Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer based in Des Moines, on Thursday broke ground for a new quality control laboratory that will be built at its worldwide headquarters in Des Moines. The new $8 million facility will include 15,000 square feet of functional showcase labs to exhibit Kemin’s analytical capabilities, which ensure the activity, potency and specificity of Kemin’s finished goods, the company said in a press release. More than 30 scientists from Kemin’s human and animal health and nutrition, food technologies and pet food business units will join the Central Analytical Laboratory for Target Analytes and Xenobiotics lab, which manages the testing of raw materials’ hazards, including dioxins, pesticides and antibiotics. Bringing together Kemin experts from different specialties into one space will improve efficiency and collaboration of analytical analysis, a strategy the company used in 2017 when it completed a five-year, $125.5 million overall investment at its worldwide corporate headquarters. “Building a new QC lab reinforces our commitment to delivering on our promise to customers and consumers that what they receive from Kemin is the result of our scientific expertise, innovative technologies and dedication to doing more to make our world better,” said Chris Nelson, Kemin’s president and CEO. Due to the pandemic the groundbreaking was not open to the public; a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held in 2021 when the QC lab opens.