Danish company DuPont has opened a probiotics fermentation unit at its facility located in Rochester, New York, US.

Completed in March, the facility is part of the company’s $100m investment to expand its probiotics capacity.

DuPont CEO Marc Doyle said: “The investment in our Rochester probiotics operation furthers our strategy to provide health and nutrition science solutions to this growing market.

“With the completion of this facility, we have the largest fermenter in the world dedicated to probiotics production, which enhances our ability to provide customers and consumers with high quality, clinically-documented strains that will positively impact people’s health now and in the future.”

The facility houses a fermenter for probiotics production and its downstream processing, as well as a built-in automated system of sensors and monitors to ensure optimal growing conditions, eliminating the need for collecting traditional manual samples.

Additionally, the facility features new bacteria freezing technology for safe storage of the probiotics.

The facility received an Upstate Revitalization Initiative Grant from Empire State Development for the construction of the fermentation unit.

Empire State Development president, CEO and commissioner Howard Zemsky said: “Supporting the growth of innovative companies like DuPont, with its new probiotics fermentation unit at Eastman Business Park, reinforces the strength of the region’s agriculture and food ecosystem and reflects our strategic focus on recruiting and retaining food production businesses that drive economic development in the Finger Lakes.”

The company develops and produces a range of clinically-documented probiotic strains for products that are sold across the globe.