CROOKSTON, Minn. (October 2025) — The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) will host a free webinar as part of its AURI Connects Webinar Wednesday “Future of” Series, sponsored by Old National Bank and Minnesota Farmers Union. The webinar, “From Innovation to Implementation – Intriguing Uses of Lipids in the Marketplace,” is the second in the “Future of Lipids” two-part series and will showcase how lipid-based innovations are actively being used to tackle the most pressing sustainability challenges in infrastructure and energy.
WHAT: AURI’s “From Innovation to Implementation – Intriguing Uses of Lipids in the Marketplace” Webinar
WHEN: Noon to 1 p.m. CT
Wednesday, Nov. 12
WHERE: Please register in advance
WHO: The webinar is free and open to the public.
Attendance at the first webinar of the series is not necessary to attend.
“Research on lipids is accelerating, but we are already out of the labs: renewable, lipid-based solutions are already in critical infrastructure and hard-to-abate transport, backed by performance-based policy,” says Luca Zullo, AURI’s senior director of science and technology. “Real-world results—lower emissions, better durability, and clear market pull—are creating demand for growers and new revenue for processors; today we can scale what works to build resilient regional supply chains that align economic value with environmental sustainability.”
Speakers will illustrate real-world applications of lipid innovations. By moving beyond research and into implementation, companies and organizations are not only reducing reliance on petroleum but also creating circular, resilient systems that connect farms, factories, and future-focused industries. Case studies presented during the webinar will include:
- BioSpan: Deploying cutting-edge, lipid-based asphalt rejuvenates that replace petroleum inputs with renewable inputs in road construction and maintenance, creating high-performance alternatives that enhance infrastructure resilience and establish new value chains for agricultural feedstocks.
- GreaterMSP: Driving a regional ecosystem for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), harnessing lipid feedstocks to decarbonize air travel. This model exemplifies cross-sector collaboration among farmers, refiners, airlines, and policymakers.
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA): Actively fueling this innovation pipeline through its AGRI Bioincentive Program, which provides performance-based incentives to businesses for renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels derived from Minnesota biomass—including oil or fat feedstocks that align closely with lipid-based value chains.
AURI Connects: Webinar Wednesday is a recurring webinar series hosted by the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute. Each webinar explores different aspects of the food and ag sectors in Minnesota—from resources for food entrepreneurs to innovations in coproducts and biobased energy.
