BISMARCK – Guardian Grains LLC of Max was awarded $47,000 to develop a marketing strategy during the latest grant round of the North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission.

Guardian Grains is a regenerative agriculture and Pride of Dakota company operated by Kelly and DeAnna Lozensky.

North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring also announced four other awards approved at the APUC quarterly meeting Feb. 29 in Bismarck.

Grants were awarded to Northdale Oil Inc., $50,000 for a feasibility study and business plan for a bio plant near Grand Forks; SafetySpect, $20,000 to further develop drone capability of disease detection in crops; and North Dakota Department of Agriculture, $70,000 to assist North Dakota companies in promoting their products at domestic trade shows.

APUC is a program of the state Department of Agriculture. It administers grant programs for research and development of new and expanded uses for North Dakota agricultural products that promote the development of concepts and products that support 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.