Cargill to Invest $90 Million in Fort Morgan Beef Plant as Part of “Factory of the Future” Initiative

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Cargill has announced a significant investment of nearly $90 million in its beef processing facility in Fort Morgan, Colorado, aimed at driving automation, boosting operational efficiency, and enhancing worker safety and inclusivity. This strategic move is part of the company’s broader “Factory of the Future” initiative, focused on modernizing operations through advanced technologies and innovation.

The multi-year investment builds on the nearly $24 million already funneled into the facility since 2021 for technology upgrades. One of the most transformative additions to the Fort Morgan plant will be CarVe, Cargill’s proprietary, patent-pending computer vision system. This cutting-edge technology measures red meat yield in real time, allowing managers to provide instant feedback to frontline employees and improve cutting techniques.

“Before CarVe, yield data was always yesterday’s news,” said Jarrod Gillig, Senior Vice President of Cargill’s North American Beef business. “Now, we’re making decisions in the moment and saving product that would’ve been lost. By applying smart technology to the problem, we’re getting more meat from every animal, reducing waste, and making protein production more efficient and sustainable from start to finish.”

The impact of such efficiency is substantial. According to the USDA, the U.S. produces over 27 billion pounds of beef annually. Even a modest one percent increase in yield could result in saving hundreds of millions of pounds of meat—especially important as the U.S. cattle supply reaches historic lows.

Beyond operational improvements, Cargill is also deepening its investment in the Fort Morgan community. Recognizing the region’s housing shortage, the company has supported a $40 million residential development project to provide housing for its employees. This includes the completion of 27 townhomes and an 81-unit apartment complex expected to open in the fall.

In addition, Cargill has provided more than $500,000 in community grants to local organizations such as the United Way, helping expand access to childcare and programs like first-time homebuyer classes to further support families in the area.

“Fort Morgan plays an important part in Cargill’s critical role as a food company to the nation and the world,” said Gillig. “By partnering with local ranchers and farmers in Colorado and the surrounding region, we’re working hard to produce more food with less impact—moving it efficiently to store shelves and family dinner tables across the country.”

This latest investment reflects Cargill’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community development while reinforcing its leadership in the protein production sector.