Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative (AG2PI) program focuses on collaborative science engagement that brings together a community of researchers across both crops and animals to lay the foundation for expanding knowledge concerning genomes and phenomes of importance to the agriculture sector of the United States. Applications that propose a collaboration among U.S. crop and animal researchers are encouraged. In FY 2022, Congress recognized the value of leading public and Land-grant Universities with unique high-throughput phenotyping and greenhouse facilities and expertise for plant science innovation, root and rhizome innovation, and food for health. Congress provided funding for the Genome to Phenome program and encouraged NIFA to support the development of tools and datasets that can be used across multiple crop species to develop advanced genome engineering tools for integrated optimization of crop yield and animal feed for improved animal reproduction and nutrition and to mitigate environmental impacts from crop and animal production. Specifically the objectives of the program are- (1) to expand knowledge concerning genomes and phenomes of crops and animals of importance to the agriculture sector of the United States; (2) to 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; (3) to 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; (4) to 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; (5) to combine fields such as genetics, genomics, plant physiology, agronomy, climatology, and crop modeling with computation and informatics, statistics, and engineering; (6) to combine fields such as genetics, genomics, animal physiology, meat science, animal nutrition, and veterinary science with computation and informatics, statistics, and engineering; (7) to focus on crops and animals that will yield scientifically important results that will enhance the usefulness of many other crops and animals; (8) to 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; (9) to develop improved data analytics to enhance understanding of the biological function of genes; (10) to 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 (11) to encourage international partnerships with each partner country responsible for financing its own research.