Program Highlights

Genome to Phenome: Improving Animal Health, Production, and Well-Being – A New USDA Blueprint for Animal Genome Research 2018-2027

In 2008, a consortium led by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) published the “Blueprint for USDA Efforts in Agricultural Animal Genomics 2008–2017”, which served as a guiding document for research and funding in animal genomics. In the decade that followed, many of the goals set forth in the blueprint were accomplished. However, several other goals require further research. In addition, new topics not covered in the original blueprint, which are the result of emerging technologies, require exploration. To develop a new, updated blueprint, ARS and NIFA, along with scientists in the animal genomics field, convened a workshop titled “Genome to Phenome: A USDA Blueprint for Improving Animal Production” in November 2017, and these discussions were used to develop new goals for the next decade. This document summarizes the strategy outlined in the new USDA Animal Genome Blueprint that will significantly increase our Nation’s capacity to meet global consumer demands for animal products over the next decade.

To read the entire blueprint: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2019.00327/full

To read the Blueprint Executive Summary (pdf; 1.8Mb): Animal Genomes to Phenomes