In the late 1970's Cloud "Bud" Cray, President of Midwest Solvents Inc., was invited to visit the Department of Grain Science and Industry at Kansas State University by Dr William Hoover, Head of the Department. The faculty met with President Cray who explained the operations at the Atchison facility along with the products sold by Midwest Solvents. Also, he explained the history of the Company founded to "add value" to agricultural commodities. President Cray's visit led to research projects at Kansas State University that were supported by the Company, and to long term collaboration between personnel in the two institutions. One notable result was the commercialization in the 1980's of a starch product named Fibersym. Fibersym is an ingredient that is comprised of almost all dietary fiber, and it can be incorporated economically in many high-quality foods. Fibersym has been documented to impart health benefits to consumers by reducing the calories in food, improving gut health, and preventing a "sugar high" that leads to type-2 diabetes.