Award Recognizes Groundbreaking Corn Based Industrial Technologies
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) announced three winners of its Consider Corn Challenge V at the Bio Innovations Midwest Event in Omaha. The competition encourages inventive uses of corn for renewable products and offers a three hundred-thousand-dollar prize pool.
“The Consider Corn Challenge fosters innovative collaborations between corn farmers and both the public and private sectors, which paves the way for new products, chemicals and applications.
This year's winners have continued to demonstrate corn's adaptability,” said Director of Research & Market Development Sarah McKay.
Corn's versatile applications as an industrial feedstock can be witnessed in the diverse approaches and applications of each of the three winners. This contest continues to highlight the fact that U.S. corn is an extremely flexible feedstock suited for biobased products and crucial to advancing the biobased economy.”
Aerterra earns recognition for creating the first renewable air filters made from U.S.-grown corn. These bio-based filters outperform petroleum-based options and promote healthier indoor air with a sustainable subscription model.
Terragia pioneers a one-step process using thermophilic anaerobic bacteria to convert cellulosic biomass into fuels and products. This method can raise ethanol output by 10 percent, increase high-protein feed, and add corn oil revenue.
Arizona State University develops a corn-derived corrosion inhibitor for crude oil pipelines. This non-toxic product forms a protective film to reduce corrosion-related accidents, offering a sustainable solution for the extensive U.S. pipeline network.
“Finding new uses for corn and additional market demand is a key priority for NCGA,” said Research and New Uses Action Team Chair Chad Epler. “The Consider Corn Challenge provides a unique opportunity to harness the potential of corn as a versatile, sustainable feedstock.
It not only showcases the ingenuity of participants but also fosters vital collaborations between industry and corn producers, paving the way for innovative, market-driven solutions.”
These award-winning innovations highlight corn’s role as a key renewable resource driving new markets and supporting a sustainable bioeconomy.