DuPont Nutrition & Health, Copenhagen, Denmark, said it completed construction on a new state-of-the-art probiotics fermentation unit at its Rochester, N.Y., facility. The unit, now the largest of its kind in the world, is part of a multiphase, nearly $100 million investment to expand DuPont’s probiotics capacity.

DuPont said the fermentation unit is fully operational and will serve as a resource in propagating bacteria and enabling high potency, stability and efficacy of probiotics. The unit will also optimize DuPont’s production capability, enabling the company to increase the pace of delivery to customers and the market.

“Completing the construction on our new fermentation unit marks a major milestone in delivering essential innovations for our customers and achieving our ambitious probiotics growth plans,” said Matthias Heinzel, president, DuPont Nutrition & Health. “Today, we are witnessing a significant rise in demand for probiotics as consumers make health and wellness a daily priority. We are proud to continue to deliver on our commitment to invest in this fast-growing segment.”

DuPont said it also completed a probiotics capacity expansion at its Madison, Wis., facility in late 2018. The investment was used to upgrade equipment and increase the pace of new product development. It significantly improved delivery times on pilot material for clinical trials and customer evaluations.