AURI conducts applied research initiatives to raise awareness of emerging commercial products, evaluate key trends, and help derisk future industry opportunities.
For growers, governments, supply chain sectors and end users who are engaged in the emerging hemp industry in Minnesota.
As part of its Protein Catalyst initiative, the MBOLD Coalition commissioned an assessment to evaluate opportunities to incorporate industrial hemp seed meal into animal feed rations and contribute to the…
Update to 2023 AURI Report “Securing a Better Future Through the Development of Green Ammonia Fertilizer Pathways” Read the full report
Potential for cost savings is an important driver for new asphalt pavement preservation techniques. This study evaluated the cost effectiveness of RePlay Agricultural Oil and Preservation Agent® (“RePlay”), a biobased…
This report illustrates the impact of the novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID) on supply chains for Minnesota food and agriculture manufacturers and processors. A collaboration providing services to Minnesota food and agricultural economic sectors wanted to better understand the supply chain effects of COVID, the resulting pain points and what may be needed to help identify potential new services, resources and supportive actions that would improve supply chain resiliency for Minnesota businesses.
AURI is pleased to present this preview of an upcoming Minnesota Hemp Value Chain Analysis report to the growers, governments, supply chain sectors and end users who are engaged in the emerging hemp industry in Minnesota.
Information detailed in this study guide can be utilized to make informed decisions on the feasibility of utilizing a biomass system, whether as a main source of heating and cooling or as an auxiliary system. It serves as a potential opportunity to reduce heating and cooling cost, especially if the current energy source being used is propane or fuel oil.
The potential long-term outcome of this research is the development and promotion of on-farm energy production using a combination of corn stover and distillers grain as a feedstock to improve the sustainability of corn production with biochar amendments.
Thin stillage from corn ethanol plants is currently utilized by adding it to DDG and subsequently drying the blended streams to yield DDGS. This is convenient since it avoids treating the thin stillage as a waste stream. Generating new value-added products from the thin stillage stream offers an opportunity to add more positive cash flow to the equation independent of corn prices.
Agbioscience is a critical component of Northeast Minnesota’s past and future. A new research report shows that in 2013 agbioscience supported $2.1 billion in economic impact—seven percent of the region’s total economic output. And with the right steps and action, agbioscience could drive additional long-term prosperity in this region of the state—potentially growing to an estimated $2.9 billion in output in 2016.
This project was driven by the building and trade industry’s desire for an alternative to many petroleum base resins. The industry is looking for cost stability, sustainable and comparable bio resin options.
Agbioscience is a critical component of Northwest Minnesota’s past and future. A new research report shows that in 2013 agbioscience supported $789.4 million in economic impact—five percent of the region’s total economic output. And with the right steps and action, agbioscience could drive additional long-term prosperity in this region of the state—potentially growing to $1.3 billion in economic output in 2016.
Agbioscience is a critical component of Central Minnesota’s past and future. A new research report shows that in one year alone agbioscience supported $2 billion in economic impact—four percent of the region’s total economic output. And with the right steps and action, agbioscience could drive additional long-term prosperity in this region of the state—potentially growing to $3.1 billion in economic output in 2016.
Agbioscience is a critical component of Southwest Minnesota’s past and future. A new research report shows that in one year alone agbioscience supported $2.6 billion in economic impact—eight percent of the region’s total economic output. And with the right steps and action, agbioscience could drive additional long-term prosperity in this region of the state—potentially growing to $4.3 billion in economic output in 2016.
“This report helps us understand what the agbioscience industry contributes to our region’s economy,” says Sandy King, interim CEO for West Central Initiative. “Through this information, we hope to be able to better understand this industry and how we can work together to grow west central Minnesota’s economy.”
“This research report reinforces what we know is a critical strength for our region—agriculture and the associated biosciences—and, specifically, value-added food production,” says Tim Penny, president and CEO for the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF). “We hope to be able to capitalize on this strength as one part of our efforts to build a strong future for this region.”
“This initiative is about creating a vision and strategy to transform Minnesota’s fundamental strength in agriculture into leading-edge innovation and economic growth for the state,” says the Institute’s Executive Director Teresa Spaeth.
Dietary fibers are a growing food ingredient market. Oligosaccharides are prebiotic fiber compounds that enhance the digestive health of the lower gastrointestinal tract. This study uses twin-screw extrusion of lactose with an acid catalyst to polymerize lactose to oligosaccharides or polylactose.
The bioplastics industry is continuing to grow and expand. This report looks at the biobased materials industry in Minnesota.
This project researched the chemical conversion of bioethanol to produce a more valuable commodity chemical, ethylene carbonate, and determine if this conversion is viable on an industrial scale.
A new report out shows that Minnesota’s economic future may well be rooted in its historic leadership in agricultural production.
A major ingredient in pig’s feed is corn. The use of corn in ethanol production also results in the generation of byproducts that have the potential to be used for feeding pigs. One byproduct of dry ethanol production is wet corn solubles. In most of the ethanol plants in Minnesota, this byproduct is sprayed on distiller grains to produce distiller grains and solubles (DGS). DGS are then dried to produce Distillers Dried Grains and Solubles (DDGS) to avoid deterioration in quality and to increase keeping quality. However, the drying process is very energy consuming. This study looked at the effects of using a liquid feeding system on the growth rates of pigs.
High fat and high sulfur concentrations in traditional distillers grains plus solubles limit inclusion rates in feedlot cattle diets. High dietary sulfur concentrations are known to affect intake, potentially impacting health and performance of cattle. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of differing dietary concentrations of roughage and sulfur in beef cattle feedlot finishing diets.
Read the complete report: Interaction of distillers grains on sulfur concentration and dietary roughage on microbial fermentation About this report: The increase in ethanol production has provided Minnesota feedlot operators…
Read the complete report: Determination of potential human health benefits from diets containing corn distillers coproducts About this report: The goal of this project was to identify whether there were…
Read the complete report: Implications of corn producer participation in stover biomass markets and availability About this report: Growing the next generation of renewable fuels is an important part the…
Read the report: Biofilm formation on dairy separation membranes as affected by the substrate and cheese starter About this report: The objectives of the project are: 1) to study the…
Read the complete report: How Alternative Feed Ingredients Affect Poultry Dietary Electrolyte Balance About This Report Dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), derived primarily from corn in the Midwest, are…
Read the complete report: Mechanical Dewatering Technolgies for Wet Biomass View the presentation: Dewatering Technologies for Wet Biomass About This Report Many wet biomass feedstocks generally have low value due…
The objective of this study was to determine potential biomass resources within the Midwest for thermal heating applications in order to provide a “snapshot” of the Midwest Biomass Inventory Assessment…
The research objective of this experiment was to replace 35% of dry rolled corn in traditional corn-based feedlot diets with a high protein dried distillers grains and view its effects…
As the interest and use of biobased products grows, so do the opportunities and challenges. According to a recent report sponsored by AURI and the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion…
Read the report: Evaluation of different cleaning agents for the removal of membrane biofilms About this report: Dairy concentration membranes are prone to biofouling, which leads to their reduced performance…
Read the report: Modifications in the CIP protocols for removing biofilms on whey RO membranes About this report: This report looks to evaluate a typical Common Industry Protocol, CIP, protocol…
Read the report: Role of bacterial cell-dairy separation membrane interaction on biofilm formation About this report: The purpose of this report was to study the role of bacterial cell and…
The corn cob field-to-facility project is a success in that it has demonstrated and documented the viability of corn cobs as a sustainable source of biomass for renewable energy. The…
Comprehensive report on new opportunities for soybean growers in Minnesota. File Attached: Informa_Soybean_Report_Final.pdf
