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Food

Step 1: Watch This Introductory Video To Get Started

This short video will give you a brief overview of AURI and its freely available tools and services. If this is your first time registering for “Ask an AURI Expert” Open Office Hours, please watch this video before moving to Step 2.

Step 2: Sign Up For Office Hours

Register below for a free group consultation with an AURI food scientist via Zoom. These sessions are offered twice per month, from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on the second Thursday and 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday. An AURI food scientist will kick off each session with a few minutes of prepared content (based on questions submitted during registration or other available content), and then answer questions in an open Q&A format. Guest experts may be available upon request. Follow the link below to register for each session you are interested in attending. A Zoom link will be sent to your email after registering.

2nd Thursday of each month at 4:00 p.m. CT

4th Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. CT

Office hours are made possible through the Minnesota Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, which is funded by a cooperative agreement between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). The contents of the presentations and other program materials are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA or MDA.

The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) is proud to support Minnesota’s food entrepreneurs with a wide range of services tailored to their unique needs. AURI’s Food Team offers technical and scientific assistance, leveraging expertise in areas such as food safety, product development, regulatory compliance, ingredient functionality, and business development. From guiding startups on formulation challenges to helping established businesses scale and innovate to simply connecting you with valuable resources, networking opportunities, and industry insights, AURI empowers food entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life.

Choose how you’d like to proceed from the links below.

'Ask an AURI Expert' Office Hours

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Food
Business Toolbox

Register for ‘Ask an AURI Expert’ Open Office Hours

If You Already Have A License

Food
Business Toolbox

Photo of ground beef on packaging tray

Report for Improved Sustainability in Fresh Beef Packaging to Prevent Food Waste in a Meaningful Way for Consumers

    This phase 2 project identified more sustainable packaging options for consumers to prevent ground beef food waste and analyzed how these findings can assist in effectively communicating future sustainability goals for the beef industry. Qualitative and quantitative focus groups were conducted with 16 ground beef package prototypes and nine messaging claims. A phase 1 project conducted in 2020, which recommended completing this phase 2 project, measured the life cycle impact… Continue Reading Report for Improved Sustainability in Fresh Beef Packaging to Prevent Food Waste in a Meaningful Way for Consumers

    AURI Publishes Market Spotlights on Emerging Opportunities

      The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) is publishing a series of market spotlights that examine different food and agriculture opportunities for the state of Minnesota. AURI’s market research team compiled each report by speaking with stakeholders, producers, processors, and industry experts and analyzing published data. The reports describe the opportunities, demand, channel, price, and challenges in some familiar and more opaque areas of the state’s ag industry. The project was… Continue Reading AURI Publishes Market Spotlights on Emerging Opportunities

      Brewing Up Opportunities for Kernza®

        By Dan Lemke For several years, the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) has played a key role in projects intended to further the viability of Kernza®, a perennial intermediate wheatgrass developed by The Land Institute and the University of Minnesota. The Kernza plant features a deep root system that is attractive for soil retention, carbon capture, nutrient leaching reduction, and soil health via regenerative agriculture. On a three-year project led… Continue Reading Brewing Up Opportunities for Kernza®

        Looking for AVA?

        AURI’s new virtual assistant, AVA, makes food expertise available to everyone. Try AVA now!