Episodes

In this episode, Clayton Mooney of Clayton Farms discusses the benefits of locally harvested produce, how his team delivers on its promise of same-day delivery and his goal of setting a Guinness World Record.

In this episode, Gwen Williams and Tahir Sandhu, Co-owners of Artisan Naan Bakery, chat about unexpected flavor varieties, a pilot project with Kernza perennial grain, retail expansion and the joy of loving what they do.

In this episode, Jared Luhman of Grass Fed Cattle Co. chats about family ties, the benefits of grass fed beef, the importance of supporting local producers and what the future holds for the company.

In this episode, Jason Robinson, Business Development Director-Food at the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), chats about shared-use commercial kitchens in Minnesota, why they're essential to small businesses and outlines research findings in AURI's Shared-Use Commercial Kitchens Report.

In this episode, Brad Schloesser, Executive Director of the Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership Program (MARL), outlines the program's history, goals and how it benefits Minnesota's agricultural ecosystem.

In this episode of the Ag Innovation News podcast, AURI staff Jen Wagner-Lahr, Senior Director of Business Development and Commercialization, and Lisa Gjersvik, Senior Director of Strategy Management, chat about AURI's work within the USDA's new Ag Innovation Center Program to foster long-term economic benefit for the state of Minnesota through value-added agricultural products.

In this episode of the Ag Innovation News podcast, AURI Executive Director Shannon Schlecht outlines the history and goals of the Bold Open Reverse Pitch and Dr. Elizabeth Klodas, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Step One Foods, discusses her submission to the 2023 Bold Open and shares why food is the problem AND the solution when it comes to healthcare costs.

In this episode of the Ag Innovation News podcast, AURI Executive Director Shannon Schlecht outlines the history and goals of the Bold Open Reverse Pitch and Marc Schober, Director of Specialized Agriculture Solutions at Bremer Bank, discusses Bremer's mission to support local farmers and producers and its challenge submission to the 2023 Bold Open: "Fast Decision Making for Small Agricultural Loans."

In this episode, Adam Asmus, Co-Founder of Ag Innovations LLC, discusses how he and his brother Michael carry on the Asmus family tradition of agriculture innovation and how they worked together to launch an organic fertilizer brand.

In this episode, Colette Drager from The Meatery chats about the dynamics of a family-run business, discusses partnerships with local producers, and provides a rundown of the company's products and subscription boxes.

In this episode, Dr. Jill Zullo, Vice President of Bioindustrials North America at Cargill and Jon Veldhouse, CEO of Qore LLC discuss the commercialization of fermentation technology to make products more sustainable, drive renewable energy and help reduce the impact of climate change.

In this special episode, AURI celebrates International Women's Day by highlighting some of the women who play an important role in the organization and whose work impacts Minnesota's food and agriculture ecosystems. Listen in as we chat with AURI's Ashley Harguth, Alexandra Diemer, Laura Bachmeier and Lisa Martinez.

In this episode, Andrea Vaubel, Deputy Commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture outlines the role of the MDA and how it supports Minnesota agriculture. Andrea also chats about the importance of value-added agriculture and shares programs and resources for longtime and emerging farmers, producers and entrepreneurs.

In this episode, Aaron Knewtson, Vice President of Food and Agribusines at Compeer Financial, chats about the company's mission and purpose and how it supports Minnesota agriculture. Aaron also discusses AURI's upcoming New Uses Forum.

In this episode, Peter Imle, Chair of the Minnesota Cultivated Wild Rice Council, talks about the organization's mission and Minnesota's role as one of top producers of wild rice, and outlines current research on its benefits.

In this episode, Dr. Luca Zullo, Senior Director of Science and Technology at the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), explains anaerobic digestion, discusses its benefits and how it can be used for renewable energy and outlines AURI's work in the field of anaerobic digestion and biogas.

In this episode, Sunil Kumar, Founder/CEO of The Amazing Chickpea, shares how his daughter and her friends inspired innovation. He also discusses the growth of his products in schools and retail and reveals new products launching this year.

In this episode, Jen Wagner-Lahr, Senior Director of Business Development & Commercialization at the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), chats about the family farm, value-added agriculture and emerging trends and AURI’s new collaborative agreements with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Marketing Service.

In this episode, Dan Erdmann, Project Manager at Farm Rescue, highlights the great work the organization and its volunteers do in assisting farmers impacted by illness, injury or natural disasters and shares how you can support its mission.

In this episode, Al Doering, Senior Scientist-Coproducts at the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), provides an overview of coproducts and their value to Minnesota agriculture, discusses his role as a scientist and outlines the Four F’s of Coproducts.

In this episode, Charlie Vogel, CEO of the Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council, talks about the organization and the role it plays in value-added agriculture. He also discusses the Back When Foods project and shares what he sees for the future of wheat and Minnesota agriculture.

In this episode, Sam Ziegler, Founder and Director of Greenseam, reveals the catalyst for its creation, talks about its mission and how it supports Minnesota agriculture, and highlights Greenseam’s connection to Silicon Valley.

In this episode, Mike Youngerberg, Senior Director of Product Development and Commercialization at the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association outlines the current priorities of the organization, addresses challenges in the soybean industry and provides an update on the Ag Innovation Campus in Crookston, MN.

In this episode, Allison Hohn, Executive Director of Grow North, talks about what to expect at Food, Ag, Ideas Week and highlights an exciting new endeavor for Grow North.