By Dan Lemke

North Mankato, Minn. — New uses for Minnesota soybeans recently got a boost from a collaborative agreement between AURI and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. A formal agreement, signed in December, facilitates the joint use of AURI and MSGA funds to further the research, development and marketing of soybean-based products.

“The big advantage for us is that it extends our checkoff dollars and the scope of our activity,” says Mike Youngerberg of the Soybean Growers. “It allows us to do things we couldn’t do on our own.”

“The agreement also gives AURI access to more technical and marketing information related to soybeans,” says Max Norris, AURI senior scientist. “And it helps us to leverage our funds.”

Commodity groups such as the Soybean Growers played a major role in AURI’s establishment nearly 10 years ago. Since then, the two organizations have joined forces on numerous occasions. The current agreement simply cements a working relationship to benefit the state’s soybean producers.

“When we are able to work closely with commodity groups,” Norris says, “it validates that AURI is delivering the services the original founders intended.”

AURI and MSGA have already funded several projects, such as the manufacture and marketing of soy-based Renaissance Fertilizers and testing of a soy-based hog odor control product (see story here). Youngerberg says more projects are in development.

As a result of the agreement, “AURI will function somewhat as the technical arm of the Soybean Growers,” says Norris, adding: “Our ultimate goal is to have this type of relationship with other commodity groups in the state.”