DOE Announces Funding For Bioenergy Crops Research
On January 10, 2020, DOE announced that it will provide up to $75 million for research and development (R&D) of sustainable bioenergy crops within a period of five years. The bioenergy crops to be developed should be tolerant of environmental stress and resilient to changing environment conditions. Funded projects will focus on better comprehending the genetic and physiological mechanisms influencing plant productivity, resource use, and resilience, among other factors. DOE is encouraging researchers to draw on resources of its Office of Science user facilities and to take advantage of “omics” tools and techniques, including genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Funding applications will be open for industry, non-profit research institutions, and universities with possible collaborators at DOE national laboratories and other federal agencies. Beginning this fiscal year, funding will be awarded in the form of five-year grants ranging from $1 to $3 million per year. DOE’s funding opportunity announcement (FOA) and a companion laboratory call can be accessed here.