Making Connections

One of the biggest challenges for any organization, particularly smaller ones, is outreach. It’s important to let consumers, stakeholders, supporters or the general public know what you are up to. Sometimes the best way to do that is in person.

For nearly every year of our existence, AURI has participated in Farmfest. For almost the past two decades that event has been held near Redwood Falls. This year, as in years past, our exhibit featured a mix of AURI information, product examples, new information and AURI clients who showcased their products. This invariably leads to good conversations about what is new in value-added agriculture, where the future seems to be headed, questions about where the next opportunity lies and lively discussions about policy.

The Minnesota State Fair is another event that brings millions together. While agriculture isn’t necessarily the first thing most fair goers think of, it is all around them. Surveys have shown that most people come to the State Fair for food and entertainment. Since food is from agriculture, it stands to reason that agriculture should be important to them.

One of the events at the 2010 State Fair that visitors should attend is the Minnesota Cooks event on August 31 at Carousel Park. Organized by Minnesota Farmers Union and supported in part by AURI, this event brings local chefs together to prepare unique dishes made from farm products grown or raised by Minnesota farmers.

Whether they think about it or not, everyone who eats is a fan of agriculture. Events like Farmfest and the State Fair offer the chance for the non-ag public to connect with those whose livelihood comes from the farm. 

Of Cats & Corn

Of Cats and Corn

Most weeks at AURI are interesting, but some are just a bit more memorable.

On June 16, we had a four person crew from Animal Planet here working on a segment for the show Must Love Cats. AURI coproducts guru Alan Doering and fellow scientist Kevin Hennessy have tested a variety of agricultural products for use as animal litters. This includes corn, wheat as well as coproducts. 

For the better part of a day, the crew followed Al around and shot video of various tests that AURI scientists have conducted to determine odor control properties, clumping ability, sorbency and a wide range of other characteristics. It will be interesting to see how the segment captures the work.

From what we have been told, the show is supposed to air on Animal Planet sometime in January of 2011.

Also this week AURI presented our annual Ag Innovator of the Year Award to Suntava. This company produces a deep purple corn that is grown in southwest Minnesota. From the grain, Suntava extracts the pigment for use as a food and beverage colorant as well as a nutraceutical ingredient. They also utilize the meal for chips and tortillas.

 

As part of the award presentation, we were able to tour their facility in St. Paul. It is amazing how many food items contain artificial colorants. The Suntava colorant very closely mirrors the color profile of red dye #40, which is the industry standard but is derived from refined petroleum. It is easily water soluble and looks amazing. The future looks very bright for this innovative Minnesota company that is moving agricultural products into a whole new place. 

Recognizing Innovation

Recognizing Innovation

It often seems as though agriculture gets short changed when it comes to the value that it contributes to economic growth and activity. While it may lack some of the star power of devices like medical devices or computer components, don’t misunderstand the value of what agriculture provides.

Far beyond providing the basic food and fiber needs of our society, agriculture and ag processing are major economic drivers for Minnesota and many other states. These industries provide jobs and dollars to be spent. This is the lifeblood of most rural communities.

Innovations have moved agricultural items into exciting places including the energy world. Renewable fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol, methane gas and other ag-based energy sources have spurred development benefiting rural communities and agriculture at the same time.

New innovations are creating new opportunities for agricultural products in areas such as bio-based plastics, next generation biofuels, new food products and more. These innovations are also helping ag processing leftovers not be viewed as waste products, but as additional revenue streams.

Each year AURI recognizes an Ag Innovator of the Year. This is presented to an AURI client who has shown innovation in their product or process, has entered the marketplace and holds the potential to utilize significant amounts of agricultural products or ingredients. We will be presenting the 2010 award on June 17 to a Minnesota company that AURI has worked with and identified as an example of an innovative company that is moving agriculture into exciting new places. 

Tech Talk

Tech Talk

Technology is a wonderful thing…until you try to keep up with all the changes. Between cell phones, computers, iPods and other gizmos, the latest thing doesn’t stay the latest thing very long. Something is always coming down the line that’s does the newest technology one better.

AURI laboratories strive to maintain an inventory of equipment that is up to date with industry standard technology and provides our clients with the information they need. Since we operate with a limited amount of resources, we can’t add every new flashy piece of equipment or software that comes out. However, when appropriate technology becomes available that can improve the quality of the services we provide, it certainly warrants consideration.

AURI is currently adding some new technology to our labs to provide an even greater level of service. These additions include a new pellet mill, a new infrared gas analyzer for methane, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide, a high performance liquid chromatograph for sugars, acids and numerous other applications, a new gas chromatograph for greenhouse gases and more.

Without unlimited funds, it is nearly impossible to have everything that is available for conducting applied research and technology transfer. However, as an innovative organization, it is important for AURI to have the equipment necessary to keep giving Minnesota agri-businesses the information they need to make informed decisions.

Keeping Up With Advances

Keeping up with advances

It’s easy to get lost on Internet. Yes, a lot of time can be wasted looking for information that may or may not be valuable, or even true. But it is also mind-boggling to realize all the changes and technological advances that are occurring at any given time.

 For each issue of Ag Innovation News, AURI’s quarterly newspaper, we produce a section called Elsewhere in Ag Innovations. This regular feature highlights brief articles on agricultural innovations that are happening around the world. Doing research to find suitable articles can be time consuming—not because the advances are hard to find, but because there are so many its easy to get lost.

It is truly fascinating to read about care tires being made with agricultural ingredients, biodegradable snack food bags made from corn, adhesives and insulations made from soybeans. There are also medical breakthroughs utilizing agricultural ingredients for treatment of everything from eye conditions to heart disease and diabetes.

It’s truly amazing to see the advancements being made through science and innovation. It’s also very encouraging and exciting to see how much of a role agriculture is playing in those innovations.  

Dryer technology on display

Energy usage is one of the major expenses for most agricultural processors. For some plants, a good portion of that energy is expended by some sort of drying process. So if a better mousetrap exists, especially one that saves money, industry is interested.

AURI hosted a drying technology day May 13 in Benson to highlight 4 technologies that could have application in agricultural processing. More than 40 people packed a conference room to hear about the various technologies, they then made the short drive to the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Cooperative’s location to watch one technology in action. The GRRO Tempest cyclone system was used to dry dairy digester solids and corn cobs.


This is a perfect example of how AURI is working with and for Minnesota agriculture. Drying technologies hold the potential to help processors save money and generate a product that may have higher value and application for a number of different uses. It’s all about adding value.

And Video

Being Different

Being different

One of the keys to success in the marketplace is being different from the competition. There needs to be a reason consumers pick your products.

AURI works with many different types of Minnesota businesses who are striving to make their products stand out and to differentiate themselves from the rest of the herd.

This morning I had the chance to visit Ferndale Market near Cannon Falls. This family run turkey farm has been operating for more than 70 years. Operated by John Peterson, the farm produces about 200,000 birds per year, putting them on pasture during the warmer months of the year. They also have an on-farm retail store that markets their turkey products as well as foods produced by other Minnesota businesses. It’s a unique way to market their unique products.

AURI meat scientist Carissa Nath has been working with Ferndale Market to produce some fresh turkey products that will help this family operation stand out from the flock.

Ferndale Market will be the focus of an upcoming article in the July-September issue of Ag Innovation News. 

Transferring Technology

AURI is an applied research organization, which means we take new technologies and get them into the hands of enterprises that can use them. This is all done with the goal of adding value to Minnesota-grown agricultural commodities.

A good example of this is what will be happening on June 13^th in Benson. AURI is hosting a dryer demonstration event aimed at showcasing 4 different drying technologies that could be applied to a wide range of agricultural processing operations. From ethanol plants to biomass burners, these technologies could increase process efficiency or even open the doors for new products.

AURI works to get information on new technologies out to industries that could use them because they present new opportunities for economic activity and job growth. 

Welcome!

Welcome

Welcome to the AURI Notebook! This blog will be updated regularly to let readers know what’s happening in value-added agriculture. We hope you’ll check in regularly because agriculture is an exciting industry that is creating jobs and economic growth in Minnesota.

FFA Convention

It’s not often you get the chance to talk about the future to those who are likely to shape it, but that’s exactly what happened this past week in St. Paul as thousands of the best and brightest gathered together in celebration of agriculture.

AURI was proud to participate in the 81^st annual state FFA Convention held on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota. More than 3,000 future leaders from across the state participated in the annual event that featured personal development, competitions, exposure to career options and a multitude of educational opportunities.

Since FFA is all about developing leaders, particularly for the agricultural industry, it is only fitting that AURI would participate in the activities. Since we are an organization that seeks to develop new uses and new markets for agricultural products, AURI and FFA have a shared passion for building a bright future for agriculture in Minnesota.

AURI expertise was on display to help strengthen the next generation of agricultural leaders. AURI meat scientist Carissa Nath brought her knowledge and experience to the event by assisting in the meats judging portion of the state convention. Alan Doering and I conducted a workshop highlighting the emerging opportunities in value-added agriculture.

Since many advances in value-added agriculture involve technology or process advances, FFA members could see first hand how a career in agriculture could take many forms. From on-farm agricultural producers to scientists, marketers, policy-makers and teachers, the entire agricultural industry continues to make a positive impact and is in need of the next generation of ag leaders to take a role in the future development of the industry. 


Here is a short clip of the presentation