Follow AURI and its continuing story of innovation through our podcast, publications, videos, press, and news releases.
By Dan Lemke Mary Hartman didn’t plan to start a business, nor did she intend to build an industry, but she’s doing both in a span of just seven years.…
Geographically, David Eiynck hasn’t moved far in his life. He lives and farms less than a mile from where he grew up in Mahnomen County. However, through innovation and entrepreneurship,…
People aren’t likely born with an innovation gene, but if there was such a thing, the Asmus family of rural Winthrop, Minn. would likely have it in their DNA. The…
The explosion in e-commerce means Americans receive more home deliveries than ever and that trend shows no signs of slowing. According to Statista, over 20 billion packages were delivered in…
Milk Specialties Global is an Eden Prairie-based dairy processing company that develops high-quality nutritional ingredients for livestock producers, as well as milk and whey protein ingredients for human nutrition and functional foods.
The path to commercial success is rarely linear. Instead, it’s often chock full of twists, turns and unexpected challenges, something to which Tom and Jenni Smude can likely attest. The…
The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), named The Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) of Benson, Minn., its 2017 Ag Innovator of the Year. The award, which has been given annually…
Each year for more than a decade, the AURI Board of Directors bestows the Ag Innovator of the Year Award, its highest honor, on the client company or entrepreneur it feels created a major impact in the areas of product innovation, uniqueness and commercialization potential. This year AURI was pleased to name Kay’s Naturals as the Ag Innovator of the Year.
The EarthClean Corporation is being honored in 2014 for their work in creating an environmentally friendly fire suppressant using corn and soybeans. The company creates TetraKO, a biodegradable water enhancer…
Soybean meal, while an excellent animal feed, still can’t be fed to a whole range of animals as soluble sugars in soybean meal are very disruptive to the digestive tract…
Midwest Ag Enterprises (Marshall, Minn.) and TechMix (Stewart, Minn.) have been named Ag Innovators of the Year by the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI). The award is given annually to…
Bio-Plastic Solutions, a Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, company, was named Ag Innovator of the Year by the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI). The Ag Innovator Award is a recognition AURI began…
FibroMinn burns about 700,000 tons of poultry litter collected from local farmers to produce 55 megawatts of power. The ash from the plant travels a 500-foot conveyer over to North…
Twin Cities-based Suntava regards its proprietary hybrids of purple corn as a treasure trove of healthful food ingredients, from a natural red colorant, to milled components for everything from snack…
Diversification is clearly a deeply held value at the Kreidermacher Farm in Altura, Minnesota. The farm is home to a heritage hog operation, a greenhouse/nursery retail company and a biomass…
Grass grows well in northwestern Minnesota. Being a turf seed producer like Northern Excellence Seed still means being choosy, though. It rejects about 20 percent of the seeds coming through…
“I was in the hog business for 25 years before launching USA Solutions,” remembers Darryl Metcalfe. “No matter how hard you tried you couldn’t get the rubber mats clean enough,…
FUMPA BioFuels (part of Farmers Union Industries) was one of the pioneers of Minnesota’s biodiesel industry. Organizers began the process of setting up the plant and getting all the necessary…
In 2005, SoyMor opened as the nation’s largest biodiesel manufacturing facility and the second to be built in Minnesota. The refinery has the capability to produce 30 million gallons of…
The farmers who formed the board of Minnesota Soybean Processors (MnSP) in Brewster in 1999 immediately joined an effort to convince the Minnesota legislature to support a new, greener form…
What’s better than turning a sow’s ear into a silk purse? How about turning chicken processing plant waste into rich garden soil? Mississippi Topsoils, located in Cold Spring, Minnesota, takes…
Swheat Scoop, a renewably-sourced cat litter, was initially made by Pet Care Systems—now part of Farmers Union Industries. “Our product is all natural, because it’s 100 percent wheat,” says Tom…