Curious about what AURPI is all about?

Our 2025 Newsletter is here! This year-in-review highlights our mission, the work of our 6 unique subteams, and how we're continuously developing and implementing new technologies to support the economic prosperity of rural Alabama. Click here to read the full 32-page magazine or stop by our office on campus to pick up a physical copy! We are excited to share what makes AURPI, AURPI.

Click here to read the 2025 Newsletter!

What is AURPI?

The Auburn University Rural Partnership Institute (AURPI) is committed to developing and implementing new technologies to enhance the economic prosperity of rural Alabama. Focusing on technologies applicable to the production and processing sectors of the poultry and forestry industries.

Mission Statement

To bolster Alabama rural communities through technological and innovative advancements in the two most important ag industries in the state – poultry and forestry. We aim to elevate industry standards, increase productivity, and improve work environment in these two industries. Our goal is that this project will create additional economic opportunities in rural Alabama thereby contributing to the building of communities that are resilient and prosperous.

Project manager, Caroline Whiting, presenting at a Rural Hub meeting

Connect with us!

Who makes up our institute?

Why is this important?

Poultry and forestry are Alabama’s top economic drivers, rooted in rural communities across the state. At the Auburn University Rural Partnership Institute (AURPI), we empower these industries by introducing advanced technologies and training that strengthen operations and uplift the communities behind them

Our multidisciplinary team—spanning industrial and systems engineering, cybersecurity, biosystems engineering, poultry science, rural sociology, forest products and more—works alongside industry partners to tackle real-world challenges and deliver lasting solutions.

Explore each subteam’s goals on our Subteams Page.

Questions? Visit our Contact Page to get in touch.

Call for Collaborative Research

The Auburn University Rural Partnership Institute (AURPI) has awarded 5 projects from our internal request for proposal. The goal is to focus on improving rural livelihoods through industrial and community collaborations. The projects chosen will have a lifespan of 2 years and will begin in the fall of 2025.

Improving Freeze Tolerance in Southern Pines

Dr. Annakaey Abrahams

Reducing Emissions and Phosphorus Runoff from Broiler Litter

Debalina Chakraborty

Mass Timber Housing with Rural Studio: Phase 2

Dr. Jake Elbrecht and Dr. Christian Ayala Lopez

Fighting Food Insecurity Through Home Gardening

Dr. Carolyn Robinson

Improving Rural Wastewater with Septic Demos and Drones

Dr. Jillian Maxcy-Brown

AURPI