After decades of soybean checkoff research and development, Minnesota Soybean leaders and elected officials plan to break ground today for the Ag Innovation Campus, a 67,000-square-foot soybean crush facility in Crookston.

“Many people across our industries have played a role in this coming to fruition,” says AIC board chairman Mike Skaug, Beltrami. “We’re looking forward to honoring all the parties who are doing their part to help improve the economic outlook for Minnesota agriculture.”

The ceremony begins at 1 p.m. at the Polk County Environmental Services Building in Crookston. Organizers add that social distancing and masks are required. Entrance cannot be guaranteed due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions.

The campus development has been several years in the making, according to Minnesota Soybean. In 2018, the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council invested checkoff funds in a feasibility study to support a regional soybean crush and biodiesel facility in northwest Minnesota. From this work, Crookston emerged as the ideal location and the vision for the future campus evolved.

Minnesota Soybean says the site will serve as a location to incubate other agriculture industry innovations with the mission of creating new soybean products and jobs.

Plans are for the campus to host a specialty crushing facility, allowing universities, commodity groups and private seed developers access to affordable processing that aims to lower costs while promoting growth of value-added products. Once established, the campus will be home to private industries to create products to benefit all parties, from farm gate to consumers. A fully operating AIC will employ up to 70 staffers.

ARCHITECTURAL VIEW: This artist rendering shows the Ag Innovation Campus building, which will house a specialty crush facility, oil refining, classrooms and space for private industries.

“The council sees the campus as a wise use of checkoff resources. The campus will foster an environment for unlimited potential for value-added ag products,” says Cole Trebesch, MSR&PC chairman. “The Ag Innovation Campus will add value to soybeans in the region and can boost rural economies throughout the state while expanding opportunities for farmers and industry alike.”

The Minnesota Legislature approved $5 million for the AIC in 2019, spurred by an advocacy push from Minnesota Soybean Growers Association directors. The funding was released to the AIC in September 2020. In October, the AIC received crucial air permitting approval from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, paving the way for construction to begin.

“The MSGA team has put its grassroots advocacy in action behind the Ag Innovation Campus,” says Jamie Beyer, MSGA president. “We’re thankful for the bipartisan support we’ve received from across the spectrum. Crookston officials have endorsed this project, along with the Legislature and Gov. [Tim] Walz’s administration.”

Soybean production in northwest Minnesota has increased by more than 300% in the past 20 years. Although the Ag Innovation Campus would improve the profitability of farmers throughout the state, the 11 northwest Minnesota counties that would see the most gain from the campus produced more than 50 million bushels of soybeans in 2019, according to Minnesota Soybean.

FUTURE EMPLOYER: The fully operating AIC will employ up to 70 staffers.

In addition to securing state funds and crucial work permits, the AIC is planning a late 2021 production goal despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The group has purchased equipment, along with 10 acres of land in Crookston for construction. The AIC is opening an office in the Crookston area, and a website and social media campaign will be unveiled in the coming weeks, along with an upcoming cover story in the November-December issue of Soybean Business Magazine.

Source: Minnesota Soybean, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all of its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.