Ag Innovation Update

AURI scientist Doug Root has been selected as incoming chair of the American Oil Chemists Society’s Industrial Oil Products Division. Root is senior scientist of biomass & renewable products technologies and is located at the AURI office in Marshall. The AOCS Industrial Products Division provides a forum for professionals involved in research, development, engineering, marketing, and testing of industrial products and co-products from fats and oils, including glycerin and its… Continue Reading AURI Scientist to Chair Industrial Oil Group

Minnesota’s meat processors are working to meet consumer desire for products made with more natural or even fewer ingredients—also known as having cleaner labels. Because excess sodium has been linked to such health concerns as hypertension, stroke and kidney disease, it is one of the ingredients health-conscious consumers target first. “The challenge with reducing sodium in processed meat products is that it does more than just provide saltiness,” says Carissa… Continue Reading Meat, Sans Salt

Dairy producers have been using anaerobic digestion systems for years to turn manure into power. Now food manufacturers are seeing financial opportunity in turning food waste into energy. In February, the Energy Center of Wisconsin and AURI released an Anaerobic Digester Casebook for food processors. “The technology of anaerobic digestion isn’t new” says Joe Kramer, EnergyCenter project manager, , but now there is more attention on using the biogas produced… Continue Reading Anaerobic Digester Casebook for Food Processors

When it comes to biomass combustion, what is inside must come out. AURI is leading an effort to identify the chemical composition of a range of biomass feedstocks so regulators like the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and those looking to develop biomass-powered operations can have a better idea of what might be contained in plant emissions. AURI Project Development Director Randy Hilliard says the goal is to develop a fact… Continue Reading Biomass emissions