Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative

The Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative (AG2PI) for FY2025, administered by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), aims to support innovative research projects that enhance agricultural sustainability, productivity, and climate resiliency by integrating phenomics, genomics, engineering, and data science. Approximately $1,855,844 is available for funding, with individual research project awards capped at $900,000 and conference grants limited to $50,000. Projects may span up to five years for research and three years for conferences, with applications due by March 20, 2025. Eligible applicants include state agricultural experiment stations, colleges, universities, university research foundations, national laboratories, private organizations, and individuals. Consortia of eligible entities are encouraged to apply. Applications must provide dollar-for-dollar matching funds unless waived for minor commodities or scientifically significant research with broad applicability. The program prioritizes projects that integrate diverse scientific disciplines to address genome-to-phenome challenges in crops and livestock. Key goals include developing benchmark datasets combining genetic, phenotypic, and environmental data; enhancing predictive analytics for trait selection; improving national agricultural data infrastructure; and conducting interdisciplinary workforce development activities. Additional objectives include fostering international collaborations and aligning with USDA's strategic goals of combating climate change and promoting equitable agricultural systems. Applications must include a project narrative, data management plan, budget justification, mentoring plan, and a rationale for any requested matching fund waivers. Proposals will be evaluated on relevance to program goals, scientific merit, innovation, feasibility, and the qualifications of the project team. Conference grants must demonstrate the need for stakeholder engagement and clearly define planned activities and expected outcomes. Centers of Excellence may receive priority consideration if their proposals meet additional collaboration and resource-sharing criteria. Applicants must submit their proposals electronically through Grants.gov, following guidelines outlined in the NIFA Grants Application Guide. Successful applicants will be notified of funding decisions by September 30, 2025. Post-award requirements include regular reporting, adherence to federal cost principles, and compliance with data sharing policies. For further assistance, applicants can contact program officials Christian Tobias at Christian.Tobias@usda.gov or Angelica Van Goor at Angelica.Van.Goor@usda.gov. Additional resources and details, including pre-application webinars, are available on the NIFA website.