Global food company JBS USA has entered a strategic partnership with Colorado State University (CSU) to construct a new $15m JBS Global Food Innovation Centre at the university.

The new facility will focus on developing best practices in food safety, meat sciences, and animal handling and welfare.

JBS USA will be investing $12.5m into the new centre, which is expected to improve CSU’s teaching and research capabilities in meat sciences, as well as create a new platform to establish new collaborations with food producers and manufacturers.

It would also help to develop and test new equipment, as well as facilitate further education and training.

CSU College of Agricultural Sciences dean Ajay Menon said: “We have had a long-standing research and academic partnership with JBS, and this gift will allow us to cement that relationship for years to come.

“This facility is designed to provide our students with the hands-on experiences that will position them for careers in industry and academia, especially as they work alongside faculty members who are producing innovations in food safety, food security, and animal welfare.”

JBS Global CEO Wesley Batista said: “The JBS gift to Colorado State University is an investment in the future competitiveness of food and farming in the state of Colorado and across the US.

“JBS is a people-focused company, which means that empowering and creating opportunities for young people is at the heart of our culture.

“We envision this facility as a place that will allow the best and brightest CSU students to innovate, discover and explore as they prepare for future careers in the industry.”

CSU’s meat sciences programme is reported to have played a key role in advising industry and producing innovations to ensure meat products are safe and secure.

The centre would also feature a dedicated space for testing new packaging technologies and development of new food products, in order to cater the growing requirements of the meat industry.

There is also an educational space created by CSU professor Temple Grandin, wher students will also learn about animal handling and welfare.