AURI was created and funded by the Minnesota legislature to foster long-term economic benefit through increased business and employment opportunities to rural Minnesota through:

• Research and development of innovative new uses or value improvements for Minnesota agricultural commodities and products, including the identification and expansion of new and existing markets;
• Implementation of basic and applied research to support innovation, technology and growth of the agricultural industry; and
• The development of renewable energy and biobased opportunities from Minnesota agricultural commodities and coproducts.

“Welcome to the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute's Web site. We think you will find this site to be interesting and informative.

My name is Teresa Spaeth. I am Executive Director for AURI. We are a nonprofit corporation that works to improve the economy of rural Minnesota through new, value added uses for our farm commodities. AURI is a very diverse organization, offering assistance to Minnesota businesses and cooperatives. Our goal is to improve the long-term health of our state’s economy through new uses for our commodities.

Our assistance comes in many forms. We offer technical assistance to help with product development. We offer food safety training and assistance with nutritional issues. Our staff also does research on fats and oils, they investigate alternative crops like hybrid poplars and find ways to utilize low value items like crop residue and food waste.

We also offer assistance to help move a product from concept to reality. A great idea does little good unless it is able to be used. For this reason, we offer support to help new ag-based products succeed. Those successes help create jobs, open new markets for commodities and keep our economy strong.

AURI also partners with numerous other organizations to help increase our impact. With limited resources it is important to team with others whenever possible. This expands our reach and increases the benefits.

I hope you enjoy our site. It is continually changing, so visit us often.”

— Teresa Spaeth, Executive Director, AURI

AURI is a unique and dynamic nonprofit organization working to develop innovative uses for agricultural commodities.

AURI provides scientific technical assistance and a targeted network of resources to develop value-added uses for crops and coproducts. We provide applied research services and product development assistance to create new ag-based products and help move them to market. With unique facilities and a highly-functioning, professional staff, AURI is a one-of-a-kind resource.

AURI provides assistance to Minnesota businesses looking to develop new products using ag-based ingredients. These projects are treated with propriety and all information is kept confidential. But we are also very proactive in diving into emerging trends to determine what opportunities they may present for Minnesota businesses and processors. This public information is generated as part of AURI’s efforts to inform people about promising opportunities.

But AURI does much more, including facilitating innovation in value-added development in areas such as renewable energy.

Occasionally AURI has career opportunities for innovative, enthusiastic and committed professionals. Current listings are updated regularly.

This website offers a good look at what we are all about. If you have questions or can’t find what you are looking for, contact our communications department for more information.