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Ag Innovation Update-December 2017
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Season's Greetings from AURI!
On behalf of AURI's staff and Board of Directors, I wish you and your loved ones a merry Christmas and joyful New Year! I hope your holidays are filled with things for which to be thankful.
At AURI we are thankful for so much. First, we are thankful to have you as part of our network of supporters and clients. Next, we're thankful for the opportunity to have served many Minnesota farmers and entrepreneurs in 2017. Last, but not least, we are thankful for the positive impact that we've made, together, in helping turn so many innovative ideas into reality!
Now, as we look to the New Year, AURI continues to work on increasing its capacity to make a difference in Minnesota, and you can play an important role in helping AURI achieve its goal. We're asking you to make a charitable donation this holiday season to support AURI's mission through the purchase of new, updated technology for innovation laboratories throughout Minnesota.
If you are looking to make a year-end, tax-deductible contribution and want to see it support innovation in Minnesota, we hope you will consider giving a gift to AURI. Donations can be mailed to AURI 510 County Road 71, Suite 120, Crookston, MN 56716 or easily submitted online by clicking here.
In closing, whether we have worked with you as a partner, client, legislator or network collaborator, we appreciate your role in the success of AURI and our achievements this year.
Happy holidays,
Shannon Schlecht
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AURI's Entrepreneur in Residence Program Provides Vital Resources
It's not easy being on the cutting edge. Entrepreneurs and startup business face numerous hurdles on their path to success, but generating an innovative idea worth investigating isn't usually one of those roadblocks.
The challenge comes in having the right resources to take the concept to commercialization.
Having worked with innovative businesses for more than 25 years, AURI leadership recognized that Minnesota faced a void that was limiting the development opportunities for some businesses.
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Available Opportunities in Agriculture
AURI is pleased to share some new funding opportunities for value-added producers' renewable energy projects in Minnesota.
AGRI Minnesota Value Added Grant Program
Grant opportuniy for individuals (farmers) or businesses, agricultural cooperatives, and local government entities.
Grants are for equipment purchases or physical improvements and are intended to support businesses. The
2018 application period is open from December 2017 to March 2018.
Center for Rural Entrepreneurial Studies:
Now Taking Applications for Spring Semester Projects
Entrepreneurs and small business owners can receive valuable assistance through an opportunity offered by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurial Studies (CRES) at the University of Minnesota Crookston. CRES is seeking regional entrepreneurs and small business owners interested in working with UMC students on a class project for their small business. Projects may include: marketing and management strategies, business plans, assistance with accounting software, marketing research, competitive analysis, social media marketing, and other projects.
IFTNEXT Food Disruption Challenge
The IFTNEXT Food Disruption Challenge competition is designed to help emerging and investment-ready science of food and technology related companies gain visibility and make strategic connections to help advance the science of food and its positive impact on the sustainability of our global food supply.
IFT18
is an annual event hosted by IFT that brings the best of the science of food community together-including scientists, researchers, academics, ingredient, technology, and manufacturing companies-to share, network, and learn about the most recent advances in the science of food and food technology. The
IFTNEXT Future Food Disruptor of the Year award includes a $25,000 cash prize and People's Choice awardee cash prize of $5,000. In addition to the cash prizes, other services and products helpful for entrepreneurial advancement will also be included.
Applications available January 8, 2018.
All applications must be submitted no later than 11:59pm (PST) on February 8, 2018.
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Farmers and Small Businesses are the Heart of Minnesota...
...which is why AURI works so hard to help them to develop innovations that create new m
arkets for com
modi
ties and new opportunities for com
mercial products.
But we need your assistance because AURI already operates at maximum capacity, but the demand for our services to support Minnesota agriculture continues to grow. So, we are asking you to donate today and help AURI support agricultural innovation efforts.
If you feel as passionately as we do about lending a helping hand, please
donate to AURI today
. Your tax-deductible charitable gift will go towards acquiring new resources and tools to help Minnesota's farmers and small businesses succeed.
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AURI Notes
> Upcoming Events
- MN Organic Conference January 11-12
- MN Pork Congress January 16-17
- MN Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference January 18-19
- MN Agriculture Expo January 24-25
- For information about other events click here
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Ag Innovation News: Subscribe Today!
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 are 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
- A special column from the Executive Director
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