Food processing company Marfrig Global Foods SA said Aug. 6 that it entered into an agreement with agricultural products Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. to develop and produce plant-based meat products that will be sold in Brazil.

As part of the deal, Chicago-based ADM will supply the main raw material used in the plant-based meat items, like burgers, while the Brazilian beef producer will produce, distribute and sell the products in local food service and retail channels. A specific brand will be launched for the plant-based products, according to the release.

The companies will begin production of the plant-based burgers at Marfrig's west-central Brazil plant in Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso. ADM will directly ship part of the raw materials to be used in the process from its local facility in Campo Grande.

The products will be sold by the end of 2019, with plans of exporting them later. The partnership will supply the plant-based meats to food service clients during the launch's initial phase and then sell to retail channels.

"The vegetable burger comes to complement Marfrig's product portfolio and serve all market channels in which we operate," Marfrig CEO Eduardo Miron said in a statement.