Welcome

Wild rice (Manoomin) has flourished in the cool waters of Minnesota for thousands of years. More than a nutritional food, wild rice is a central feature in the spiritual and cultural lives of the Dakota, Menominee and Ojibwe people.

Minnesota features more acres of natural wild rice than any other state in the country and, in the 1950s, the University of Minnesota studied wild rice production on a small scale. By 1973, the University officially established a wild rice research program which helped lead to the growth of Minnesota’s commercial wild rice industry. Throughout its history, this program has led to new varieties, best practices, nutritional data and water (nibi) quality research, among other discoveries. 

On this website, you will find documents related to the wild rice research done at the University of Minnesota dating back to the 1960s. Also included are summaries of current research projects along with researcher profiles and backgrounds. 

The University of Minnesota is committed to continuing the study of wild rice while strongly taking into account the cultural and spiritual concerns of the Ojibwe people. The website is designed to provide transparency and accountability as we continue this journey together.  

How to Use the Wild Rice Research Database

We have arranged information on wild rice research at the University by "Document Type" including researcher profiles, project descriptions and publications.

We encourage you to explore the site and discover how University researchers have worked with wild rice both historically and today. Individual citings will lead you to direct links on the University’s Digital Archive where you can download publications and articles.

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To submit feedback on this website or the wild rice research taking place at the University, please use this Feedback Form.

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