On Feb. 12, the&nbsp;U.S. Department of Energy announced a plan to provide $66 million for new genomics-based research on plants and microbes.&nbsp;
The $30 million plant initiative focuses on research and technological innovation aimed at expanding knowledge of gene function in plants to be grown for bioenergy and bioproducts.&nbsp; The aim is to pinpoint the connection between specific regions of plant genomes and particular plant behaviors and traits.
The microbe initiative will provide $36 million for research on how communities of microbes cycle nutrients in soil and the environment.&nbsp; The aim is both to better understand the critical role of microbes in shaping plant life and Earth&rsquo;s environment as well as to gain new insights into soil processes impacting the growth and yield of potential bioenergy crops.
&ldquo;The complex interactions of plants and microbes play a critical role in sustaining plant life on Earth,&rdquo; said Sharlene Weatherwax, DOE associate director of science for biological and environmental research.&nbsp; &ldquo;Insights gained from this research will ultimately help us better understand and model the Earth system and may also enable us to improve the performance of crops grown for bioenergy.&rdquo;
Applications will be open to universities, industry, and nonprofit research institutions as the lead institution, with collaborators at the DOE national laboratories and other federal agencies.&nbsp; Funding is to be awarded competitively, on the basis of peer review, and is expected to be in the form of three-year grants, beginning in the current fiscal year.
Total planned funding is $66 million over three years, with outyear funding contingent on congressional appropriations.
The two DOE Funding Opportunity Announcements, along with companion laboratory calls, issued by DOE&rsquo;s Office of Science, are to be found&nbsp;<a title="Read more about here" href="https://science.energy.gov/ber/funding-opportunities/">here</a>.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

2019/02/DOE_15501843119245_largethumb.jp

2019/02/DOE_15501843119245_thumb.jp

2019/02/DOE_15501843119245.jp

The U.S. DOE has announced a plan to provide $66 million for new genomics-based research on plants and microbes. The $30 million plant initiative aims to expanding knowledge of gene function in plants to be grown for bioenergy and bioproducts.

DOE announces $66 million for research on plants, microbes

Related Stories

Court upholds RFS Set rule

IEA predicts 13% increase in bioenergy investments for 2025

2025 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo draws highest attendance in 15 years

Diesel Direct powers Steamship Authority's renewable fuel trial in New England waters

EPA: 1.75 billion RINs generated in May

Upcoming Events

North American SAF Conference & Expo

2026 International Biomass Conference & Expo

DOE announces $66 million for research on plants, microbes .css-7jxktu{position:absolute;bottom:0px;left:0px;right:0px;height:3px;border-radius:3px;background-color:var(--chakra-colors-brandBlack);}