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AURI tells committee it helped generate $189 million in sales and seeks continued state support
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Summary
The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute presented 2025 results to the agriculture committee, reporting an estimated $189 million in client‑generated sales and describing initiatives in biogas, hemp, scale‑up manufacturing and technical assistance that the group says leverage state funding at a high rate of return.
ST. PAUL — The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) presented its 2025 results to the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee, telling legislators the non‑profit generated an estimated $189 million in client sales and is pursuing projects in renewable natural gas, hemp materials, co‑manufacturing and scale‑up manufacturing.
Federico Tripoli, chair of AURI’s board, said the organization is pursuing a multiyear goal to catalyze $500 million in economic activity and that AURI leverages state base funding with federal grants, fee‑for‑service work and partner contributions. “When we look at the legislator investment in Minnesota … for every dollar invested by the legislator, we get about a 40 to 1 return,” Tripoli told the committee.
Executive Director Shannon Schlecht described AURI programs serving food entrepreneurs (virtual assistant, virtual office hours), client projects that move products into retail and school markets, and bioindustrial work exploring biogas and hemp. She said AURI’s recent work includes start‑up assistance, product development, and a farmer guide on anaerobic digestion business models.
Tripoli said AURI maintains a board target of roughly nine months of reserves (about $5 million) and acknowledged legal expenses tied to a trademark dispute with a food company. He also described AURI’s role facilitating collaboration between producers, processors, researchers and investors across Minnesota.
Committee members asked about urban outreach, federal funding impacts on cottage food entrepreneurs and AURI’s reserves; AURI said it will follow up with additional detail. The committee did not take formal action.
