BISMARCK, N.D. – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has announced North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) awards for 11 projects. The awards totaling $773,757.30 were approved at the APUC quarterly meeting Nov. 16 in Devils Lake.
APUC is a program of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture that administers grant programs for research and development of new and expanded uses for North Dakota agricultural products which support the development of concepts and products that support our rural communities and agriculture operations. The grants can be used for basic and applied research, marketing and utilization, farm diversification, nature-based agritourism, prototype and technology and technical assistance.
The following received approval:
Aigen Inc. was awarded $50,000 to further develop solar-powered autonomous ground robots for data collection and weed control. Contact Kenny Lee at 917-579-4716.
Carbon Convert LLC was awarded $100,000 to develop technology for carbon dioxide conversion into commercially viable elements. Contact Jim Silrum at 701-347-1816.
Chapul Farms LLC was awarded $32,500 to support development of an industrial insect farm facility. Contact Patrick Crowley at 801-341-9211.
EcoBalance Global, LLC was awarded $162,000 to improve adoption of environmentally sound practices and monetize those benefits for agriculture producers. Contact Tellan Steffan at 701-260-0412.
Greenwood Renewable Ventures LLC was awarded $60,000 for product design to simultaneously produce multiple forms of low-carbon renewable bioenergy. Contact Preston Anderson at 303-809-4443.
NDSU Department of Plant Sciences was awarded $7,100 to continue research of soybean meal and develop food-grade 3D printer ink. Contact Minwei Xu at 701-429-4915.
NDSU Department of Plant Sciences was awarded $15,000 to explore local apple germplasm for commercial hard cider production in North Dakota. Contact Wenhao Dai at 701-231-8473.
Perennial Climate, Inc. was awarded $100,000 to expand soil organic carbon research and provide feedback to agricultural producers. Contact James Kellner at 303-808-7886.
PermanentFarming, Inc. was awarded $172,000 to support a large-scale beef finishing facility that will include manure conversion into renewable natural gas. Contact Steve Polski at 651-359-4776.
Wolf Creek Winery LLC was awarded $35,000 for the development of a strategic marketing plan. Contact Randy Albrecht at 701-220-7237.
Zalvina Foods was awarded $40,157.30 for food production expansion. Contact Tim Roche at 701-466-2100.
APUC will hold its next grant application hearing on Feb. 28-29, 2024, in Bismarck. Applications for the February meeting must be received by Jan. 1, 2024.
For additional information, please visit https://www.ndda.nd.gov/apuc.