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AURI events

AURI hosts trainings and events to benefit interested members of the public. Check each event listing for details.

For a list of upcoming webinars, click here.

Upcoming AURI events

MN Renewable Energy Roundtable 2025: Building Minnesota’s Biogas Future

This year’s Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable will explore ways to secure Minnesota’s biogas future and preview a biogas roadmap that AURI will publish in 2026. It is essential that we tackle issues around biogas holistically. The event will dive into the interconnected systems that drive biogas and renewable natural gas, from manure to landﬁlls, food… Continue Reading MN Renewable Energy Roundtable 2025: Building Minnesota’s Biogas Future

Past AURI events

2024 Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable

EVENT RECAP VIDEO FULL EVENT RECORDING Theme: Exploring Energy Efficiency Opportunities for Minnesota’s Value-Added Ag/Food Processing Sector This hybrid event focused on

Soy Rejuvenates Product Demonstration

When: Tuesday, July 16 Time: 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Where: 503 LaBree Ave N, Thief River Falls, MN Registration: Free and Open to All— RSVP

New Uses Forum 2024: Bioindustrial Innovations and Opportunities

This year’s New Uses Forum will take place on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at the Mayo Health System Event Center in Mankato, MN. The

2023 Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable

Slide deck 1 Slide deck 2 Slide deck 3 Slide deck 4 Theme: The Hydrogen Economy— Evolving Rural and Agricultural Opportunities This hybrid

Short-Term and Long-Term Strategies for Livestock Hide and Byproduct Utilization

The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) is proud to present a short course for local and regional meat and poultry processing sectors focused on

Transitioning a Meat Business Short Course

The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) is proud to present a short course for local and regional meat and poultry processors focused on transitioning

Hemp Erosion Control Field Day & Product Demonstration

When: September 27, 2023 Time: 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Where: Monticello, MN You are invited to join the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) and the

Webinar Wednesday: Perspectives on Protein Sustainability, Part 1 of 2 – Setting the Stage

Are you interested in learning more about prevalent initiatives across the sustainable proteins landscape and their application? If so, you won’t want to miss

Fields of Innovation: Growing and Developing Markets for Minnesota Oilseeds

AURI Connects: Fields of Innovation — Growing and Developing Markets for Minnesota Oilseeds How will Minnesota farmers meet the demand for additional oilseed crops

Spotlight on AURI’s Ag Innovator of the Year

Webinar Wednesday: Spotlight on AURI’s Ag Innovator of the Year The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute’s (AURI) Ag Innovator of the Year Award has lauded

A Recap of AURI’s 2023 New Uses Forum and Bold Open Reverse Pitch

Webinar Wednesday: A Recap of AURI’s News Uses Forum and Bold Open Reverse Pitch The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), Compeer Financial and Georgetown

New Uses Forum 2023: Exploring the Intersection of Innovation and Investment in Food and Agriculture

On April 11, the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) and its partners, Compeer Financial and Georgetown’s Rural Opportunity Initiative, are bringing together some of

Fields of Innovation: Sustainability and Decarbonization Opportunities for Agricultural Supply Chains, Part 3 of 3

AURI Connects: Fields of Innovation — Sustainability and Debarbonization Opportunities for Agricultural Supply Chains (Part Three of a Three-Part Series) This event is the

Helping Farmers Create New Value-Added Products Through AURI’s USDA Agricultural Innovation Center Program Grant Award

Webinar Wednesday: Helping Farmers Create New Value-Added Products Through AURI’s USDA Agricultural Innovation Center Program Grant Award Recently, the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)

Financing A Meat Processing Facility (Webinar)

AURI Connects: Financing A Meat Processing Facility Webinar Are you thinking about starting or growing a meat processing business and wondering where in the

Fields of Innovation: Sustainability and Decarbonization Opportunities for Agricultural Supply Chains, Part 2 of 3

AURI Connects: Fields of Innovation — Sustainability and Debarbonization Opportunities for Agricultural Supply Chains (Part Two of a Three-Part Series) This event is the

Dynamics of Shared Use Commercial Kitchen Business Models in Minnesota

Webinar Wednesday: Dynamics of Shared Use Commercial Kitchen Business Models in Minnesota In an effort to develop a better understanding of the shared commercial

Fields of Innovation: Sustainability and Decarbonization Opportunities for Agricultural Supply Chains, Part 1 of 3

AURI Connects: Fields of Innovation — Sustainability and Debarbonization Opportunities for Agricultural Supply Chains (Part One of a Three-Part Series) This event is the

Ecosystem Partner Grow North’s Transition to Naturally Minnesota

Webinar Wednesday: Ecosystem Partner Grow North’s Transition to Naturally Minnesota Have you heard the news about Grow North’s (an organization devoted to creating an

Meat and Poultry Processing Technical Assistance Opportunities

Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) allocated millions of dollars of federal funding to support the resiliency and competitiveness of the meat

2022 Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable

Below are links to the PowerPoint presentations from the event Slide deck 1 Slide deck 2 Slide deck 3 Theme: Renewable Natural Gas from

Clean Label & Ultra-processed Foods: The Dichotomy in Consumer Decision Making

This webinar focused on plant-based foods, clean eating and processed and ultra-processed foods, highlighting what consumers understand about food products and what they think

Oktoberfest — A Celebration of Brewing in Minnesota

Oktoberfest is an annual festival hosted in Munich, Germany that occurs over a 17-day period this year, ending the first Sunday in October. The

Understanding Food Product Shelf Life for Scaling Businesses

As food businesses scale from local to regional or national distribution, decisions on package type, product formulation and production process will have an impact

From Setback to Success: How Failure Can Create Opportunity

AURI Connects: Fields of Innovation — From Setback to Success: How Failure Can Create Opportunity Failure isn’t bad… if we learn from it. Minnesota

Exploring Food and Fiber Market Opportunities for Minnesota’s Hemp Supply Chain

AURI Connects: Fields of Innovation — Exploring Food and Fiber Market Opportunities for Minnesota’s Hemp Supply Chain Hemp is a cash crop that can

Nutrient Recycling for Crop Production

Supplemental nutrients are a critical component for crop production in the U.S. and around the world. The rising cost of natural gas combined with

Growing Indoors: The Future of Controlled Environment Agriculture in Minnesota (Part Two of a Two-Part Series)

AURI Connects: Fields of Innovation — Growing Indoors: The Future of Controlled Environment Agriculture in Minnesota (Part Two of a Two-Part Series) The Controlled

Federal SBIR/STTR Funding for Novel Product R&D in Agricultural Sectors Special Informational Virtual Event Series, Part 1

April 15, 2022 12:00-1:00 p.m. CT Zoom Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LW4EexvzRryO4irMv_p1Ew AURI Connects and Minnesota SBIR/STTR Accelerator are proud to present this two-part webinar series. Join

Spotlight on AURI’s Ag Innovator of the Year

The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute’s (AURI) Ag Innovator of the Year Award has lauded innovative Minnesotans for more than a decade. Each year, our

New Uses Forum 2022: Exploring the Intersection of Sustainability, Innovation and Investment in Food and Agriculture

We invite you to attend the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute’s 4th Annual New Uses Forum on March 23 & 24 in Brooklyn Park, MN.

Spotlight on AURI’s Partnership with USDA’s Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program

Since 2010, AURI has received eight USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDGs) enhancing AURI’s technical assistance through services to foster cooperatively and mutually owned

Growing Indoors: The Future of Controlled Environment Agriculture in Minnesota (Part One of a Two-Part Series)

AURI Connects: Fields of Innovation — Growing Indoors: The Future of Controlled Environment Agriculture in Minnesota (Part One of a Two-Part Series) The Controlled

The Value of Cultivated Wild Rice

In this webinar, you’ll hear from experts in the field about the health benefits of Wild Rice, its potential as a plant-based source of

AURI’s 2021 Year-in-Review and Highlights from Other Ecosystem Partners

This webinar will showcase AURI’s 2021 Year-in-Review and highlights from other ecosystem partners. Attendees will also learn about the many efforts underway to foster long-term

Broadening Horizons: Minnesota’s Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem – Themes From A 2021 Assessment

This webinar will focus on themes derived from the industry assessment of over 69 food, agriculture, and ecosystem partners across Minnesota, including a view

Current Insights in Anaerobic Digestion for Renewable Natural Gas (Webinar)

Opportunities exist to make renewable natural gas (RNG) an increasingly important part of the Minnesota renewable energy landscape. The agricultural and processing industries can

Value-Added Opportunities for Tofu Okara (Webinar)

Please join the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Northern Crops Institute, and Back When Foods to learn about efforts to identify value-added uses for okara

Opportunities and Challenges in Minnesota’s Aquaculture Industry (Webinar Wednesday)

Join AURI Connects: Webinar Wednesday on July 14th for an overview of a 2020 consumer research study examining the potential for strengthening Minnesota’s food

Breeding Wheat That’s Easier to Eat: A New Future for an Old Crop (Fields of Innovation)

For thousands of years wheat has been a staple in human diets due to its unmatched unique viscoelastic properties. In recent history, wheat has

AURI Marshall Facilities Capability Showcase (Webinar Wednesday)

Join us on June 9th to hear from AURI team members in Marshall, MN as they highlight various lab capabilities which support biobased, coproduct,

Stewardship and Sustainability: Regenerative Beef Production in MN (Webinar)

To mark National Beef Month, join us on May 28th to hear from a panel of Minnesota beef producers and industry leaders working to

AURI Coproduct Pilot Lab Capability Showcase (Webinar Wednesday)

Join us on May 12th to hear from AURI team members in Waseca, MN as they highlight their lab capabilities which support renewable energy,

Into the Field: Developing Minnesota’s Future Ag Innovators (Webinar)

On April 30th, AURI Connects: Fields of Innovation welcomes ag educators and students to share their insights into how different agricultural education programs help

Green Ammonia’s Future in Minnesota Agriculture (Webinar)

Join AURI Connects: Webinar Wednesday on April 14th for a technology overview of the systems that support production of green ammonia and the economic

The Plant-Based Opportunity for U.S. Agriculture (Webinar)

The Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA) is one of the leaders in identifying and building new opportunities in the plant-based foods industry. Join AURI

Paving the Way for Ag-based Asphalt Preservation Solutions (Webinar)

On March 10th, Dr. Jimmy Gosse will guide participants on a five-year road trip through the case study on the use of RePlay Agricultural

Growing Markets for Winter Oilseeds: Camelina and Pennycress (Webinar)

Join us on February 26th to learn more about winter oilseed crops, their potential uses, and how cash cover crops can provide producers with

Discussing Food and Beverage Manufacturing in Minnesota (Webinar)

The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Region Nine Development Commission and The Amazing Chickpea discuss Minnesota’s food and beverage

The Future Of Farmer-Focused Ag Technologies (Webinar)

Join us on January 29th for the next AURI Connects: Fields of Innovation webinar. This month’s webinar focuses on the development of innovative, farmer-focused ag technologies. We

Impacts of COVID-19 on Minnesota’s Food and Ag Supply Chain (Webinar Wednesday)

In July 2020, a coalition of Minnesota food and agriculture groups partnered to survey processors and manufacturers to better understand the supply chain effects

Fields of Innovation: Commercializing New Ag Opportunities

The AURI Connects: Fields of Innovation platform focuses on creating a network of stakeholders across the value chain to support the commercialization of new

Making Stewardship Pay: Ecosystem Services Markets (Webinar)

Look at work done in Minnesota to test and develop new, market-based models to provide financial incentives to farmers that implement practices – such

Sustainable Packaging Options for Ground Beef (Webinar Wednesday)

Dr. Claire Sand of Packaging Technology and Research presents sustainable packaging concepts for fresh ground beef that can improve consumer confidence by providing tangible

Exploring Market Opportunities for Kernza® Perennial Grain (Webinar)

Tessa Peters, Crop Stewardship Manager for The Land Institute, and Christopher Abbott, Co-Founder of Sprowt Labs and Perennial Pantry, discuss market opportunities for a

Building an Industrial Hemp Industry in Minnesota (Webinar Wednesday)

Please join AURI on October 14th for a webinar presentation on the current state of the industrial hemp industry in Minnesota and opportunities surrounding

Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable (Virtual)

September 10, 2020 at 10 am – Please join AURI and our Renewable Energy Roundtable partners for a virtual event focusing on Resiliency and

Reducing and Upcycling Minnesota Food Processing Waste (Webinar Wednesday)

Dr. Claire Sand of Packaging Technology and Research shares the results of a novel research project focused on identifying opportunities to sustainably reduce food

Local Sourcing For Food Manufacturing In Minnesota (Webinar Wednesday)

Please join Elena Byrne from Renewing the Countryside at AURI Connects’ August 2020 Webinar Wednesday. The “Local Sourcing for Food Manufacturing in Minnesota” webinar

Reducing Anti-Nutrients Related to Wheat Digestibility (Webinar Wednesday)

Please join University of Minnesota project researchers Dr. Jim Anderson and Dr. George Annor as they discuss current findings in a multi-year research project

A Landscape View of the Minnesota Market for Halal and Kosher Meat (Webinar Wednesday)

Date: June 10, 2020 Time: 12 pm – 1 pm, CDT Register: AURI Connects: Webinar Wednesday The market for halal and kosher meat in Minnesota holds

Packaging Guide for Scalable Food Businesses (Webinar Wednesday)

May 13, 2020 12 pm – 1 pm, CDT Continue Reading Packaging Guide for Scalable Food Businesses (Webinar Wednesday)

Building an Industrial Hemp Industry in Minnesota

November 6, 2019 at 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm University of St. Thomas Schulze School Continue Reading Building an Industrial Hemp Industry in

Midwest Bioenergy Celebration

October 23, 2019
Koda Energy LLC
975 3rd Avenue West, Shakopee, MN
Continue Reading Midwest Bioenergy Celebration

From Field To Glass: Innovations In Brewing And Distilling

October 10, 2019
The LAB
767 N. Eustis Street, Suite 115, St. Paul, MN
Continue Reading From Field To Glass: Innovations In Brewing And

New Uses Forum 2019: Accelerating Ag Innovation and Investment

March 27 & 28, 2019
Marriott West, St. Louis Park, MN Continue Reading New Uses Forum 2019: Accelerating Ag Innovation and Investment

Open Innovation Reverse Pitch Event

March 27, 2019, 4 p.m. Continue Reading Open Innovation Reverse Pitch Event