USDA/NIFA announces $6 million for research on plant-biotic interactions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced the availability of approximately $6 million to support agriculturally relevant research on the symbiotic relationship between plants and other living organisms. The Plant-Biotic Interactions program is a joint funding opportunity established through a partnership between NIFA and the National Science Foundation.

There are more than three decades of research on the molecular mechanisms that inform the interactions of plants, microbes, and invertebrates. “There is a continued need for applied tools and technologies to sustain and improve agriculture for a growing world population,” said Sonny Ramaswamy, director of NIFA. The Plant-Biotic Interactions program will support fundamental and applied research to provide a deeper understanding of these complex interactions. Research may lead to novel cropping systems that help plants extract nutrients from their environments, ward off diseases, and thrive in the face of extreme environmental conditions.

Eligible applicants include: state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities (including junior colleges that offer associate degrees or higher); university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international organizations.

The deadline is September 1, 2017. See the request for applications for more information.

NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, education, and extension and promotes transformative discoveries that solve societal challenges. NIFA support for the best and brightest scientists and extension personnel has resulted in user-inspired, groundbreaking discoveries that combat childhood obesity, improve and sustain rural economic growth, address water availability issues, increase food production, find new sources of energy, mitigate climate variability, and ensure food safety.