Report Maps Biogas Path for Minnesota Farms
A new Agricultural Utilization Research Institute guide details how on-farm anaerobic digestion could turn farm waste into renewable energy.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Organic Food
The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute released The Biogas Opportunity for Minnesota Farmers: A Business Guide for On-farm Anaerobic Digestion on August 14, 2025. The report estimates Minnesota could produce enough biogas to meet over 13% of the state's natural gas demand.
Why it matters
Anaerobic digestion breaks down organic waste without oxygen to produce biogas that can be converted into renewable natural gas, electricity, vehicle fuel, or heat. For Minnesota farmers, the report frames the technology as a potential source of additional revenue and renewable energy.
The report is a business guide covering costs, potential savings, regulations, logistics, and partnership models for on-farm digesters. It estimates the state could meet over 13% of its natural gas demand with biogas, but the extraction does not detail the underlying cost assumptions.
The players
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
AURI is a Minnesota-based nonprofit that works to develop and commercialize agricultural products and technologies, headquartered in Crookston, Minnesota.
The details
The guide covers building and operating an on-farm anaerobic digestion system, along with the costs, potential savings, and regulations involved. Digested material can be used as fertilizer and animal bedding, and on-farm digesters are described as offering water quality benefits and reduced odor and greenhouse gas emissions.
Timeline
August 14, 2025: The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute announced the biogas report.
Industry Context
On-farm anaerobic digesters are a specific farm-scale technology that converts manure and crop residue into biogas, and this report applies that model to Minnesota's agricultural base to estimate its share of state natural gas demand.
Minnesota farmers weighing a digester would need to assess the costs, savings, and regulatory requirements outlined in the guide before investing. The report is primarily a planning resource rather than a change in current rules or prices for consumers.
The takeaway
Farm-based digesters can turn manure and crop waste into energy while producing fertilizer and animal bedding as byproducts. Farmers considering the technology should review the cost, savings, and regulatory guidance before committing.
Further reading
For broader context on farm-based sustainable practices, see Organic Food coverage.
More information
Read the AURI press release on Minnesota's biogas potential from the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Agricultural Utilization Research Institute.
