MBOLD Harnesses the Region’s Tech Environment to Help Food Producers Find Sustainable Solutions

The United States is home to 340 million people who all deserve access to food and clean water. Minnesota is an essential state for food production with thousands of locally owned farms, while Minneapolis-St. Paul is a hub for food processing and retailing, with giants like General Mills, Target, Cargill, and Schwan’s calling this region home.

Feeding our country is a complicated process that can be taxing on the environment. The MBOLD® Coalition, part of the GREATER MSP Partnership, is working to develop sustainable solutions for food production.

The thriving technology sector in Minneapolis, and specifically the region known as the Minnesota Technology Corridor, is poised to ensure future generations of Americans have access to nutritious meals that taste as good as they look.

Learn more about MBOLD’s commitment to food and climate resilience.

MBOLD Takes a Multi-Faceted Approach to Food Sustainability 

Every meal you eat takes countless hours to produce and many companies along the supply chain to get it to your door. Before a chicken lays an egg, it needs grain, water, and a safe environment. Once the egg is laid, its processing, packaging, and shipping consume materials and energy. Because food production is so diverse and requires so many steps, MBOLD is focusing on a few key aspects that can have a big impact. Here are its current goals to promote food sustainability.  

• Soil health and water stewardship: MBOLD is working to help farms become more resilient, build their soil, and steward Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. 
• Recycling flexible packaging film: Only 5% of flexible packaging film, such as pallet wrap and single-use shopping bags, is recycled in the United States. MBOLD catalyzed the development of a state-of-the-art plastic film recycling plant in Rogers, MN, which makes it possible to recycle these materials close to home. 
• Protein sustainability: the proteins we consume significantly impact the environment. MBOLD is developing solutions for animal agriculture to reduce its environmental impact and make more plant-based options available to consumers.  

“Between climate change and growing global demand for food, the food and agriculture sector is facing both unprecedented challenges and opportunities,” says JoAnne Berkenkamp, Managing Director at MBOLD. “We are excited to bring together some of the nation's most important companies and innovators — who are based right in our backyard — to drive innovation and sustainability through shared vision and collaboration.” 

MBOLD Supports Entrepreneurs Across Minnesota

While MBOLD works with leading food and agriculture companies that are based in Minnesota, it also supports entrepreneurs who have big ideas about sustainability. Our region is a hub for innovation, with nearly 36,000 residents employed in tech manufacturing. Minneapolis ranks 15th in the country for tech employment and has seen a bloom of new companies and innovative startups in recent years.

“We’re excited about MBOLD’s commitment to sustainability in food, but also appreciate its commitment to building up local Minnesota companies,” says Chris Eng, Economic Development Director for the Washington County CDA. “There are a ton of great ideas in the MSP Region and our communities can thrive when we support them.”

One notable initiative of MBOLD is the "Bold Growth" mentorship program that helps startups scale. Entrepreneurs receive guidance from Minnesota-based corporate food and agriculture partners to help them reach their next level of growth and market impact. 

Sustainable Food Investment Extends Beyond Eating 

Farmers feed America, but they also create products that are essential to support society.

For example, the Minnesota SAF Hub, also part of GREATER MSP, aims to increase sustainable aviation fuel production. It aspires to someday produce one billion gallons of low-carbon aviation fuel per year, which could meet the needs of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, which boasts 800 flights per day.

One way to make SAF is to grow it. It requires corn farmers to sell their stover to processors and also involves planting new crops. MBOLD can be a resource to the agriculture community, helping farmers learn about potential options to grow crops for SAF while also protecting their land for future generations. 

MBOLD is a Great Example of Collaboration of the MSP Tech Community 

Companies across the Minnesota Technology Corridor have discovered that they are stronger when they work together. Various industries are forming partnerships to reach their goals and new tech niches are growing in the area as a result. MBOLD is a great example of how a coalition of businesses with similar goals can move their plans forward faster and more effectively. Sustainable technology futures are found in Minnesota, with Minneapolis-St. Paul leading the way.

Learn more about the Minnesota Technology Corridor including our partnerships throughout the region.