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Volume 36, No.2

At a glance: Containers and packaging made up 28.1 percent of U.S. municipal solid waste in 2018 (more than 82 million tons). Read full summary ▾ Recycling rates vary widely…

“We have unparalleled agricultural champions, a deep bench of collaborators and visionaries, and the know-how to both set and execute our strategic direction.” This issue of Ag Innovation News highlights…

Minnesota has the agricultural resources, energy demand, and technical expertise to become a national leader in anaerobic digestion. The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) is helping build the connections and…

Carolyn Olson’s nine years of service on the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute’s (AURI) Board of Directors will end in January 2027. Representing the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, Olson has brought…

One January evening in 2011, Mark Schiller raised a glass of a homemade White Russian to his lips and tasted opportunity. The cocktail, and the coffee liqueur in it, were…

The emerging maritime biofuel market is the “biggest, ready-now” opportunity for U.S. farmers, according to Sanchit Mulmuley, Head of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) for Roeslein Renewables. The maritime sector could…

MBOLD, an initiative of the GREATER MSP Partnership, recently released two reports as part of its Protein Catalyst initiative: one on canola and the other on winter camelina. These reports…

“We have unparalleled agricultural champions, a deep bench of collaborators and visionaries, and the know-how to both set and execute our strategic direction.” Another growing season will soon be in…

HempCoat is revolutionizing drywall construction, so it’s only fitting it was selected to compete in the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota contest. The contest highlights innovative…

AURI leaders will help shape conversations about Minnesota’s food and agriculture economy at two key October events. AURI’s Executive Director Shannon Schlecht and Senior Director of Business Development and Commercialization…

Could industrial hemp help build a more resilient animal-feed system? A new report prepared by AURI for the MBOLD Coalition explores hemp seed meal’s nutritional value, sustainability potential, and path…

A promising ingredient or food product takes more than a good idea to reach customers. AURI helps Minnesota producers and food businesses test ingredient performance, work through processing and food…

Minnesota agriculture could play a key role in supplying lower-carbon fuels to the global shipping industry. On Dec. 16, AURI will host the 2026 Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable at the…

At a glance: Biodegradable plastic breaks down through microorganisms into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass, a different process than petroleum-based plastic that simply fragments over time. Read full summary ▾…

At a glance: Biobased products added $489 billion to the U.S. economy in 2021, showing real opportunity for new agricultural products, but a market that size doesn’t guarantee any single…

At a glance: A pilot plant tests a process at a scale between small lab experiments and full commercial production, generating the real data a business needs before committing to…

Held at the Minneapolis Convention Center, the expo brings together ingredient manufacturers, food companies, R&D staff, product developers, technical sales teams, processors, and innovation leaders. AURI will be at Booth…

AURI released a free online toolkit to help food and beverage businesses prepare for working with contract manufacturers. It includes templates, checklists, questionnaires, and step‑by‑step guidance. The toolkit helps businesses…

AURI’s support for Minnesota-grown crops is highlighted at the University of Minnesota’s 175th anniversary celebration through a new Golden Gopher ice cream flavor featuring aronia berries from Wright Farms. Paul…

Event showcases environmental benefits of applying a soy-based product to asphalt roof shingles CROOKSTON, Minn. (July 1, 2026) — The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) and the Minnesota Soybean Research…

Free online event on June 17 will overview how Minnesota can support cleaner global shipping CROOKSTON, Minn. (June 2, 2026) — The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) – a nonprofit…

Experts share ideas and insights to bolster Minnesota’s food and beverage industry The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), a Minnesota nonprofit that assists several hundred food businesses and entrepreneurs each…

Strategic collaboration to support agricultural and bioindustrial applications of anaerobic digestion The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) and Swedish company BPC Instruments, a global provider of analytical instruments for biogas,…

Mary Hartman didn’t intend to be a pioneer in the horse feed industry; it just worked out that way, and it all began out of love for a horse. ‘I…

The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute is conducting a multifaceted study of the environmental and economic benefits of capturing and repurposing nutrients from agriculturally derived products. The study, in collaboration with…

Farmer-owned cooperatives have long been a foundational mechanism for Minnesota growers to work together for collective benefit. The first Minnesota farmer cooperatives date back to the 1890s. For 15 years,…

Years ago, Paul Benson sat down with his two sons for a conversation that would ultimately reshape not only his family’s future but the future of his hometown. A lifelong…

This issue of Ag Innovation News highlights AURI’s first-term Board Director, Rep. Paul Anderson. Rep. Anderson is a fourth-generation family farmer from Starbuck, Minnesota, and a graduate of the University…