The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is calling on entrepreneurs, researchers, and startups to reimagine the potential of field corn. Now in its fifth round, the Consider Corn Challenge will award up to $300,000 to help jump-start the early development of high-value, corn-based products that can create long-term demand for U.S. growers.
The Challenge encourages innovation across industries spanning sustainable chemicals, bioplastics, textiles, fuels and more to reduce reliance on petroleum-based materials. The goal: open new markets and elevate corn’s value far beyond its traditional uses in food, feed and fuel.
Why It Matters
As manufacturers seek renewable alternatives, corn offers a scalable, homegrown solution that helps contribute to supply chain resiliency, rural economic development and the domestic manufacturing. Many of these new technologies not only replace petroleum-based inputs – they often outperform them! By investing in early-stage innovation, NCGA is helping position corn as a key ingredient in the bioeconomy of the future.
Past Winners Include:
- Låkril Technologies (Minnesota): Corn-based polymers for paints and coatings
- Catalyxx (Missouri): Converts ethanol into high-value industrial alcohols
- National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL): Develops platform chemicals from corn sugars
- Lygos (California): Produces bio-based malonic acid used in coatings, electronics, flavors, fragrances, and pharmaceuticals
Many of these winners have gone on to secure additional funding, scale their technologies or form strategic partnerships. For example, Låkril and Catalyxx won the RADicle Corn Value Chain Challenge, which provides $1.5 million to accelerate commercialization. Lygos also recently entered a joint venture with CJ BIO to build a commercial-scale biorefinery complex.
How to Apply
Applications for Consider Corn Challenge V are due June 30. Full details and submission guidelines are available at ncga.com/considercorn. All entries will be judged by a distinguished panel of judges, including agtech celebrities Drs. Doug Cameron and Chris Guske, who have been instrumental in the discovery, development, scale-up, financing and ongoing management of numerous biotech technologies.
Help Spread the Word
Know someone in ag tech, bio-based manufacturing or sustainable chemistry? Encourage them to apply or share this opportunity with your network.
By investing in innovation today, NCGA is helping ensure corn remains a high-performance, future-ready solution in a growing bio-based economy.
