Renovated Cornell Food Venture Center Pilot Plant opens in New York

Upgrade works worth $13m have been completed at Cornell Food Venture Center Pilot Plant in Geneva, New York, US.

The investment complements Finger Lakes Forward strategy, which aims to revitalise the region’s communities and focuses on economic growth.

The facility is part of the College of Agriculture and Life Science at Cornell AgriTech. The site is expected to support more than 500 companies annually to develop new ways of producing, processing and marketing food from New York.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said: “Farms and local food are critical components of our upstate economy, and these improvements to Cornell’s hub for advanced food technology will help support farmers and food entrepreneurs across the region.

“When we invest in how our food is grown, processed and packaged, we are investing in a stronger, healthier New York for all.”

Established in 1988, the Cornell Food Venture Center has been serving as a hub for food businesses in the state, providing assistance to the new and established entrepreneurs through education and direct assistance with process development, product safety evaluation and guidance on regulatory compliance.

The renovated centre will enable entrepreneurs to introduce more natural ingredients, design smart packaging materials and incorporate other innovations.

Additionally, the inclusion of new technologies at the Cornell Food Venture Centre will enhance the quality, safety, and longevity of its products.

Cornell Food Venture Center director Olga Padilla-Zakour said: “Upgrades at the plant will help meet increased demand for small and large-scale batch production and modernised structures.

“The additional equipment will allow our food entrepreneurs across New York to utilise our facility to develop new products without impeding their existing production schedules, and will allow entrepreneurs to make small batches for market testing purposes.”