If you are a Montana food business seeking assistance with food product development, improvement, or testing, and your product utilizes Montana crops and/or meat/poultry*, you may be eligible for our free technical assistance/R&D support, via the Business Enhancement Program (BEP) managed by Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA). According to MDA, "this program is specifically designed for businesses in value-added agriculture and middle of supply chain food activities (processing, manufacturing, distribution, aggregation, etc.). It can help support access to the following resources to expand or advance your business to the next level towards success, at little to no expense."

See MDA's flyer, which lists all services available through the BEP. If your project is determined ineligible for the BEP, you can still work with us as a private paying client.

Through the BEP, our lab offers:

  1. Expert consultations on:
    1. Product recipe development/improvement with our culinary research chef
    2. Food product technical issues/troubleshooting with our food scientist
    3. Extruded product formulations and ingredient testing with our food extrusion unit manager
  2. Sensory testing for studying product marketability

To determine eligibility, please:

  1. Fill out our client intake questionnaire to tell us more about your product and how we can assist you.
  2. Contact your local Food & Ag Development Center (FADC) representative to determine your project’s eligibility for the BEP program. You'll need to obtain FADC approval before we can work with you.
  3. When your FADC notifies us of project approval, we'll schedule a meeting with you (remotely or in-person) to determine the scope of work.

Note that we have 40 hours to assist your project. All project outcomes and proprietary information will belong to you.

Please email sensory@montana.edu if you have any questions regarding this opportunity.

*Crops or meat/poultry used in the product must be actively cultivated or raised in Montana and comprise at least 50% by weight of the finished product (excluding added water). Wild harvested or hunted products are not eligible.