Viewpoints: IUGI Deals Award Goes to USDA-ARS NSDL + Auburn University + Carbon Asset Solutions

LES announced the recipients of its Deals of Distinction™ Awards in five industry sectors: Industry-University-Government Interface, Brands As A Business, High-Tech, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences. Now in its twentieth year, the annual program recognizes companies that orchestrate the year’s most outstanding licensing and business deals in each sector. The awards were presented during the LES Annual Meeting Business Luncheon on October 21, 2024. Key dealmakers were on hand to provide insights on their winning deals.

Dealmakers: USDA-ARS NSDL (US Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Service-Soil Dynamics Research Lab) + Auburn University + Carbon Asset Solutions (CAS)

Presented by: Adrian Cyhan, LES Co-Chair of IUGI to Troy Brady, Director of Commercialization, Auburn University

Why it won…

Carbon capture technology is at the heart of this deal, which aims to reduce carbon emissions in the agricultural sector. The goal is to use precise soil carbon data, measured through the use of patented MINS technology, to generate high-integrity carbon credits that farmers can sell on the world carbon market. This would incentivize sustainable agricultural practices and create a new revenue stream for farmers. Through this partnership, Auburn University, USDA, and CAS are working to commercialize the MINS technology, hoping to make a significant environmental impact by transforming agriculture into a global climate solution. 

Auburn University and the USDA-Agricultural Research Service co-own a relevant patent for Mobile Inelastic Neutron Scanning (MINS), which was then licensed to CAS to further develop and commercialize the technology. 

MINS technology allows soil to be scanned for elemental content while the scanner is driven or towed across a field, and as soon as the scan is completed, an elemental distribution map is produced.  Field studies have shown that measuring soil carbon with MINS achieves an unprecedented 95%+ certainty across the field at a significantly reduced cost, and in a fraction of the time of traditional point sampling processes.  The technology uses gamma-ray analysis of soil elements at the atomic level, enabling farmers to accurately monitor and quantify their carbon sequestration efforts through improved land management practices. 

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About Licensing Executives Society (USA & Canada), Inc. (LES):

Established in 1965, LES (USA & Canada) is one of the longest running professional societies supporting the development of members engaged in the creation, commercial development, and orderly transfer of intellectual property. LES members include business executives, lawyers, accountants, consultants, and scientists and engineers; who represent innovation-oriented enterprises of all sizes, professional services firms, universities, and government labs. LES is the largest of 43 global member societies of the Licensing Executives Society International, Inc. (LESI). For more information about LES, visit www.lesusacanada.org.

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