By Blake Jackson
The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment has opened the new Meats and Foods Industry Advancement Center at the C. Oran Little Research Center in Woodford County.
The opening was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to Derrick Meads, Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications for the University of Kentucky.
The nearly 30,000-square-foot facility is designed to bring together research, education, Cooperative Extension services and industry support. Its focus includes meat science, food safety, workforce training, and the development of value-added agricultural products.
The center was created with local processors and producers in mind and features a 56-seat classroom connected to the processing area, allowing students to gain practical experience throughout product development.
“This center reflects what it means to be Kentucky’s land-grant university. Everything we do is to advance the state we were created to serve," said University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto.
"By connecting our research and Extension expertise with the needs of producers and industry partners, we can help strengthen businesses, develop our agricultural workforce and create new opportunities for communities across the Commonwealth,” Capilouto added.
The facility includes specialized areas for developing products such as hams, sausages, and other value-added foods. Researchers and businesses will also have access to a sensory laboratory for evaluating consumer responses to new products.
An on-site market will offer meat products produced at the center along with other Kentucky agricultural products.
The center will operate under USDA inspection for cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and poultry. Its capabilities are intended to help businesses improve food safety, test new products, train employees, and identify ways to increase the value of Kentucky-grown agricultural commodities.
“This center demonstrates what is possible when we lock arms and move forward together,” said Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman. “It is going to prepare our workforce, support our local processors, unlock new opportunities for our producers and strengthen the agricultural economy of the Commonwealth for generations to come.”
The facility will also expand the college’s Extension presence in Central Kentucky by housing members of its Central Region Extension team.
The center is part of broader capital investments at Martin-Gatton CAFE aimed at strengthening agricultural education, research and industry support across the state.
“This center gives our faculty, specialists and Extension professionals another important place to work directly with producers, entrepreneurs and industry partners,” said Jennifer Hunter, Associate Dean for Extension and Director of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.
“The knowledge and resources available here will help Kentuckians address real-world challenges, explore new ideas and move promising products from concept to market,” Hunter added.
Photo Credit: sabrina-hounshell
Categories: Kentucky, Business, Education