AURI Names Kay's Naturals as 2016 Ag Innovator of the Year
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.
AURI Awarded USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) was named the recipient of a $200,000 USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG). This grant was one of 29 awarded to organizations across 22 states to help create jobs and support business expansion in rural areas and it is the third time AURI received a RCDG since 2010.
On October 27, more than 45 people gathered at Great River Energy in Maple Grove to learn about financing and investment opportunities for renewable energy at the Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable. Since its inception, the Roundtable has connected more than 500 individuals from nearly 200 different organizations committed to strengthening Minnesota's renewable energy industry.
USDA Report Includes AURI Case Study in Biobased Report
A new report released in October by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) included AURI in a case study on the biobased industry. The report indicates that the biobased products industry contributed $393 billion and 4.223 million jobs to the U.S. economy, and it grew from 2013 to 2014, creating or supporting an additional 220,000 jobs and $24 billion over that period. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, who has identified the biobased economy as one of the four pillars that support our country's rural economy.
If you want to connect with AURI this fall and learn about its programs, or how its services can help Minnesota entrepreneurs, agricultural processors and agribusinesses, keep an eye open for AURI staff at the following events:
Where do you go to learn about the latest news about renewable energy, coproducts, biobased products and food science? If your answer didn't include the Ag Innovation Newspaper, then you have been missing out on important updates from around Minnesota. Contact us today at news@auri.org to get your free, quarterly subscription to AURI's official publication. Each issue contains useful and interesting information, like:
News from Minnesota's ag industry
Updates on the latest technology and idea implementation
Information on how AURI is fostering economic benefits for the state
