TARGAN celebrates new Raleigh headquarters

TARGAN, Inc., a biotechnology systems and animal ag-tech company dedicated to improving agriculture through targeted applications of cutting-edge technologies, celebrated the official opening of its new Raleigh-based headquarters. TARGAN is the first company of its kind to be based in the Raleigh city limits.

The event not only marked a significant milestone for TARGAN but also brought attention to the region’s ongoing growth in the life sciences industry.

Focused on transforming animal protein production, TARGAN's mission is to empower poultry, aquaculture and swine producers by enhancing efficiency and minimizing losses through automated animal evaluation and vaccination systems made possible by breakthrough technologies. The new headquarters will serve as TARGAN’s manufacturing site, focusing on high-speed imaging, feature recognition, artificial intelligence, robotics and microfluidics in systems tailored for the commercial animal protein production industry, the company said.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Wake County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Shinica Thomas and Raleigh Mayor Pro Tem Corey Branch joined TARGAN CEO Ramin Karimpour and other company officials and employees at the ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the new facility.

“North Carolina is the number one state for business, thanks to life sciences companies like TARGAN," said Gov. Cooper. “We look forward to seeing TARGAN continue to grow and succeed with the opening of its new headquarters here in Raleigh.”

Employing approximately 120 professionals, TARGAN envisions expanding its workforce to more than 200 employees by the close of 2024. The 100,000-square-foot space boasts state-of-the-art laboratories, open floor plan staff offices, advanced training facilities and a manufacturing floor. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees toured the facility with TARGAN executives.

“North Carolina has always been a leader in agriculture, and we are continuing that tradition as TARGAN pioneers exciting new capabilities that will help feed the world in a more sustainable way, enhance protein producing animals’ standard of care, and improve producers’ bottom line,” TARGAN CEO Ramin Karimpour said. “The Triangle – specifically Raleigh – is the perfect place to grow our business, thanks to its robust life sciences industry, exceptional talent pool and varied educational institutions. Our new state-of-the-art R&D and manufacturing facility will help us push the boundaries of innovation and deliver on our promise to transform animal protein production.”

The first two offerings TARGAN will bring to market include an automated, targeted vaccine delivery system and a gender identification system. The vaccine delivery system has the ability to precisely vaccinate up to 100,000 chicks per hour against harmful diseases, the company said. 

In parallel, the gender identification system is a unique and fully automated system that can determine the gender of individual day-old chicks to allow separate sex rearing by poultry producers. This approach reduces feed cost and waste and also optimizes bird nutrition, the company said.

With a track record of successfully commercializing products within the poultry sector, the company is now setting its sights on expanding offerings to encompass both aquaculture and livestock. The company's commitment remains focused on developing and installing AI-powered systems, with the Raleigh-based facility serving as the central hub for these endeavors globally.