USDA initiative seeks AI tools to help translate germplasm data

An initiative by USDA is calling on universities and stakeholders to help build new AI tools to help translate germplasm data collected by the agency.

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, according to a news release.

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 resilient, productive crops.

“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,” USDA chief scientist Scott Hutchins said in the release. “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 use artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific discovery. 

Additional challenge details are forthcoming, according to the release. The Genesis Mission executive order is available online.