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Agricultural Innovation Partnership Program

The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) is now accepting submissions through March 15, 2024, for the Agricultural Innovation Partnership (AIP) program. This program will help catalyze innovation, generate new ideas, and support collaborative partnerships.

Submissions selected for the AIP program will receive matching funding from AURI. The information generated through the AIP-funded proposals will help entrepreneurs, businesses, and agricultural processors explore opportunities and technologies in the areas of bio-industrial products and food.

AURI will consider proposals spanning the value-added agricultural sector, however, proposals addressing the following topic areas are of particular interest:

Topic #1: Carbon Dioxide as an Asset
There has been considerable interest in sequestering Carbon Dioxide (CO2) generated across the region through underground transport and long-term storage.  Yet CO2 has many uses in current and emerging industries that offer an opportunity to use the region’s CO2 assets locally. The purpose of this study is to identify, catalog, and evaluate the potential for CO2 utilization in Minnesota and surrounding states.
Deliverable: Report and Webinar in collaboration with AURI.

Topic #2: Dewatering Technologies
Water presents a number of opportunities and challenges for agriculture and the value-added agricultural sector.  Not only is water a precious resource requiring conservation, it is also a resource that is costly to transport and remove from many agricultural products. The purpose of this study is to identify, catalog, and evaluate technologies to remove water from agricultural products and byproducts, providing efficiencies and cost-savings related to the transport and utilization of these products.
Deliverable: Report and Webinar in collaboration with AURI.

Topic #3: Innovative Applications for Ag Processing Particulates
Agricultural supply chains are known for minimizing waste and maximizing the value of every output. This is the result of economics and opportunity, as well as regulation and impacts on natural resources. As new and emerging industries come online, these facilities must grapple with emissions and the creation of particulates.  The purpose of this study is to identify, catalog, and evaluate technologies to add value to particulate emissions generated by the processing of agricultural products.
Deliverable: Report and Webinar in collaboration with AURI.

Topic #4: Open
Topic selected should further AURI’s mission to add value to Minnesota’s agricultural products, improve efficiencies in the processing of Minnesota’s agricultural products, and close information gaps.
Deliverable: To be determined

Past research through the program has produced applied research studies, as well as guides and tools to help businesses utilizing the state’s agricultural products. The information generated through the AIP program is public domain and shared broadly with the intent of helping producers, entrepreneurs, businesses, and agricultural processors explore opportunities and technologies.

Submissions should answer specific, practical questions, or explore ideas and technologies having practical business applications. Accepted entries must follow the AIP program guidelines and align with program goals set forth by AURI. AURI encourages partners to discuss initiative concepts with its staff prior to submission. The deadline for submitting a proposal is March 15, 2024. All submissions and questions should be directed to AURI Senior Director of Business Development and Commercialization, Jennifer Wagner-Lahr, at jwagner@auri.org.

Examples of past partnership projects include: