SÃO pAULO — Bühler, Cargill and Givaudan have formed a consortium in collaboration with the Food Tech Hub LATAM and Ital, Food Technology Institute to build an innovation center called the Tropical Food Innovation Lab in Campinas, Brazil.

The new hub located in a 1,300-square-meter area will be designed to develop sustainable food and beverage products in Latin America. Startups, companies, investors, universities and research institutions will have access to technologies for prototyping.

Wet and dry extrusion systems for plant-based proteins as well as beverage processing units will add complementary capabilities to Ital’s existing facilities. The facility also will feature application labs and a demo kitchen. The center is expected to open in the first quarter of 2023.

“Ital with its almost 60 years of history in Brazil has become a market reference in carrying out research and development as well as providing technological and innovation support,” said Gisele Camargo, director of research program and deputy director of Ital, one of the Research Institutes of Agribusiness Technology Agency of the São Paulo State Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply. “Sharing our facilities will help to carry out joint RD&I activities with the aim of establishing tools for the creation of an innovation food ecosystem as well transferring technology for the food production sector to stimulate socioeconomic development.”