BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring announced that five grants have been awarded totaling $317,322 to foster the growth of the bioscience industry in North Dakota.
“Advances in bioscience have already transformed many sectors including agriculture and medicine,” Goehring said. “These grants will help North Dakota stay on the forefront of bioscience innovation.”
The 2019 Legislature approved $500,000 for the grant program for the 2019-21 biennium. Grant applications will open this spring for the remaining funds.
Organizations receiving grants are:
- Inovan, Inc. – $75,000 for further development of an antibiotic-releasing bone-void-filling putty to combat osteomyelitis
- National Agricultural Genotyping Center - $55,667 for enhancement of wheat rust surveillance through DNA-based detection and quantification
- Cotasys, Inc. - $75,000 for development of a solution to streamline communications for independent and small trucking companies
- Krampade, LLC – $61,655 for further development of a revolutionary sports drink that focuses on using formulations high in potassium to mitigate cramp formation and promote recovery following physical activity
- NAF Distributing, LLC - $50,000 to promote the sustainability of farming with further development of soil microbes that improve uptake of nutrients, help with drought mitigation and improve soil structure
Grant applications were reviewed and scored by a committee made up of Goehring, a representative from the bioscience association of North Dakota and a representative from the North Dakota Department of Commerce.