Cargill to invest US$90M in automation at its Fort Morgan beef plant

USA – Cargill Inc. has announced a plan to spend nearly US$90 million on automation and technology upgrades at its Fort Morgan, Colorado, beef facility.

The move is part of the company’s broader Factory of the Future program, which focuses on long-term operational improvements through advanced technologies.

One of the key innovations being introduced is CarVe, Cargill’s own computer vision system designed to measure red meat yields in real time.

Unlike previous systems that relied on historical data, CarVe allows on-site managers to monitor output immediately and provide feedback to workers during production.

Jarrod Gillig, senior vice president of Cargill’s North American Beef division, said the system allows the facility to recover meat that might otherwise go to waste by improving trimming accuracy as it happens.

Cargill says even small gains can have a significant impact, noting that a 1% increase in yield could translate into hundreds of millions of pounds of additional meat entering the supply chain.

The company points to historically low cattle numbers in the United States as a reason why maximizing every animal’s output is especially important at this time.

Installation of the new technology and automation equipment will take place over the next several years, with the goal of improving safety, efficiency, and overall meat recovery.

Since 2021, Cargill has already spent nearly US$24 million on technological improvements at the Fort Morgan site.

In addition to facility upgrades, the company has supported local infrastructure needs, including a US$40 million employee housing development aimed at easing the region’s housing shortage.

The housing project includes 27 completed townhomes and an 81-unit apartment complex scheduled to open by fall 2025.

Cargill continues to work with area farmers and ranchers to source livestock and keep production aligned with local agricultural networks.

Gillig emphasized the plant’s role in helping the company meet domestic and global food demands through more efficient processing methods.

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