If your morning started with a hot egg sandwich, a full tank of gas, or even a fresh face of makeup, you’re probably already running on POET. And if your afternoon includes a carbonated beverage, clean countertops, or a drive on smooth roads, chances are that’s POET too.
At POET, we don’t just fuel the world. We also feed it, clean it, revitalize it, and power it, all from one remarkable source: homegrown American corn. Over decades of combining creativity with common sense, we’ve transformed a simple grain into a suite of renewable bioproducts that touch more parts of daily life than you might realize.
In addition to bioethanol, our product portfolio includes animal feed ingredients, corn oil, bioCO2, and purified alcohol, all of which are used in a variety of applications and marketed to an ever-growing base of domestic and international customers. But you probably won’t find a POET logo stamped on your soda can or food packaging, because our products are often working behind the scenes — showing up in your cabinet, on your plate, and even under your tires to make life better, cleaner, and more affordable.
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Dinner with a side of DDGS
Let’s start with dinner — specifically, how it gets to your plate. Whether it’s a juicy steak, a dozen eggs, or a slice of cheddar, it likely began with a well-fed animal, and there’s a good chance that animal dined on POET’s high-quality feed ingredients. Our dried distillers grains (DDGS), corn fermented protein, and other feed options are optimized to help ag producers raise healthier poultry, beef cattle, dairy cows, swine, and aquaculture, which means better, more affordable protein options on your family’s table.
A byproduct of POET’s bioethanol process, our protein-packed, nutrient-rich animal feed ingredients support livestock health and growth. These grains are a win-win: they deliver value to farmers and ranchers, reduce waste, and help feed the world; in fact, in 2024, POET exported feed products to more than 25 countries.
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And here’s a fun fact: POET corn fermented protein bioproduct is produced with such high quality that it carries an FSSC food safety certification, making it safe enough to use in pet food. So whether it’s feeding dairy cows, chickens, or man’s best friend, POET’s feed products are helping nourish animals across the board.
“At POET, we often say we’re never satisfied with ‘good enough,’ and that certainly applies to our feed products,” said Greg Breukelman, President of POET Bioproducts. “From the time grain is delivered at a plant to the time our products ship out, our team works to ensure that they meet the highest quality standards, helping farmers raise healthy animals and, ultimately, putting healthy food on our tables.”
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The fizz factor
The next time you crack open a soda, sparkling water, or beer, consider this: the bubbles may have started in a cornfield. That’s thanks to POET BioCO2, a high-purity, renewable carbon dioxide captured during the fermentation process of bioethanol production. It’s the same CO2 that gives your beverages their sparkle and keeps packaged foods fresh — and because it’s biogenic, it’s a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil-based sources.
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“POET bioCO2 is a great example of how we create value every step of the way throughout our process,” said Christian McIlvain, President of POET Grain. “It’s sustainable, it’s local, and it’s being used to serve other essential industries.”
Unlike fossil-based CO2, our bioCO2 is sustainably captured and repurposed, giving soda its sparkle and freezers their frost without adding new carbon to the atmosphere.
“It’s a closed-loop system,” said McIlvain. “The only emissions from burning bioethanol are carbon dioxide and water. Plants like corn absorb that CO2, which is released again during fermentation. We’re capturing something that would normally be wasted and turning it into something useful.”
But we don’t stop at beverages; that same bioCO2 is also used in dry ice, which has proven vital in everything from shipping groceries and medicine to keeping coolers cold at the county fair.
Clean house, clean conscience
Let’s step out of the kitchen and take a look in the medicine cabinet, or maybe under the sink. It’s quite possible you’ll find at least one product containing purified alcohol produced at POET. From household cleaners to hand sanitizers, cosmetics, and even pharmaceuticals, this high-purity alcohol helps keep homes clean, hands germ-free, and products safe for use. It’s the gentle but effective hero of your home, created from corn and crafted to pharmaceutical-grade standards.
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“Many consumers would be surprised by how frequently they rely on our products every day without realizing it,” said McIlvain. “We’re proud to work with companies who source our purified alcohol as a cleaner, healthier alternative to other ingredients in consumer products.”
Smooth roads, strong roots
It’s time to hit the road, where POET’s presence goes beyond just fuel. Our plant-based asphalt rejuvenator helps restore aged asphalt with a lower-cost, safer alternative; since it’s made from 100% homegrown corn, it’s more sustainable than the competition by a mile. That means longer-lasting, better-performing roads, without petroleum-based additives.
“We’re not just thinking about the next mile, we’re thinking about the next generation,” said Breukelman. “Bioproducts like our asphalt rejuvenator show how versatile our raw materials can be. The same corn that is safe to feed your food or put on your skin is also powerful enough to fuel a car, or even fix a road.”
The engine behind it all
And speaking of fuel, no list of POET bioproducts would be complete without a tip of the cap to the big one: bioethanol. The clean-burning, renewable fuel displaces harmful petroleum, enhances American energy independence, and keeps fuel prices down at the pump — all while supporting millions of acres of American farmland.
Every gallon of bioethanol produced replaces toxic chemicals found in gasoline and keeps dollars in rural communities rather than sending them overseas. When blended into fuel, bioethanol helps lower prices at the pump, improve engine performance, and reduce toxic tailpipe emissions.
“From day one, bioethanol has been the crowning jewel of our business. With each gallon sold, local jobs are supported, new opportunities are created, and the connection between farmers, communities, and consumers grows stronger,” said Jeff Lautt, POET President and COO.
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Made in America. Made to matter.
All of this starts with corn. And not just any corn — Midwestern, family-farm-grown corn delivered straight to POET’s 35 bioprocessing facilities. The farmers we work with are often our friends, neighbors, and community members. It’s not the kind of connection you can buy. It’s one that’s built.
Every POET bioproduct is part of a bigger story: one of stewardship, innovation, and shared success. Whether you live in a small town or a big city, our bioproducts are helping keep your gas tank full, your pantry stocked, your home clean, and your community strong.
We believe that anything that you can make from a barrel of oil, you can produce from a bushel of corn — and support rural communities and family farms while you’re at it.
“We’re working to create a full-circle bioeconomy, where nothing goes to waste and everything adds value,” said Lautt. “And we like to think we’re just getting started.”
As markets shift and consumers demand more responsible products, POET will continue to lead the charge. Our research teams are continuously exploring new uses for our bioproducts and better ways to deliver what people need — safely, sustainably, and affordably.
So the next time you pop open a soda, disinfect a surface, or drive across a smooth stretch of highway, remember: POET might be closer than you think.
