Research at Iowa Corn

The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) invests in research and business development to seek a direct return on checkoff investment. Generating royalty income from licensing technology will provide funding for additional research and development. This is in contrast to research prior to 2000 which funded university research to simply expand the body of knowledge about corn.

Researching New Uses
The new uses program is a multi-year effort to develop higher-value industrial uses for corn that will ultimately increase the demand for and the value of corn. Multiple projects are under way to utlilize corn starch and corn fiber in the development of substitutes for petroleum-based inputs used in plastics, coatings, and adhesives. The ICPB currently has new uses projects under way.

In 2005, the isosorbide conversion technology reached a milestone when ICPB executed a license for technology developed under that project. The license allows Iowa Corn to sublicense the technology to others and receive royalty income from their use of the technology.

In 2006, ICPB began filing for multiple patents for technology developed under the isosorbide applications project.

Traits & Biotechnology
Iowa Corn is funding specific projects to develop corn traits that will increase corn production efficiency and improve the value of the corn grain output. Iowa Corn is also involved in projects applying non-transgenic (non-GMO) approaches that can benefit corn production.

Biotechnology is the key to producing improved corn plants that can increase farmer productivity in the field and produce new value-added products.

New Continuous Isosorbide Production from Sorbitol

Iowa Corn Promotion Board and New Jersey Institute of Technology to License Breakthrough Safe Bio-Plastic Alternative

Continuous Isosorbide Production from Sorbitol using Solid Acid Catalysis Final Report to the US Department of Energy

Value Added Products from Hemicellulose Utilization in Dry Mill Ethanol Plants Final Report to US Department of Energy