The Missouri Corn Merchandising Council (MCMC) is celebrating the selection of two companies as winners of the Radicle Corn Challenge, a global competition focused on developing new uses for corn and creating long-term demand beyond traditional markets.
Citroniq and Future Origins were announced as winners Sept. 9 during the Bio Innovations North America conference in Omaha, Neb. The companies were selected from a global field of innovators developing technologies that use corn and corn-derived feedstocks to create higher-value products.
The $1.75 million challenge is sponsored by 12 U.S. corn grower organizations, including Missouri Corn. It is designed to connect growers with innovators developing the next generation of corn-based products and markets.
“Growing demand is just as important as growing corn,” said MCMC Chairman Patrick Seyer, a corn grower from Oran, Mo. “The Radicle Corn Challenge gives growers a seat at the table as new technologies are developed and creates opportunities to turn more of what we grow into new products and new markets.”
The winning companies demonstrate the range of opportunities available. Citroniq is developing bio-based polypropylene using corn ethanol, while Future Origins is using corn-derived dextrose in the production of ingredients for home and personal care products.
“Our congratulations go out to these two award-winning companies,” Seyer said. “As farmers continue to improve productivity, we need to continue looking for opportunities to expand where corn can go. Supporting innovation today can help build the markets we’ll need tomorrow.”
The Radicle Corn Challenge seeks solutions to convert corn and corn-derived streams, such as glucose, ethanol, and other coproducts, into new products and applications. By bringing growers, entrepreneurs, and investors together, the competition aims to help move promising technologies toward commercial scale and create new demand for corn.
For more information about the Radicle Corn Challenge, visit radicle.vc/radicle-corn-challenge.
