This March, National Biobased Products Day was observed by the USDA. The new national day was created to recognize the benefits biobased products bring to the United States, including contributions to the economy, benefits to rural communities and cleaner options for consumers.

The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) prides itself in funding research efforts to help create and advance such biobased products. MSR&PC contributes toward that mission by partnering with AURI to fund a number of biobased product projects for the year 2024.

In addition, in 2023, a development was made in the market of soybean meal fertilizer for lawns and gardens. In 2024, AURI is working on developing a new blend of fertilizer at 24% nitrogen with a 25% soybean inclusion rate. The team is also working on promoting this type of product in the rural homeowner’s market.

“We are always looking at more ways to use soy,” said Harold Stanislawski, AURI’s business and industry development director.

Another advancement being made in biobased products that AURI is currently working on is a soybean market assessment to investigate potential soybean uses in the dog food industry. Currently, soybean meal is used in dry kibble products, but with growing trends to “humanize” dog food, novel inclusion is a potential market for soybeans to enter.

“Right now, we are looking at volume usage and who is using it,” said AURI Scientist of Food & Nutrition Ben Swanson. “Soybeans have a phenomenal functionality when it comes to processing, and it is well known to be phenomenal from an amino acid standpoint.”

The Clean Fuels Alliance America (Clean Fuels) has also been working on various projects that help market biodiesel to consumers. These projects are designed to help raise awareness for the benefits of biobased diesel.

According to Mike Youngerberg, MSR&PC senior director of product development and commercialization, the first goal is to expand environmental awareness by conveying science-based information about the ways biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) are environmentally friendly. Another goal is to expand the market via a combination of advertising, media relations with industry reporters, social media activity, among other tactics. The purpose of this project is to develop and amplify third-party biodiesel testimonials, including fleet managers, equipment manufacturers and industry experts.

Additionally, Youngerberg stated that Clean Fuels is providing regulatory and analytical support to stakeholders, including environmental groups and representatives who are vested on the environmental, public health, and economic benefits of biodiesel, renewable diesel and SAF. State technical and economic support is also given by the alliance to programs aimed at decarbonizing state transportation sectors.

Through all these projects, and many others, MSR&PC has expressed its commitment to supporting biobased product research and development. By contributing toward a biobased future, we can create a drive for consumers to participate in cleaner practices and fuel the market for soybean utilization.