Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001688
The grant opportunity titled "Plant Feedstocks Genomics for Bioenergy: A Joint Research Funding Opportunity Announcement USDA, DOE" (Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0001688) is a joint solicitation from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, specifically the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is designed to support genomics-based research aimed at improving plant biomass and other plant-derived feedstocks used to produce biofuels and renewable chemical feedstocks. In practical terms, the agencies are looking for projects that use modern genetics and genomics tools to make bioenergy crops easier, cheaper, and more reliable to grow and process at scale, while maintaining quality and sustainability.
A central focus of this funding announcement is addressing biological constraints that currently limit the cost-effective and dependable supply of dedicated bioenergy feedstocks. The opportunity encourages research that can overcome barriers such as plant diseases, complex disease interactions, and environmental stress that reduce yields or raise production costs. The announcement specifically calls out two broad crop targets: (1) candidate herbaceous and woody plants intended for biomass production, with an emphasis on improved resistance or tolerance to diseases and disease complexes, and (2) non-food oilseed crops, with an emphasis on improved winter cold tolerance, survivability, and key agronomic traits. The intent is to expand and strengthen the portfolio of bioenergy-relevant crops by making them more resilient and more suitable for large-scale cultivation across varied environments.
From an approach standpoint, the FOA emphasizes genomics and genetics as the primary toolset. That typically implies work such as identifying genes or genomic regions associated with desirable traits (like disease resistance or cold tolerance), developing genomic resources that enable better breeding, applying genomic selection strategies, characterizing plant-pathogen interactions at the molecular level, or using other genome-informed methods to accelerate crop improvement. The overall outcome the agencies are pushing toward is a low-cost, high-quality, scalable, and sustainable production system for biomass and plant oils used in renewable fuels and chemicals, meaning projects should be aligned with real-world deployment constraints such as field performance, stability of traits, and the ability to support reliable supply chains.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, listed under CFDA 81.049, and administered through the DOE Office of Science. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, indicating a broad range of applicant types may apply as long as they meet standard federal grant requirements. The award ceiling is $1,200,000 per award. The opportunity record shows an original closing date of 2017-02-18 and a creation date of 2016-11-09, situating it as a time-bound solicitation from that period. Overall, the program can be understood as a targeted investment by DOE and USDA in genomic science that directly improves the performance and reliability of bioenergy crops, with particular attention to disease resilience in biomass crops and winter survivability plus agronomic improvement in non-food oilseed crops.Apply for DE FOA 0001688
- The Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Plant Feedstocks Genomics for Bioenergy: A Joint Research Funding Opportunity Announcement USDA, DOE" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-11-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-02-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the official title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Plant Feedstocks Genomics for Bioenergy: A Joint Research Funding Opportunity Announcement USDA, DOE."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE FOA 0001688.
Which agencies are offering this funding opportunity?
This is a joint solicitation from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science (Biological and Environmental Research, BER) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the main purpose of the funding announcement?
The announcement supports genomics-based research aimed at improving plant biomass and other plant-derived feedstocks used to produce biofuels and renewable chemical feedstocks.
What kinds of problems is this FOA trying to address?
The FOA targets biological constraints that make dedicated bioenergy feedstocks harder or more expensive to supply reliably. Examples highlighted include plant diseases, complex disease interactions (disease complexes), and environmental stress that reduce yields or increase production costs.
What crop areas does the FOA specifically emphasize?
The FOA calls out two broad target areas: (1) candidate herbaceous and woody plants intended for biomass production, and (2) non-food oilseed crops.
What is the emphasis for herbaceous and woody biomass crops under this opportunity?
For candidate herbaceous and woody plants intended for biomass production, the emphasis is on improved resistance or tolerance to diseases and disease complexes.
What is the emphasis for non-food oilseed crops under this opportunity?
For non-food oilseed crops, the emphasis is on improved winter cold tolerance, survivability, and key agronomic traits.
What types of research approaches are encouraged?
The FOA emphasizes genomics and genetics as the primary toolset. This can include identifying genes or genomic regions linked to desirable traits (such as disease resistance or cold tolerance), developing genomic resources that enable better breeding, applying genomic selection strategies, characterizing plant-pathogen interactions at the molecular level, and other genome-informed methods that accelerate crop improvement.
What outcomes are the agencies trying to achieve with funded projects?
The intended outcomes include enabling low-cost, high-quality, scalable, and sustainable production systems for biomass and plant oils used in renewable fuels and chemicals. The FOA indicates an interest in practical deployment considerations such as field performance, trait stability, and supporting reliable supply chains.
How does this FOA relate to biofuels and renewable chemicals?
The funded work is intended to improve the plant feedstocks (biomass and plant oils) that are used as inputs for producing biofuels and renewable chemical feedstocks.
What is the funding category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.
Is this a discretionary grant?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
Which CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 81.049.
Which office administers the opportunity?
The opportunity is administered through the DOE Office of Science.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, indicating a broad range of applicant types may apply as long as they meet standard federal grant requirements.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $1,200,000 per award.
When was the opportunity created?
The creation date shown for the opportunity is 2016-11-09.
What was the original closing date for submissions?
The original closing date shown is 2017-02-18.
Is this opportunity focused on expanding the range of bioenergy-relevant crops?
Yes. The FOA describes an intent to expand and strengthen the portfolio of bioenergy-relevant crops by improving resilience and suitability for large-scale cultivation across varied environments.
Does the FOA prioritize disease-related research?
Yes. A central focus is overcoming disease constraints, including plant diseases and complex disease interactions, particularly for candidate herbaceous and woody biomass crops.
Does the FOA prioritize winter survivability for certain crops?
Yes. For non-food oilseed crops, the FOA emphasizes improved winter cold tolerance and survivability along with key agronomic traits.
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