CINRAM | UMN Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management

What CINRAM | UMN Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management does

CINRAM is the Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management, a university research center housed within the Department of Forest Resources at the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) in St. Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1996, the center coordinates and implements applied research and extension projects focused on agroforestry and integrated land use systems, including alley cropping with perennial bioenergy crops, living snow fences, riparian forest buffers, short rotation woody crops, and sustainable non-timber forest product harvesting. Its primary audiences are Minnesota farmers and landowners, natural resource professionals, public agency staff, and forest-dependent communities in Guatemala, Mexico, and India (Mizoram).

CINRAM's portfolio consists of interconnected research initiatives rather than a unified product. Notable projects include the Eco-Palms sustainable palm certification program (in partnership with Rainforest Alliance, FSC, and faith-based organizations), the Ramón Project for market-based conservation in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, the Elm Creek Watershed Project in the Minnesota River Basin, the Forever Green Initiative for continuous living cover crops, the FarmMaps farmer-to-farmer networking tool, and international collaborations on land and water use in the Eastern Himalayas. Distribution occurs through academic channels: the UMN Digital Conservancy repository, field days, conference presentations, direct landowner outreach, and partner distribution networks.

The center operates as a publicly funded research entity rather than a commercial business. Its only documented revenue stream is one-time publication sales (e.g., conference proceedings at $10 USD per copy), with primary operations sustained through university funding, grants, and partnership agreements. The center reports 5 employees and is led by Director Dean Current. It does not develop proprietary technology, sell commercial software, or hold patents, and its competitive position is grounded in institutional affiliation, research credibility, and partnership ecosystem rather than commercial assets.

Name

CINRAM | UMN Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management

Legal name

Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management

Website

https://cinram.umn.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CINRAM is a University of Minnesota research center founded in 1996 that coordinates agroforestry and integrated land use research for farmers, landowners, natural resource professionals, and forest-dependent communities in Minnesota, Guatemala, Mexico, and India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAMACAO

Monitoring, Survival Surveys & Carbon/MRV Services (Remote Sensing, Field Audits)

Agriculture & Food Production/Forestry & Logging/Reforestation, Afforestation & Tree Planting Services

SECONDARYEUAHADAI

Agriculture & Land-Use MRV (Soil carbon, livestock, forestry/REDD+)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Emissions Measurement, Reporting & Verification (MRV)

SECONDARYFSAFAMAE

Environmental & Emissions Commodities Exchanges (Carbon, Renewable Certificates)

Financial & Insurance/Financial Exchanges & Market Infrastructure/Commodity Exchanges

Keywords

• Agroforestry research
• Integrated land use
• Watershed management
• Non-timber forest products
• Sustainable forestry

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Publications Sales: CINRAM generates revenue through sales of published proceedings and educational materials. The 1998 Specialty Forest Products/Forest Farming Conference proceedings are sold for $10.00 (US) payable to the University of Minnesota.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CINRAM is a University of Minnesota research and outreach center that develops and disseminates integrated natural resource and agricultural management solutions, with a primary focus on agroforestry, non-timber forest products, and watershed-based land use. It conducts applied research projects, produces publications and maps, and delivers outreach to farmers, landowners, cooperatives, NGOs, and public agencies.

Product overview

CINRAM is a partner-based organization at the University of Minnesota that catalyzes the development and adoption of integrated land use systems. Rather than a unified software product, CINRAM offers a portfolio of interconnected research initiatives and educational resources focused on agroforestry and sustainable land management. The core offerings include: the Eco-Palms certification program for sustainable palm harvesting; the Ramón Project for market-based conservation in Guatemala; Living Snow Fences research for transportation safety; Alley Cropping research for bioenergy; the Elm Creek Watershed Project for water quality; Farm Maps as a farmer networking tool; and the Forever Green Initiative for continuous crop cover. Additionally, CINRAM provides publications including the Landowners Guide to Carbon Sequestration Credits and conference proceedings on specialty forest products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Eco-Palms Project Research and supply-chain program coordinating the ethical harvest of palm fronds by small producer cooperatives for the U.S. holiday market, designed to support sustainable livelihoods and biodiversity.
• Ramón (Breadnut) Project Applied research and market development initiative supporting the sustainable harvest, processing, and commercialization of ramón (breadnut) by forest communities in Central America.
• Living Snow Fences Outreach and planting program that establishes rows of trees and shrubs on farms to trap blowing snow, protect roads and livestock, and produce conservation benefits.
• Alley Cropping Research Applied research and outreach on integrating rows of trees with row-crop or forage production to improve soil health, biodiversity, and farm income.
• Elm Creek Watershed Project Integrated watershed research and outreach project examining land use, water quality, and conservation practices in the Elm Creek watershed in Minnesota.
• Forever Green Initiative (CINRAM contribution) CINRAM's research contribution to the University of Minnesota's Forever Green initiative, developing winter-hardy crops and perennial cropping systems that deliver environmental benefits.
• Farm Maps GIS-based farm mapping tools and resources that help farmers, landowners, and conservation planners visualize land use, conservation practices, and agroforestry opportunities.
• Research Publications and Outreach Materials Peer-reviewed journal articles, technical reports, and outreach publications produced by CINRAM researchers and distributed to landowners, agencies, and the broader research community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research and outreach programs spanning Minnesota River Basin, Elm Creek watershed, and international locations including Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Rainforest Alliance TREES ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2004Long-standing partnership for sustainable forest product certification and market development. Collaborated on Eco-Palms certification program for palms from Mexico and Guatemala, and Ramón seed research since 2011 as part of Climate, Nature, and Communities in Guatemala (CNCG) program.
• North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (NACEC/CEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with NACEC and Rainforest Alliance to certify sustainably harvested palms from Mexico and Guatemala for North American markets, particularly Palm Sunday sales to churches.
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSC certification for Non-Timber Forest Products (Eco-Palms and other products) from harvesting communities in Mexico and Guatemala, working with Rainforest Alliance.
• Continental Floral GreenscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesaler partner enabling Eco-Palms distribution throughout the United States for Palm Sunday.
• GreenwingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for Eco-Palms program, enabling distribution throughout the United States.
• Lutheran World Relief (LWR)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerFaith-based organization partner helping expand awareness of Eco-Palms sustainable palm certification program.
• United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerFaith-based organization partner promoting sustainable palm purchasing for Palm Sunday among Methodist congregations.
• Presbyterian Church USA - Enough for Everyone ProgrammajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFaith-based organization partner expanding awareness of Eco-Palms sustainable certification program.
• CATIE (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and educational institution in Costa Rica collaborating on tropical agricultural research relevant to Eco-Palms and forest community livelihoods.
• Pronatura ChiapasmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexican conservation organization partner in sustainable palm and forest product certification efforts.
• SmartwoodmajorTechnology or IntegrationForest certification organization providing certification services for sustainable palm harvesting operations.
• TransFair USAmajorTechnology or IntegrationFair trade certification organization involved in sustainable palm certification program.
• USDA National Agroforestry CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal research center providing technical support and collaboration on agroforestry research including alley cropping systems and riparian buffers.
• Minnesota Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner in Elm Creek Watershed Project and water quality improvement initiatives.
• Rural AdvantagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Elm Creek Watershed Project facilitating collaborative solutions to local water quality issues.
• Martin County Soil and Water Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal conservation district partner in Elm Creek watershed research, outreach, and demonstration projects.
• University of Minnesota ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity extension service partner providing outreach and educational programming for agroforestry and water quality projects.
• ACOFOP (Association of Forest Communities of the Petén)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of community forest concessions in Guatemala's Maya Biosphere Reserve, partner in Ramón seed research and community forestry development since 2011.
• Rainforest AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Forest, People & Products community forest initiative, supporting non-timber forest product development and global market access for forest community enterprises.
• Forever Green InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnected initiative at University of Minnesota focused on developing perennial crops and agroforestry systems for continuous ground cover. Shared leadership and research collaboration.
• Mizoram UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndian university partner in Eastern Himalayas research collaboration since 2012, covering agroforestry, shifting cultivation, farming systems, water supply, mycology, and horticulture.
• Mizoram State GovernmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner in land and water use research in northeastern India since 2012.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CATIE (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza): Latin American tropical agricultural research and education center named as a CINRAM partner; directly comparable on tropical agroforestry, NTFPs, and community forestry in Mesoamerica.
• University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry: Federally designated university center conducting agroforestry research, education, and extension; closely comparable to CINRAM in mission, structure (university-hosted), and focus on temperate agroforestry practices and on-farm economics.
• The Savanna Institute: Midwest-focused nonprofit supporting agroforestry adoption through research, demonstration farms, and supply-chain partnerships; comparable to CINRAM in regional focus and integration of farmer-facing economic analysis.
• EcoAgriculture Partners: Nonprofit focused on integrated landscape approaches linking agriculture, conservation, and livelihoods; directly comparable to CINRAM in mission around multifunctional landscapes, watershed-scale work, and smallholder forest communities.

Broad incumbents

• USDA National Agroforestry Center: Federal agroforestry research and application center operated by USDA Forest Service; a named CINRAM partner and the closest peer in applied agroforestry science and landowner outreach, but federally funded rather than university-based.
• World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF/CIFOR-ICRAF): Global research institution under CGIAR that develops agroforestry science, policy, and capacity across the tropics; overlaps with CINRAM's international work in Guatemala, Mexico, and India, but at significantly larger scale.
• CIRAD (Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique): French public research organization working on tropical agroforestry, value chains, and sustainable land use; comparable to CINRAM in combining applied economics, agroforestry, and tropical forest-community partnerships.

Others

• Rainforest Alliance: Long-standing CINRAM partner running the TREES program and FSC certification for non-timber forest products; adjacent rather than directly competitive, but pursues parallel market-based conservation and forest-community livelihoods work.
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): Global forest certification body that issues the FSC labels CINRAM-funded Eco-Palms and Ramón seed products rely on; not a peer but the certification ecosystem that underpins the commercial side of CINRAM's tropical work.
• Association for Temperate Agroforestry (AFTA): Professional society that organizes the North American Agroforestry Conference (where CINRAM has presented); comparable community-builder role for agroforestry practitioners and researchers in temperate North America.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 CINRAM | UMN Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management