News

POET Bioproducts Center is now open

A new laboratory that will transform ag and forestry materials into feed ingredients and other bioproducts is now open in the Research Park at South Dakota State University.

SDSU President Barry Dunn says the scientists that work at the POET Bioproducts Center will apply for local, state or federal grants to develop a process that works in a lab to transform raw materials into something else.

“To get investments in good ideas, you need a proof of concept. You have to prove to an investor that your idea actually works. That’s what this facility is built to do.”

Dunn says numerous forestry products and ag materials will be used for research including wheat by-products, soybeans and corn stalks.

“How do we get more value out of the commodities we’re very good at producing without shipping it around the world? How can we keep it here and add more value to it in this emerging bio-economy?”

SDSU brings in expertise in feed ingredient research and other companies and universities, including POET and South Dakota School of Mines, are adding in their expertise in bioprocessing.

POET CEO Jeff Broin says the future of bioprocessing is exciting.

“Microbiology is evolving and that will allow us to take plant materials and make them into products used everyday,” he says. “POET will have lab space in this center and we’ll use it to enhance our research and development. There will be more and more products coming from the corn plant in the future.”

DaNita Murray with South Dakota Corn tells Brownfield there’s a strong interest from the state’s corn growers to ensure that the pipeline is open to develop new products.

The 45,000 square foot facility was funded by the state legislature, POET, South Dakota Corn and South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council.

Photo Credit: South Dakota State University