USDA/NIFA: Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative

AG2PI supports multiple goals within the USDA Science Blueprint, USDA Innovation Agenda, the Genome to Phenome: USDA Blueprint for Animal Genomics Research, and relevant publicly initiated and led crop research initiatives to catalyze and coordinate research linking genomics and predictive phenomics to achieve advances that generate societal and environmental benefits.

Projects must support the following statutory goals:

• expand knowledge concerning genomes and phenomes of crops and animals of importance to the agriculture sector of the United States;
• understand how variable weather, environments, and production systems impact the growth and productivity of specific varieties of crops and species of animals in order to provide greater accuracy in predicting crop and animal performance under variable conditions;
• support research that leverages plant and animal genomic information with phenotypic and environmental data through an interdisciplinary framework, leading to a novel understanding of plant and animal processes that affect growth, productivity, and the ability to predict performance, which will result in the deployment of superior varieties and species to producers and improved crop and animal management recommendations for farmers and ranchers;
• catalyze and coordinate research that links genomics and predictive phenomics at different sites across the United States to achieve advances in crops and animals that generate societal benefits;
• combine fields such as genetics, genomics, plant physiology, agronomy, climatology, and crop modeling with computation and informatics, statistics, and engineering;
• combine fields such as genetics, genomics, animal physiology, meat science, animal nutrition, and veterinary science with computation and informatics, statistics, and engineering;
• focus on crops and animals that will yield scientifically important results that will enhance the usefulness of multiple crop and animal species;
• build on genomic research, such as the Plant Genome Research Project and the National Animal Genome Research Program, to understand gene function in production environments that is expected to have considerable returns for crops and animals of importance to the agriculture of the United States;
• develop improved data analytics to enhance understanding of the biological function of genes;
  allow resources developed under this section, including data, software, germplasm, and other biological materials, to be openly accessible to all persons, subject to any confidentiality requirements imposed by law; and
• encourage international partnerships with each partner country responsible for financing its own research.

The Secretary may make grants under this subsection to:

• State agricultural experiment stations;
• colleges and universities;
• university research foundations;
• other research institutions and organizations;
• Federal agencies;
• national laboratories;
• private organizations, foundations, or corporations;
• individuals; or
• any group consisting of two or more of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (H). A consortium of eligible entities is encouraged to apply under this RFA.