop knowledge and technology, accelerate proofs of concept and pave the way for future applications on an industrial scale”, said Gilberto Tomazoni, JBS global CEO.
“We are entering a new frontier, in which it is possible to understand the potential of protein foods at the molecular level and develop solutions with nutritional and functional characteristics tailored to different consumer needs”, said Fernanda Berti, CEO of JBS Biotech. “This includes advancing precision nutrition, with the development of ingredients and proteins designed to modulate specific physiological responses in both humans and animals.”
The protein supplement market is estimated at US$ 30 billion, with a growth of 10% per year.
At the heart of this initiative is the commitment to offer consumers high-quality proteins, expand access to new protein production technologies, and contribute to the construction of an increasingly efficient production model.
In practice, this paves the way for proteins of high nutritional quality, rich in essential amino acids, in the appropriate proportion to consumption. These ingredients can be designed to act in a targeted way, from muscle mass gain to immune support and metabolic performance, expanding the concept of traditional nutrition to a more personalized and science-based nutrition. The knowledge generated is also applied to the improvement of existing products, increasing quality and nutritional value. “This initiative is born from our conviction that science, technology and innovation are essential to ensure food security in a rapidly changing world,” adds Tomazoni.
Science applied to industrial innovation
The advancement of biotechnology has boosted the growth of strategic sectors of the global economy by enabling high value-added products, associated with production efficiency, environmental responsibility and food safety. In line with this scenario, the center has a structure that integrates state-of-the-art sequencers, advanced molecular analysis, omics data science \u2012 genomics, proteomics and metabolomics \u2012, as well as complete capacity for cell, microorganism and plant cultures. This infrastructure positions JBS Biotech as a center of excellence for innovation, reducing the gap between science, industry and consumers.
One of the pillars of this vision is the creation of a biobank — a structure dedicated to the preservation and organization of biological samples — which, combined with the strategic use of science and technology, allows extracting more value from each stage of the agro-industrial chain.
Supported by a team of highly qualified scientists and specialists, combined with a solid structure of strategic support and quality assurance, JBS Biotech integrates multidisciplinary competencies ranging from basic science — such as biology, chemistry and physics — to applied science — chemical engineering, biochemistry, bioprocesses and food science — with the aim of optimizing conventional production processes and enabling the creation of new technological processes. This base allows the center to act both in incremental innovation, with improvements in existing processes and products, and in disruptive innovation, aimed at creating new solutions for the food chain.
Added value to the chain
Deepening the circular economy model already consolidated by JBS is another strategic axis of the center. Research uses extraction and bioconversion technologies to transform co-products into bioingredients with higher added value, such as functional proteins, food supplements, and bioactive compounds.
The production chain makes it possible to make better use of the resources generated in conventional processes to serve different sectors, such as pharmaceutical inputs and products, cosmetics, medical and food supplements. “We are mapping what is currently treated as a by-product to develop new industrial applications”, says Fernanda Berti.
Animal health and efficiency
Biotechnology plays an increasingly relevant role in animal health, by supporting the development of safe and efficient veterinary products, which are integrated with the already consolidated management and care practices in different production systems. These solutions contribute to the strengthening of prevention and sanitary control strategies, supporting animal welfare and responsible food production throughout the chain. In addition, biotechnology contributes to the operational efficiency of animal protein production, by assisting in the organization of data related to production systems.
New stage of investment in biotechnology
The center’s opening connects with the company’s previous initiatives in biotechnology, including investments in European-grown protein. With the new center in Brazil, the company expands its capacity to develop solutions on different fronts of the food chain.
In a scenario of growing global demand for protein and greater demand for nutritional quality, the advancement of science in new protein ingredients expands the possibilities of developing foods with greater nutritional and functional precision. “Our mission is to make biotechnological knowledge tangible”, summarizes Fernanda Berti. “We want to transform science into solutions that generate lasting value for the company and society.”
