| (Washington, D.C., July 22, 2026) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking steps to speed up progress in plant science by calling on universities and stakeholders to help build new AI tools that can translate the huge amount of germplasm data the agency collects. Through the Genesis Mission and the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA), USDA is expected to launch an Agricultural National Science & Technology Challenge later this year. The Challenge will ask innovators to create practical solutions that pull together different types of information—like images, field data, and lab results—so scientists can quickly spot important plant and seed traits and develop crops that are more resilient and productive. “USDA is taking concrete steps to give scientists the modern tools they need to innovate agricultural solutions from the vast plant data that they collect,” said REE Under Secretary and USDA Chief Scientist Dr. Scott Hutchins. “When our partners help us to solve agricultural challenges by using AI tools, we’ll unlock faster discoveries with germplasm data and grow better crops that strengthen our food system for many future generations.” The Genesis Mission, launched in November 2025, is a national effort coordinated by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to leverage artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific discovery. The Mission will bring together America’s scientists, top innovative businesses, world-renowned universities; and data repositories, production plants, and national security sites — to use AI tools to solve the nation’s most complex science and technological challenges. Challenge teams will have access to the American Science and Security Platform, DOE-built shared infrastructure that will connect datasets, scientific instrumentation, and AI tools to accelerate discovery. More details on the Challenge are forthcoming. Proposing teams are encouraged to read the full Genesis Mission Executive Order and bring their best ideas to advance America’s future in germplasm innovation. | 
