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Value-Added Opportunities and Alternative Uses for Wheat and Barley

Read the complete report: Value-Added Opportunities and Alternative Uses  for Wheat and Barley

About This Report
The overarching objective of the “Value-Added Opportunities and Alternative Uses for Wheat and Barley” research initiative was to identify opportunities that can develop Minnesota’s agricultural economy as it relates to wheat and barley production so as to capture higher value traditional and non-traditional end-use markets and products.  To accomplish this, the initiative was structured in two phases. The first phase involved doing an update of the report, “New and Improved Wheat Uses Audit,” commissioned by the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) in 2002. This phase determined what had changed since the report was completed and whether any additional value-added and alternative uses surfaced. While the NAWG report focused on wheat, the study was expanded to also explore value-added and alternative uses for barley. As with the NAWG report, the study focused on identifying market opportunities and barriers that need to be addressed, as well as the development of benchmarks and product specifications of identified product streams.

Project Outcomes
Like the NAWG report, this report is intended to serve as a foundation for initiatives to unlock and capture the full value of U.S. wheat and barley. Additionally, Phase II of AURI’s initiative involves disseminating the outcomes of the report in a structured and deliberate manner so as to identify one or more potential opportunities for implementation. Industry forums will be held to get this information in the hands of businesspeople and entrepreneurs who may be able to take these new ideas through to commercialization with the help of AURI and other partners.

Partners
A special thank you to Dr. Neil C. Doty, N. C. Doty & Associates, LLC and Praxis Strategy Group for their work on this study.  The support of the Minnesota Wheat Research  & Promotion Council and the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers are gratefully acknowledged.  This report would not have been possible without their partnership. We also acknowledge the Minnesota Barley Growers Association for their contributions to this study as well.

Questions?
For questions or additional information, please contact AURI at 800.279.5010.