Idaho State Students Test Sugar Beet Concrete

Engineering students installed furniture and pavers made from a byproduct of local sugar beet processing in October 2026.

Updated on Oct. 19, 2026 in Construction

Idaho State Students Test Sugar Beet Concrete

Live Poll

Do you believe using industrial agricultural byproducts in construction materials is a viable sustainable solution?

Idaho State University students have installed a picnic table and hundreds of pavers made from Sweetcrete at the Engineering Research Complex in Pocatello. This material incorporates a sugar beet processing byproduct to create a more sustainable alternative to traditional concrete.

Why it matters

The project aims to demonstrate that precipitated calcium carbonate can serve as a viable, sustainable replacement for cement. Researchers are monitoring the installation to assess the material's durability during regional winter freeze-thaw cycles.

The installation at the Engineering Research Complex utilized 45 cubic feet of Sweetcrete to produce 350 individual pavers. This specific mix replaces 25 percent of standard cement with precipitated calcium carbonate.

The players

Idaho State University

This is a public research university based in Pocatello that serves as the primary institution for higher education and engineering research in southeastern Idaho.

Kloepfer Inc.

This is a regional construction and infrastructure firm that provided a site for earlier Sweetcrete testing in Burley.

The details

Students 3D-printed the forms used to cast the concrete structures and managed the entire production, placement, and finishing process. The initiative follows a previous successful test involving a large concrete pad poured at a Kloepfer Inc. facility in Burley.

Earlier this year, a test pad was poured at a Kloepfer Inc. facility.
The installation of the picnic table and pavers was completed in October 2026.

Market Landscape

This project aligns with the broader construction industry trend toward reducing the carbon footprint of structural materials. By utilizing recycled agricultural byproducts, the effort positions academic research as a source for material innovation against established, high-emission concrete standards.

The success of these materials could eventually influence local construction costs and building standards for the community. Residents and business owners may see more sustainable, locally sourced concrete alternatives as the technology matures for commercial use.

The takeaway

Using agricultural waste like sugar beet byproduct shows promise in creating durable public infrastructure. Such innovations provide a practical path toward reducing the environmental impact of local building projects.