Real World Impacts

The Midwest Industrial Transformation Initiative (MITI)

The Midwest Industrial Transformation Initiative (MITI) is NRRI’s flagship platform for advancing place-based industrial transformation across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.

By merging applied research with industry and community collaboration, MITI addresses the technical, economic, and social challenges of decarbonizing heavy industry while building resilient systems for the future.

Core Areas of Focus

MITI aligns next-generation technologies with regional needs, focusing on:

• Advanced Processing: Iron and steel production.

• Energy Systems: Integrated, sustainable energy infrastructure.

• Community & Workforce: Aligning innovation with environmental stewardship, infrastructure planning, and local job needs.

A Collaborative Ecosystem

MITI operates through a powerful network of regional and national partners:

• Great Plains Institute

• West Central Research and Outreach Center

• U.S. National Laboratories

Why It Matters

MITI transforms NRRI’s research into a system-scale model for the region. It serves three primary functions:

1. Informed Decision-Making: Supports smart investments in industrial infrastructure and environmental policy.

2. National Leadership: Positions Minnesota as a premier testbed for responsible, next-generation industrial innovation.

3. Community-First Approach: Moves beyond research for communities to research with them—ensuring the industrial future is grounded in local values and economic competitiveness.

Our Commitment

Through transparent communication and sustained partnership, MITI is shaping an industrial landscape that is as environmentally responsible as it is economically strong.

Sustaining Minnesota’s Iron Leadership

Minnesota remains the nation’s leader in iron production for the steel industry. However, to maintain this position, production technologies must evolve alongside the industry—specifically the increasing shift toward Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF).

To meet these technical challenges and utilize previously unusable iron resources, MagIron LLC partnered with researchers at the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) in Coleraine, Minnesota. This collaboration recently completed a comprehensive pilot plant test program, a vital component of MagIron’s feasibility study for restarting and expanding Plant 4 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Rigorous Testing and Scalability

The NRRI test program consisted of over 110 bench tests and multiple continuous pilot plant runs. The team utilized MagIron’s new proprietary process, which integrates:

• Iron ore crushing
• Magnetic separation
• Fine grinding
• Flotation circuits

These circuits are designed to maximize yield from the company's mineral assets. Results from the test work exceeded recovery expectations and confirmed that the process is scalable to the higher production levels necessary for MagIron’s future success.

Validating High-Grade Production

NRRI researchers confirmed the technical viability of this innovative process, demonstrating exceptional recovery rates and concentrate quality at the pilot scale, consistent with previous bench-scale results.

The pilot plant achieved an 83.5% iron recovery while making direct reduction (“DR”) grade concentrate. These results validate MagIron’s ability to produce DR-grade iron oxide concentrate, supporting the Company’s strategy to supply high-grade feedstock for the growing Electric Arc Furnace steel sector.

Strengthening Minnesota’s Industrial Backbone

Beyond the partnership with MagIron, NRRI continues to provide critical research and support for several key businesses driving Minnesota’s economy, including U.S. Steel, Cleveland-Cliffs, Minnesota Power, Form Energy, Heliene USA, Intectural, Barr Engineering, and Cargill.

Navigating Environmental Change in Minnesota

Minnesota’s forests, peatlands, and lakes are undergoing rapid shifts, creating new challenges for land, water, and wildlife management. NRRI scientists quantify these changes to provide decision-ready tools that help managers conserve, restore, and sustain natural resources under increasing uncertainty.

Advancing Forest Health & Management

Forest management remains a core pillar of the NRRI mission. By studying sensitive indicators and hidden ecosystem drivers, we translate science into actionable strategies:

• Indicator Species: Mapping the distribution of flying squirrels and Golden-winged Warblers to track ecosystem health.

• Fungal Networks: Researching the overlooked role of carnivores in dispersing mycorrhizal fungi, which strengthens plant nutrient uptake.

• Invasive Species Response: Developing management strategies for black ash wetlands to maintain ecosystem function despite the emerald ash borer invasion.

• Collaborative Guides: Implementing the Forestry for the Birds guide—developed with over 20 regional partners—through ongoing training efforts.

Protecting Aquatic Ecosystem Health

In the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," NRRI is identifying how extreme events impact our water quality:

• Wildfire Impact: Research shows that lakes in burned watersheds remain nutrient-rich, murky, and "tea-stained" for two to three years post-fire.

• Restoration Strategy: These findings help management agencies design better post-fire restoration plans to reduce negative consequences for aquatic ecosystems.

Peatlands: Minnesota’s Climate Infrastructure

NRRI conducts long-term research on peatlands to understand their role in carbon storage, water regulation, and biodiversity.

• Carbon Monitoring: At the Fens research site, NRRI has installed carbon flux towers to measure how restored peatlands store or release carbon.

• National Research Hub: The Sax-Zim area now represents one of the highest densities of carbon monitoring infrastructure in the U.S.

• Strategic Outcome: This data positions Minnesota as a leading hub for peatland restoration and climate resilience.

Forest Bioeconomy & Biocarbon Innovation

The long-term decline of traditional forest industries, combined with the spread of invasive pests like the emerald ash borer, has created a dual challenge: economic hardship and disrupted ecosystems. NRRI is addressing this by developing novel biocarbon products that turn damaged and vulnerable timber into sustainable industrial solutions.

Transforming Waste into Value

NRRI utilizes pest-damaged trees, forest thinning, and harvest residuals to engineer materials for two primary sectors:

• Steelmaking & Heavy Industry: * The Innovation: A biocarbon replacement for fossil coke.

  • The Impact: Funded by the US Department of Energy, this technology addresses critical industry needs while significantly improving global carbon balances.

• Environmental Remediation:

  • The Innovation: Specialized biocarbon materials that sequester carbon, salts, and contaminants.

  • The Impact: Funded by the US Department of Transportation, these materials are used along roadways, parks, and landfills to improve environmental health and create new markets for forest products.

Advancing Sustainable Materials

To further reduce the impact of plastics and synthetic chemicals, NRRI is expanding into the field of biodegradable polymers.

• New Infrastructure: NRRI was awarded a grant from the UMN Research and Innovation Office to establish a first-of-its-kind biodegradation testing laboratory within the University of Minnesota.

• Plastic Substitutes: This facility supports the development of polymers derived from forest and agricultural resources, providing eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastics.

• Strategic Goal: By testing and refining these materials, NRRI is leading the transition toward a bio-based economy that supports both forest health and industrial sustainability.