USDA funds $1.9M of next stage in genome-to-phenome collaboration

September 30th, 2022

A transdisciplinary collaboration connecting genetic science to the study of crop and animal traits, or phenotypes, has received a new $1.9 million funding installment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is one of three universities taking lead roles in the multi-institutional Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative.

The initiative, which received two previous rounds of NIFA funding, fosters collaboration among crop and livestock scientists with colleagues in fields including data science, statistics, engineering and social sciences. Through that transdisciplinary process, the project aims to strengthen understanding of crop and animal performance under variable conditions such as weather, environments and production systems. Such findings, linking genetic analysis to observable phenotypic traits of crops and animals, can enable more efficient adoption of well-adapted genotypes for use by farmers and ranchers.

The project also aims to strengthen the scientific infrastructure enabling large-scale ag data collection and analysis, and expand the research opportunities for early-career scientists.

“This award from USDA NIFA will provide competitive research funds to address gaps in our knowledge of how genetics drive important agricultural traits in crops and livestock,” said Jennifer Clarke, lead researcher directing the AG2PI seed grants and director of the Quantitative Life Sciences Initiative at Nebraska.

For full news story click HERE

Story by Geitner Simmons | IANR Media