Center for Crops Utilization Research, Iowa State University
Ames, IA
Iowa State University center with 14,000 sq ft of food processing and fermentation pilot plant space in Ames, plus a pilot-scale fermentation facility in Boone, Iowa, that does contract R&D and fee-for-service scale-up for companies from startups to large enterprises. Equipment covers milling, extrusion, HTST/UHT pasteurization, homogenization, spray, drum, vacuum and freeze drying and 500 to 1,000 liter fermenters, producing prototype product up to tens of kilograms rather than commercial runs.
Request an introductionWhat this plant can run
Process
Lit: the preservation processes they state. 12 processes stated in all.
Packaging
0formats stated
Not stated in their published information.
Minimum order
Not publishedAsk on the first call.
Certifications
A dark light means their published information does not say, not that they cannot.
What they state
- Plant locations
- Ames, IA
- Boone, IA
- Process
- FermentationExtrusionSpray dryingFreeze dryingDehydrationHTST pasteurizationUHTEmulsifying and homogenizingMilling and grindingKettle cookingNitrogen flush and MAPVacuum packing
- Packaging
- Not stated in their published information
- Products
- Chips and extruded snacksGranola and cerealPlant-based meatPet food and treats
- Minimum order
- Not published
- Food safety certification
- Not stated in their published informationNo GFSI scheme found on their site; not proof they lack one.
- Other certifications
- Not stated in their published information
- Regulatory scope
- Not stated in their published information
- Equipment
- Leistritz Mic 27/GI-40D twin-screw extruder, 30 kg/hr
- burr, colloid, impact and microcut mills; Kason and Sweco sifters; aspirator
- jacketed agitated tanks from 4 to 500 gallons and GROEN steam kettles
- Micro Thermics HTST/UHT systems, 2 L/min
- Avestin and Ariete high pressure homogenizers
- APV, Niro and SPX pilot spray dryers (3 to 20 L/hr) and Buchi mini spray dryer
- drum dryer (200 to 500 kg/hr), vacuum dryer and Virtis pilot freeze dryer
- falling film evaporator, membrane filtration (MF, UF, NF, RO), decanter and disc-stack centrifuges
- supercritical CO2 extractor
- Applikon 500 L and 1,000 L pilot fermenters and bench fermenters from 2 to 40 L
- Koch X180 vacuum and modified atmosphere sealer
- Batch size or capacity
- Pilot fermentation at 500 to 1,200 liters; prototype product from a few to tens of kilograms; Leistritz 27 mm twin-screw extruder up to 30 kg/hr
- Services
- Formulation and R&DPilot and small runsRecipe scale-upIn-house labCold storage
- Works with
- Startups and first runsLarge CPG companies
- Also states
- Processing crops into food, feed and biorenewable products
- Extrusion feasibility and scale-up trials for feeds, pet foods, breakfast cereals, snacks and plant protein meats
- Downstream processing: centrifugation, membrane separation, chromatography, evaporation
- Supercritical CO2 extraction
- Industry incubator program renting lab and office space for up to 2 years
- Workforce training in food processing and industrial fermentation
- Type of company
- R&D and pilot lab
How we checked
Verified 2026-10-02 from the manufacturer's published information (6 pages checked).
Their own published information states these capabilities clearly.
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