FY2024 Research

Research Projects Overview

NRRI’s mission is to deliver integrated research solutions that value our resources, environment and economy for a sustainable and resilient future. We are a mission-driven, project-focused team working to create opportunities for natural resource stewardship.

Research projects are funded by multiple sources and combinations of sources including state legislative appropriations, grants (state, federal, non-governmental organizations, foundations and University of Minnesota), service contracts and internal NRRI funding. NRRI’s ability to provide internal research funding to seed emerging research efforts and provide matching funding to pursue research grants is a major differentiator for NRRI scientists as they compete for new funding.

With over 200 active projects in FY24, we saw an overall increase in scope of research and award amounts, and a 35% increase in sponsored research projects since 2020.

We invite you to explore our FY24 research project highlights for a look into how NRRI is achieving our mission.

Research Projects by Funding Type 2020–2024

Research Highlights

Ecosystem Evaluation

Research to assess the health and function of natural ecosystems, human impacts, and remediation strategies.

• Major shifts in Great Lakes algae populations were observed following the invasion of quagga mussels and warming temperatures. Research on the impact of the changes in abundance and species composition will continue to understand impacts further up the food web.
• Waterless boat cleaning stations were tested to understand how to most effectively use the tools to optimize cleaning techniques on boat interiors where aquatic invasive species may be hiding and can be moved from lake to lake.
• Next Gen monitoring with environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling techniques has been applied to water research protocols to increase early detection of newly invading species. 

Water Quality

A multi-disciplinary program that studies water quality, with a focus on developing solutions to manage water resource sustainably, particularly in the face of climate change and pollution concerns.

• Sulfate reduction demonstration projects funded via a partnership with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency were initiated to demonstrate sulfate reduction in municipal and industrial wastewater and help Minnesota meet its wild rice standards. The treatments employ active filtration, chemical precipitation and microbes to transform sulfate to less damaging forms, and remove from the environment.
• Groundbreaking research: Forest fire impacts on lake water quality showed that lakes in burned watersheds had greater amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon nutrients, and were considerably murkier, but did not exhibit increases in algae growth. This new information will help lake and forest managers manage forested watersheds in the face of more frequent and severe wildfires under climate change.
• Trace analyses identified > 200 legacy and emerging contaminants in Lakes Superior and Huron to inform pollution prevention and treatment approaches for removing PFAS using novel sorbents, like biochar and activated carbon. The data will also inform lake management decisions.

Habitat

Understanding the ecosystem needs of terrestrial and aquatic wildlife to inform conservation efforts, management of natural resources, and opportunities to restore habitat in urban and rural environments.

• Black Spruce forest peatland studies led to development and testing of alternative harvest methods that will help inform sustainable forest management and enhance understanding of these complex habitats and valuable ecosystems that maintain biodiversity. 
• Deer-Vehicle Collision Project is informing improved highway safety efforts by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Additional funding was approved to expand the study to the Twin Cities metro area. 
• Moose habitat review is informing a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources effort to establish large areas of moose habitat in northeast Minnesota.

Geosciences

Leveraging geologic science and geochemistry to understand Minnesota’s resource potential while driving sustainable resource utilization.

• Geological hydrogen prospects in Minnesota are being explored under the new partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) funded by a grant from the US Department of Energy. 
• Carbon dioxide sequestration and enhanced critical mineral recovery, a US Dept. of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) project, provided new funds to expand the present MINER (Mining Innovations for Negative Emissions Resources) investigation to specific rock types in southeastern Alaska for comparison with Minnesota minerals. 
• Geological comparisons of Finland and Minnesota critical mineral resources are evolving with new partnerships with the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), universities and mining companies in Finland.

Advanced Mineral Processing

Developing cutting-edge technologies and methodologies that enhance energy efficiency and reduce effluent associated with extraction, separation, and processing of iron ore and other minerals.

• Iron concentrates and pellets from secondary Minnesota iron resources are being developed with process technology and feasibility demonstration of using alternate iron resources, like tailings and iron stockpiles, to make direct reduced iron to feed low emission Electric Arc steelmaking process. 
• Improved total iron analysis developed that eliminates toxic reagents while delivering greater accuracy and precision.

Metallurgy & Metallic Products

Development of extractive metallurgy processes that reduce carbon and other emissions to isolate metallic products from Minnesota minerals.

• Minnesota Green Iron Initiative is being formed by NRRI and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as part of the approach to national industrial decarbonization efforts by the US Department of Energy. The partnership is working to define options to tie green energy generation to green hydrogen and green iron production. 
• Minnesota iron resources under evaluation for use in large-scale energy storage batteries with  industry partner Form Energy, via appropriation from the Minnesota legislature.
• Federal US Department of Energy Funding awards grow to meet research demand. 
  • Industrial Efficiency & Decarbonization Office (IEDO) awarded $4.5M to develop a carbon-neutral engineered biocarbon to replace fossil coal in the steelmaking process, in collaboration with an industry partner. 
  • Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) awarded $1.6M for two projects to reduce iron using hydrogen, ammonia and hydrogen-plasma in collaboration with UMN-TC and Tufts University.

Engineered Biocarbon

Understanding the characteristics, production, and application of fit-for-purpose biocarbon products to develop sustainable solutions for environmental challenges and industrial needs.

• Biocarbon for roadside drainage systems research is funded by the Minnesota Dept. of Transportation to mitigate polluted stormwater runoff. 
• Demonstration of biochar for carbon sequestration in the built environment, such as parks and other city infrastructure, was funded by the University of Minnesota and the City of Minneapolis. 
• Stacking the environmental and economic benefits of engineered biocarbon to stabilize coal combustion sludge for safe, permanent storage is being investigated to help power companies comply with EPA mandates and offers a market opportunity for long-term biocarbon storage.

Sustainable Materials

Developing innovative, renewable, bio-based materials that can replace petroleum-based materials in various industries and applications to reduce carbon emissions.

• A UMN Biodegradation Lab is being constructed at NRRI Duluth with funding from the UMN Research and Innovation Office. This University system cutting-edge asset will advance research and evaluation of new bio-based and biodegradable materials with academic and industry partners. 
• A  lignin-based fertilizer coating material continues development to replace polyurethane-based coatings on slow-release fertilizers, a microplastic pollution problem. This research program was refreshed with input from a fertilizer company partner, leading to an invention disclosure for the new formulation. 
• New engagement with BioMADE, a US Department of Defense-funded organization that supports the development of biomanufacturing technologies and products, to develop new bio-based materials.

Hybrid Poplar

Commercializing and improving fast-growing trees for various applications, including bioenergy production, carbon sequestration and environmental remediation.

• The InnovaTree™ launched in July 2023, the first publicly available NRRI hybrid poplar clone, with one nursery partner. Five more nursery partners were added in Spring 2024. 
• A United States plant patent was approved in May for the InnovaTree. 
• New hybrid poplar propagation sites were established with 11,000 cuttings at a University of Minnesota farm in Grand Rapids, MN. These will provide a significant amount of high demand, fast growing poplars to stakeholders and for future testing. 
• Phytoremediation applications are under demonstration in collaboration with the US Forest Service.

NRRI Integrated Expertise

Cross-cutting institute expertise that supports all NRRI programs and projects, from developing web-based tools, databases and custom web applications for visualizing and analyzing data to material testing, spatial analysis and custom laboratory design and construction.

• Drone technology advances science 
  • A new fixed wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle was acquired with vertical take off and landing capability, higher resolution cameras, and increased flight duration; it allows collection of imagery in locations previously inaccessible.
  • Demonstrated improved classification accuracy of peatland vegetation in imagery collected with our Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, making significant progress towards the goal of remote monitoring of sensitive ecosystems. 
• Provided GIS services, satellite imagery acquisition, image classification, and database development for research groups across the Institute. 
• Improved iron mining waste pile database documenting resources most suitable for development. This information will serve the industry as interest grows in using existing waste piles as a source of iron. 
• Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) is being incorporated in predictive tools in partnership with National Renewable Energy Lab scientists.
• New Green Chemistry iron titration method developed to remove toxic reagents while improving accuracy and precision of results. 
• NRRI Engineering team collaborated across the Institute to plan, design, and deliver enhanced research facilities.

Climate Change Assessment - Growth program

Research specifically focused on monitoring and understanding the impacts of climate change on various systems, especially forest and water ecosystems, to mitigate risks and develop potential adaptation strategies.

• Methane emissions pilot study was initiated with NRRI funding to understand the impact of greenhouse gas emissions from freshwater wetlands and peatlands. 
• Mechanisms of climate-induced range shifts in bird species were revealed with a new predictive framework that leverages 29 years of NRRI bird monitoring data from the Minnesota National Forest Breeding Bird Monitoring Program. 
• Decades of long-term monitoring data of wetlands, rivers & streams, and inland lakes is providing critical information to agency managers about the impacts of climate change to water ecosystems. 
• Toxic harmful algal bloom research seeks to understand climate and landscape drivers responsible for the proliferation of toxic cyanobacteria in aquatic ecosystems where they have historically been absent, such as Lake Superior and the St. Louis River Estuary. 
• Migration of southern flying squirrels into territory of northern flying squirrels is signaling changes to the forest ecosystem due to climate change.

Non-Fossil Liquid Fuels - Growth Program

Learning to harness the power of the sun and photosynthesis to fix atmospheric carbon and convert biomass to green fuels by leveraging the emerging hydrogen economy.

• Engaging industry partners with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to identify opportunities to convert woody biomass into liquid fuels using green hydrogen resources. This work will be incorporated into the industrial decarbonization effort being spearheaded by the Green Iron Initiative in NRRI’s Advanced Mineral Processing Program.