Check-in on the Checkoff: Driving Corn Demand Through New Uses

By: Ralph Lents

Ralph Lents is a farmer from Menlo, Iowa, and currently serves as the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) President and on the Industrial Usage & U.S. Production Committee.

One thing that I love about being a corn farmer is the versatility of the crop. Not only do we produce corn for food, feed, fiber and fuel, but we are also continuing to find new uses. This month, I want to share a few of the ways the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) is investing in innovation to create more sustainable products for future generations. 

Textile and Fabrics 

As clothing brands look to decrease their carbon footprint, members of the textile industry are exploring biobased synthetics and sustainable textiles, while simultaneously reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Brands like lululemon are partnering with farmers right here in Iowa to explore how corn can replace petroleum. With nearly 150 billion pounds of synthetic textiles produced in 2020 alone, the use of corn to displace petroleum in fabrics will help companies decrease their carbon emissions while adding value and increasing corn demand. 

New Chemicals 

Corn can be used to create chemicals used in everyday products like flip-flop soles, PVC pipes and pop bottles. Iowa Corn is exploring opportunities to utilize corn-based chemicals with the potential to drive more than 100 million bushels of corn demand each year over the next 10 to 15 years. 

Ethanol for Diesel Engines 

In addition to working to expand the use of ethanol for on road vehicles, Iowa Corn has been working on how to incorporate corn-based ethanol into diesel engines.  The good news is there is proven technology that exists today for converting a traditional diesel style engine to run on E98.  Iowa Corn has been intimately involved in this exciting technology and while more work is needed to fully commercialize, the future is bright to move more ethanol into this untapped market.   

Seeking Partnerships with New Companies 

To seek new uses for corn, ICPB partnered with Radicle Growth to create the Radicle Corn Value Chain Challenge, and we support the National Corn Growers Association’s Consider Corn Challenge. These contests focus on identifying companies and technologies that are developing new uses for corn. These partnerships are vital as we continue to take a proactive approach to finding new uses for corn while also partnering with other corn checkoffs to fund large projects. 

The ICPB continually explores new ways to drive corn demand, and as a farmer elected to serve as ICPB President, I am proud to highlight our work. Not only is corn a renewable resource that is helping companies provide a more sustainable product, but we are also driving corn demand with the goal of helping farmers put more money back in their pockets. I believe we are only touching the surface of corn’s potential, and I’m excited to see what other innovations we have yet to explore.  

The list above is just a few of the new uses we are working on. For a full list and to learn more about how Iowa Corn is challenging innovation, visit https://www.iowacorn.org/corn-production-research/new-corn-uses/. 

Thank you,

Ralph Lents

Iowa Corn Promotion Board President