The Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative - Research
Grants will fund research that will:

• Study agriculturally significant crops and animals in
  production environments to achieve sustainable and secure agricultural
  production.
• 
  
  Ensure that current gaps in existing knowledge of
  agricultural crop and animal genetics and phenomics are filled.
• 
  
  Identify and develop a functional understanding of relevant
  genes from animals and agronomically relevant genes from crops that are of
  importance to the agriculture sector of the United States.
• 
  
  Ensure future genetic improvement of crops and animals of
  importance to the agriculture sector of the United States.
• 
  
  Study the relevance of diverse germplasm as a source of
  unique genes that may be of importance in the future.
• 
  
  Enhance genetics to reduce the economic impact of pathogens
  on crops and animals of importance to the agriculture sector of the United
  States.
• 
  
  Disseminate findings to relevant audiences.

All applications are encouraged to address at least two of
the five goals listed below through a research-focused approach:

1. Develop new or augment existing benchmark datasets comprised
   of genetic, phenotypic, abiotic and biotic factors, and physiological data on
   crops or livestock, poultry, and aquaculture of importance to U.S. agriculture
   for the purpose of testing, training, and comparing predictive analytic tools
   by the data science community with potential wide application in agricultural
   fields.
2. 
   
   Combine plant and/or animal genomic information with
   phenotypic and environmental data through an interdisciplinary framework,
   leading to a novel understanding of plant and/or animal processes that affect
   growth, productivity, and the ability to predict performance, which will result
   in the deployment of superior varieties or individuals to producers and
   improved management recommendations for farmers and ranchers.
3. 
   
   Development of high-throughput methods for on-farm recording
   of traits for improving selection criteria in plants and/or animals. This may
   include artificial intelligence, machine learning, and phenomics methodologies.
4. 
   
   Improve national agricultural data infrastructure to
   facilitate storage and programmatic access to very large datasets and to allow
   for improved data description, harmonization, and system interoperability.
5. 
   
   Incorporate workforce development through support and
   training at the undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate level with a sound
   mentorship plan that incorporates creative, meaningful contributions by project
   participants to research design, interpretation, and scientific inquiry.
   Workforce development efforts that include a partnership with private
   for-profit entities are welcome.

Funding

Lower: $300,000

Upper: $900,000

Cost Sharing: Applicants MUST provide 100% matching
contributions for all Federal funds awarded under this funding opportunity
announcement.

 NIFA may waive the matching funds requirement for a grant if one of the following applies:

1. The
   results of the project, while of particular benefit to a specific
   agricultural commodity, are likely to be applicable to agricultural
   commodities generally; or
2. The project involves a minor
   commodity, the project deals with scientifically important research, and
   the grant recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds
   requirement. 

Duplicate or Multiple Submissions: Submission of duplicate
or predominantly overlapping applications is not allowed. NIFA will disqualify
both applications if an applicant submits multiple applications that are
duplicative or substantially overlapping with NIFA programs within the same NOFO
fiscal year.