NCGA Competition Seeks Innovative Uses for Michigan Field Corn

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is seeking innovative proposals from Michigan for new and sustainable uses for field corn as part of the Consider Corn Challenge IV. The competition aims to identify game-changing ideas for using field corn as a primary feedstock for producing sustainable chemicals and products with quantifiable market demand. The winners of the challenge will share a total prize pool of $250,000.

Previous winners of the Consider Corn Challenge have proposed innovative uses for field corn, such as creating carbon fiber, plastic bags, surgical masks, and ingredients for diesel and marine fuels. These winning projects have gone on to receive additional funding, entered into joint agreements, and obtained state biobased production incentives.

NCGA Market Development Action Team Chair and Colorado farmer Troy Schneider emphasized that the contest continues to help farmers in Michigan think outside-of-the-box and meet the needs of customers who are asking for sustainable, biobased products.

He also noted that if all 15 winners of the Consider Corn Challenge I, II, and III reached full commercialization with products available in the marketplace, the potential for additional corn demand would be approximately 3.4 billion bushels.

The submission deadline for the Consider Corn Challenge IV is June 30, 2023, at 5 p.m. CT, and winners will be announced at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference in San Francisco in October. Up to six winners will be selected, each sharing equally in the prize pool.

This challenge is open to anyone interested in proposing innovative and sustainable uses for field corn from Michigan, and the NCGA welcomes submissions from individuals or teams. As corn farmers in Michigan continue to invest in advanced technology that allows them to do more with less, the Consider Corn Challenge IV is an excellent opportunity to collaborate with the corn industry and create new sustainable products.

To learn more about the Consider Corn Challenge IV and to register for the informational webinar held on Thursday, April 27, at 2 p.m. CT.

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