Free event will highlight the potential of this groundbreaking new crop and its multiple uses
The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) together with the University of Minnesota Forever Green Initiative (FGI) will host the “Discover the Future of Flax: Perennial Flax Field Day” from 9 a.m. – Noon June 3 at the Rosemount Research and Outreach Center in Rosemount, Minnesota. The event is free, and participants should register to attend.
The three-hour in-field event will showcase perennial flax, a groundbreaking new crop with market potential across multiple industries – from landscaping and horticulture to fiber, oil, and more. The plant is currently being developed to thrive within conventional farming systems, offering extended flowering from May through November and the potential for two harvest seasons.
“We see a lot of benefits to growing perennial flax, starting with the beautiful blue fields with their extended flowering for pollinators. It has many advantages over annual flax, with two harvests/year (oilseed), pollinator services, added value for fiber and cut flowers, and heat and drought tolerance”, says Dr. Neil Anderson, Professor & Dept. Head of the University of Minnesota, Department of Horticultural Science. Perennial flax is one of the crops in the Forever Green Initiative. “Once harvested, this multi-use crop has the potential to enhance and create markets across numerous industries.”
Field Day attendees will be able to view the crop in person to understand its growing dynamics. Plus, a variety of industry leaders and experts will speak about perennial flax’s unique benefits and traits and emerging commercial uses in fiber, florals, food, and fuel. The event also offers time for sharing perspectives and connecting with people across the value chain—from growers and makers to sellers and innovators, among others.
“This is a great opportunity for enterprises in the horticultural, cut flower, natural fiber, or food, fuel, and feed markets to explore the potential of this multi-use crop and to give input on continued perennial flax development,” says Alexandra Ostlund, Business Development Director of Novel Supply Chains at AURI. “Connecting with other stakeholders to innovate and valorize this emerging crop will help grow industry appetite for perennial agricultural products and afford regional artisans and businesses a chance to lead the way.”
To attend the Future of Flax Field Day, register here.
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 for Minnesota with a focus on Bioindustrial products and food. AURI provides a broad range of services, including applied research and development, scientific assistance, and a targeted network across the value chain to foster collaboration. To learn more, visit auri.org.
ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOREVER GREEN INITIATIVE
The Forever Green Initiative is an innovation platform within the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota focused on advancing continuous living cover agriculture by developing and scaling up. These crops protect soil and water while driving new economic opportunities for growers, industry, and communities across Minnesota. The Forever Green Initiative’s portfolio includes more than 15 crops, each supported by a multidisciplinary team that may include expertise in the areas of genomics, breeding, agronomics, natural resource sciences, food science, sociology, economics, and commercialization. Our wider multi-sector collaborative draws on expertise and support from academia; small and large businesses; local, state, and federal agencies; non-governmental organizations; and private philanthropies to advance systemic change in agriculture.
