AgMotion, Inc.

What AgMotion, Inc. does

AgMotion, Inc. is a privately-held Minneapolis-based holding company founded in 2000 by Rolf Peters and Tim Carlson that operates as a parent to multiple wholly-owned subsidiaries in physical commodity trading and risk management. Through US Commodities (domestic and international trading of grains, oilseeds, and pet food ingredients), Northstar Commodity (risk management advisory and derivatives brokerage for grain and livestock producers), United Bio Energy (distillers grain marketing, risk consulting, and enzyme procurement for the North American ethanol sector), Terra Ingredients (organic and non-GMO certified ingredients sourced from a global farm network), AgMotion Dairy Products, and AgMotion Pet Food Ingredients, the company serves enterprise food manufacturers, livestock and feed producers, pet food companies, and ethanol plants across five to six continents. Reported revenue was $850M in 2014 and the firm has ranked on Minnesota's 100 Largest Private Companies list for 8+ consecutive years (No. 21 in 2023).

The company's underlying technology stack centers on a proprietary Supply Chain Intelligence platform (also referred to as the AgMotion Marketing System, or AMS) — a web-based application that tracks product history, handling, and safety data along critical control points in each supply chain, with attached lab analyses and certifications supporting FSMA compliance. A second technical differentiator is the Microbial Reduction Process (MRP), a chemical-free, controlled-pressure steam sterilization process validated to a 5-log kill-step on pathogens including Listeria, Salmonella, Coliforms, and yeast/mold, while preserving organoleptic properties. Together with the Stone Mill processing partnership (GFSI-certified, FSMA-compliant) and custom roasting capabilities added in 2019, these technologies form the technical backbone of the company's organic and non-GMO ingredient book.

AgMotion makes money primarily through transaction-based physical commodity trading spreads and fees across its subsidiaries, supplemented by risk management advisory and derivatives brokerage commissions through Northstar and distillers grain marketing and group enzyme procurement through United Bio Energy. The go-to-market is direct enterprise sales through each subsidiary, supported by active participation in industry trade shows (Cheese Expo, Pet Food Forum, ADPI/ABI, Natural Products Expo West), executive media appearances (AgWeb Markets Now podcast), and PR-driven thought leadership. The company has funded growth through a long-standing revolving credit relationship with U.S. Bank — scaling from $45M (2015) to $60M (2019) to $85M (2021) — rather than through equity raises, and remains founder-led with no disclosed external PE or VC ownership.

Name

AgMotion, Inc.

Legal name

AgMotion, Inc.

Website

https://agmotion.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AgMotion is a Minneapolis-based private holding company operating through subsidiaries (US Commodities, Northstar Commodity, United Bio Energy, Terra Ingredients) that trades physical agricultural commodities and provides risk management and derivatives brokerage services to enterprise food, feed, and energy clients globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Physical Commodity Trading: Physical commodity trading and distribution of agricultural products including grains, dairy, pet food ingredients, and organic/non-GMO ingredients through US Commodities, Terra Ingredients, and other subsidiaries.
2. Risk Management and Derivatives Brokerage: Risk management advisory and derivatives brokerage services for grain and livestock producers and commodity investors, delivered through Northstar Commodity.
3. Distillers Grain Marketing and Risk Consulting: Distillers grain marketing services, risk management consulting, and group enzyme procurement to the North American ethanol sector through United Bio Energy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AgMotion is a Minneapolis-based holding company focused on physical commodity trading and risk management, serving food, feed, and energy clients globally through its subsidiaries. Its core activities include sourcing and distributing grains, dairy ingredients, pet food ingredients, and organic/non-GMO ingredients; providing risk management advisory and derivatives brokerage; and offering proprietary Supply Chain Intelligence traceability software and a chemical-free Microbial Reduction Process (MRP).

Product overview

AgMotion is a Minneapolis-based holding company focused on physical commodity trading and risk management, operating globally in multiple locations to serve food, feed, and energy clients. The company operates through five main subsidiaries: Northstar Commodity (risk management and derivatives brokerage), US Commodities (physical commodity trading), United Bio Energy (ethanol sector services), and Terra Ingredients (organic and non-GMO ingredients). The company also offers proprietary Supply Chain Intelligence software for traceability and FSMA compliance, and operates product lines in dairy ingredients and pet food ingredients. In 2025, partner Stone Mill was acquired by Ardent Mills.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Northstar Commodity: Risk management advisor and derivatives brokerage serving grain and livestock producers and commodity investors in North America.
• US Commodities
• United Bio Energy
• Terra Ingredients
• TBE Capital
• AgMotion Dairy Products
• AgMotion Pet Food Ingredients

Products and services

• US Commodities Physical Commodity Trading Physical commodity trading and distribution both domestically and internationally, serving food, feed, and pet food clients globally with deep industry expertise and strong financial position.
• Northstar Commodity Risk Management and Derivatives Brokerage Risk management advisory and derivatives brokerage serving grain and livestock producers and commodity investors in North America with expert analysis and trade execution.
• United Bio Energy Distillers Grain Marketing and Risk Consulting Distillers grain marketing services, risk management consulting, and group enzyme procurement for the North American ethanol sector, helping partner plants improve profitability.
• Terra Ingredients Organic and Non-GMO Ingredient Supply Leading supplier of organic and non-GMO certified ingredients including flax, beans, pulses, grains, and oilseeds, with fully-traceable supply chain management and FSMA-compliant processing.
• AgMotion Dairy Products Full range of dairy ingredients including cheeses, milk powder, whey powder, butter, and dairy proteins for food and feed industries, with daily market intelligence and inventory management support.
• AgMotion Pet Food Ingredients Wide variety of pet food ingredients including dried potato, sweet potato, pea products, barley, and oat products for domestic and international pet food manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 800 metric tons of fonio produced in Guinea in 2024, exceeding a goal of 300 tons
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Ardent MillsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStone Mill — a long-time partner of Terra Ingredients (a subsidiary of AgMotion) — entered into an acquisition agreement with Ardent Mills in 2025. Terra Ingredients and Ardent Mills plan to continue working closely together through the transition and beyond. Stone Mill had partnered with Terra Ingredients for almost a decade on organic and non-GMO ingredient processing including microbial reduction and roasting capabilities.
• Cristo Rey Jesuit High SchoolminorOthersAgMotion has been a Cristo Rey Charter Participant for 11+ years through its Corporate Work Study Program, hosting students for work experience while they pursue college-prep education. Students fund over half the cost of their education through the work program.
• 360 CommunitiesminorOthersAgMotion supports 360 Communities, which provides hope and support to more than 17,000 individuals each year through food shelves, domestic violence shelters, resource centers, and school success programs.
• Hunger Solutions of MinnesotaminorOthersAgMotion supports Hunger Solutions Minnesota, which works to end hunger by connecting food shelves with funding, technical assistance, and logistical support.
• Here's Life Twin CitiesminorOthersAgMotion supports Here's Life Twin Cities, which provides relief products to help partner ministries connect with those in need including clothing, shoes, backpacks, school supplies, and holiday meals.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Ardent Mills: Largest U.S. flour milling platform that acquired Stone Mill (AgMotion/Terra Ingredients' key processing partner) in 2025. Relevant as the new owner of a previously-aligned supplier and as a broader specialty/organic grain customer and competitor in adjacent ingredient categories.
• Ceres Global Ag: Public North American commodity trading and grain handling company with operations across the U.S. and Canada. Comparable to AgMotion's US Commodities and Sunburst Grain in physical grain merchandising and transload services, though smaller and more geographically concentrated.
• Grain Craft: Largest independent U.S. flour miller with a broad specialty grain and ingredient portfolio. Comparable to AgMotion/Terra as a grain-based ingredient supplier to food manufacturers, particularly in organic and specialty flour segments.

Direct peers

• Bay State Milling Company: Privately-held specialty flour and grain ingredient manufacturer with growing organic and ancient-grain capabilities. Highly comparable to Terra Ingredients as a specialty organic/specialty grain supplier serving food manufacturers and pet food producers.
• CHS Inc. U.S. farmer-owned cooperative and one of the largest agribusiness enterprises in North America, trading grains, marketing dairy and food ingredients, and providing risk management services. Direct competitor to AgMotion's US Commodities, Northstar Commodity, and dairy businesses.
• The Scoular Company: Omaha-based private agricultural commodity trader and supply-chain manager with grain, feed ingredient, and food ingredient businesses globally. Highly comparable to AgMotion as a privately-held, multi-subsidiary commodity trader with similar grain/oilseed/feed focus and a similar geographic and product footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Archer Daniels Midland (ADM): Global agribusiness major trading grains, oilseeds, and food ingredients with substantial specialty ingredients and risk management operations. Comparable to AgMotion in core commodity trading and ingredient distribution but with vastly greater scale, public-market disclosure, and capital base.
• Perdue AgriBusiness: Vertically integrated agricultural commodity trading, grain processing, and biofuels division of Perdue Farms. Comparable to AgMotion in grain origination, oilseed processing, and renewable fuels service offerings (United Bio Energy), with broader downstream integration into Perdue's poultry business.
• Cargill: World's largest privately-held agricultural commodity trader with grain, oilseed, animal nutrition, and food ingredients businesses. Overlaps with AgMotion across physical commodity trading, risk management, and specialty ingredients but operates at massively greater scale and across a much broader portfolio.
• Bunge Global: Global agribusiness and food company focused on oilseed processing and grain origination. Comparable to AgMotion in physical grain/oilseed commodity trading and global distribution footprint, though far larger and more concentrated in oilseed crushing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agmotion-specialty-grains

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AgMotion, Inc.