Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative - Research Grants

The Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative (AG2PI) Research Grants program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This federal funding opportunity is designed to advance scientific understanding and technological innovation across agricultural systems by integrating genomics, phenomics, engineering, and data science. The program reflects USDA priorities to enhance agricultural productivity, sustainability, and national food security, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and practical outcomes for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and agricultural stakeholders. The primary purpose of AG2PI is to support research projects that bridge the gap between genetic information and observable traits in crops and livestock. Funded projects are expected to develop predictive tools, datasets, and models that improve selection processes for superior plant and animal varieties. The initiative prioritizes work that integrates diverse scientific disciplines, including genetics, plant and animal physiology, computational modeling, engineering, and statistics. Projects must address at least two of the program’s stated goals, such as developing benchmark datasets, advancing predictive analytics, improving high-throughput phenotyping methods, enhancing agricultural data infrastructure, or supporting workforce development in agricultural sciences. Funding under this program is intended for standard research projects with award amounts ranging from 300000 to 900000 dollars over a project period of 36 to 60 months. Total available funding is approximately 1827495 dollars, with an anticipated two awards. Applicants must include a data management plan that ensures public accessibility and compliance with FAIR data principles. Allowable uses of funds include research activities, data generation and analysis, workforce training, and collaborative efforts across institutions. Indirect costs are capped at 30 percent of total federal funds awarded, and no more than 50 percent of the award may be subcontracted without prior approval. A key requirement of this funding opportunity is the provision of a 100 percent matching contribution for all federal funds requested, unless a waiver is granted under specific conditions. Eligible applicants include a broad range of entities such as colleges and universities, research institutions, federal agencies, private organizations, and individuals. Collaborative applications, including consortia of multiple eligible entities, are strongly encouraged to promote interdisciplinary approaches and maximize impact. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and require completion of several registrations, including SAM, eRA Commons, and a Unique Entity Identifier. Required application components include a project summary, a detailed project narrative with specified sections, a data management plan, and a mentoring plan if training is involved. The application process also requires budget justification, compliance with formatting guidelines, and adherence to page limits. Failure to meet administrative requirements may result in disqualification prior to peer review. Applications are evaluated through a two-step process consisting of administrative screening followed by scientific peer review. Evaluation criteria include the significance and innovation of the proposed research, the quality and feasibility of the approach, and the qualifications of the investigative team and institutional environment. Review panels assess the potential impact on U.S. agriculture, the rigor of the scientific design, and the effectiveness of collaboration across disciplines. The application deadline for this funding cycle is June 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. No letter of intent is required. Awards are expected to be issued within the federal fiscal year, with project start dates no later than September 30. The program is recurring on an annual basis, and applicants may engage with NIFA through informational webinars and direct communication channels. Program-specific inquiries can be directed to AG2PI@usda.gov, while administrative questions are handled through designated support contacts.

Emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, strong data management planning, and clear relevance to U.S. agricultural productivity and innovation