Pork News Headlines: Tyson, Longhorn Vaccines, Kemin
A round-up of news headlines from the pork industry.
Tyson Breaks Ground on $180 Expansion
Tyson Foods Inc. recently broke ground on a $180-million expansion in its Caseyville, Ill., prepared foods plant. The expansion is expected to help bring 250 new jobs to the area when it opens in the summer of 2023.
The Caseyville facility produces Hillshire Farm and Jimmy Dean products currently. The company said in a release that the 170,000-square-foot expansion will allow for additional production of grab-and-go snacking and breakfast items.
The project will be completed in phases with the majority of work being complete by summer 2023.
Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics Appoints Torrison as Senior VP of Animal Health
Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics LLC, a One Health company developing vaccines and diagnostic tools for global public health and zoonosis concerns, announced that Jerry Torrison, DVM, PhD, has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Animal Health. He brings over 30 years of experience as a veterinarian and diagnostician, and will lead the expansion of Longhorn’s animal health business in the U.S. and global One Health arenas.
In his role, Torrison will interface with government officials, academics and industry leaders to strengthen and expand the role PrimeStore Molecular Transport Medium (MTM) and the company’s other diagnostic tools play in providing safer, faster and more accurate surveillance and diagnosis of high consequence animal diseases such as African swine fever and avian influenza, the company said in a release. He will work with top reference laboratories and laboratory networks around the world to expand their capacity to respond to outbreaks such as the current high-pathogenic avian influenza outbreak.
Additionally, he will support the vaccine group at Longhorn. The company’s universal influenza vaccine candidate, LHNVD-105, will start Phase I human trials in early 2023 and has the potential to play an important role in preventing outbreaks in pigs, poultry and possibly other animals, the company said. In doing so, LHNVD-105 could have a significant impact on animal health and prevent the spread of the virus from animals to humans, a leading cause of pandemic strains.
Torrison is currently a professor at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and leads the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory where his recent research has focused primarily on diagnostic approaches, disease surveillance and control methods for viral diseases of pigs.
For more information, visit www.LHNVD.com.
Kemin Industries Celebrates “61 since ‘61” with Habitat for Humanity Build
Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer, is celebrating 61 years since the company’s founding in 1961 with a year-long “61 since ‘61” anniversary campaign. As a global company operating in diverse industries, Kemin made a commitment in 2021 to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Converting to clean energy, including solar power, is a key part of Kemin’s sustainability journey, the company said in a release.
Kemin’s on-ground and roof-mounted solar arrays power 100% of its 90,000-square-foot headquarters building with more than 1.046 million kilowatt-hours of energy annually. As one of the largest corporate solar installations in the state of Iowa, Kemin’s on-ground solar panels are part of an active tracking system that follows the sun’s path in the sky for 20% more production power and greater efficiency.
For 61 years, Kemin has focused on transforming tomorrow through its work today, and sustainability, as well as serving the community and those in need, is essential to fostering a better future. Partnering with Habitat for Humanity, one of its longest-standing community partners both in the U.S. and globally, Kemin hosted an onsite build at its Des Moines campus, where employees volunteered to construct interior and exterior walls of a Habitat house that will be completed during the Iowa State Fair in August, the company said in a release.
As the lead sponsor of Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity’s first Iowa State Fair build since 2005, Kemin team members will also be assisting with two build days at the fairgrounds.
To learn more, visit www.kemin.com/61since61.
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