The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) is hosting a two-part webinar series on strategies to improve Minnesota’s scalable food business infrastructure.
Part 1 of the free event series is from Noon to 1 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, and is sponsored by Bremer Bank and Avisen Legal. Registration is now open, and media members are invited to attend.
Accelerating business growth in the food space requires a comprehensive approach to addressing gaps in the marketplace, such as access to manufacturing, capital and product distribution. During the webinar, a panel of resource experts and a successful scale-up food entrepreneur will discuss best practices for tackling these issues and the assistance available for those looking to start or scale a food business.
Entrepreneur Eric Hall, Co-founder & CEO of So Good So You, will share his personal story of starting and growing a business, and Mike Zastoupil from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will discuss how the state’s new Regional Food System Infrastructure grant program can be used to spur development and investment. AURI’s business development director, Jason Robinson, will also discuss the services and capabilities available at AURI to support scaling food businesses.
Webinar Speakers:
• Allison Hohn, Executive Director, Naturally MN
• Mike Zastoupil, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Eric Hall, Co-founder & CEO, So Good So You
• Jason Robinson, AURI Business Development Director- Food
Part 2 of the webinar series will occur on Wednesday, February 14 from Noon to 1 p.m. CT and will focus on specific initiatives and accessible tools to help further bridge gaps in scaling.
AURI Connects: Webinar Wednesday is a recurring webinar series hosted by AURI. Each session explores different aspects of the food and ag sectors in Minnesota—from resources for food entrepreneurs to innovations in coproducts and biobased energy.
About AURI
The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute is a nonprofit whose mission is to accelerate the expansion of the agricultural economy by empowering expanded uses and markets of agriculturally derived products. It accomplishes this by using science and technology to help develop new uses for agricultural products. It collaborates globally, acts regionally, and is known as an economic catalyst in Minnesota communities by helping businesses take advantage of innovative opportunities in four focus areas: biobased products, renewable energy, coproducts and food. AURI provides a broad range of services, including applied research and development, scientific assistance and a targeted network of resources to develop value-added uses for crops and coproducts. To learn more visit auri.org.