University of wisconsin system - new award control# 2784-1833 exploratory topics DE-FOA-0002784, topic l (phytomines) project title: ''design and application of a genetic toolbox to domesticate…

The Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded the University of Wisconsin System $1.846 million under Cooperative Agreement DEAR0001961 on September 9, 2025, under the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy program (CFDA 81.135) to develop molecular and genetic tools for domesticating two nickel-hyperaccumulating plant species—Odontarrhena corsica and Odontarrhena chalcidica—for use in phytomining operations adapted to United States climatic conditions and biosafety requirements.

The project deliverables include an annotated genome sequence, an atlas of expressed genes, plant transformation and gene editing systems, genetically segregating populations for enhanced nickel accumulation, and speed breeding protocols. Domestication goals target a 200 percent increase in harvested nickel yield per hectare compared to wild progenitor material, with an ultimate goal exceeding 250 kilograms per hectare, while mitigating weediness risk associated with wild-type Odontarrhena species.

Performance occurs in Madison, Wisconsin, with a period of performance through September 8, 2028. The Board of Trustees of Illinois State University serves as a sub-recipient under sub-award DEAR0001961-CON-00005797 (awarded December 2, 2025), with Co-PI John Sedbrook overseeing molecular genetic work including CRISPR genome editing to generate transgenic and gene-edited lines that reduce weediness and seed dispersal while enhancing biomass yield and nickel accumulation in both Odontarrhena species.

University of wisconsin system - new award control# 2784-1833 exploratory topics DE-FOA-0002784, topic l (phytomines) project title: ''design and application of a genetic toolbox to domesticate odontarrhena corsica and odontarrhena chalcidica for nickel phytomining in the united states.'' there is increasing demand for nickel (NI) for the emerging clean energy economy, particularly for battery production for electrical vehicles and power storage. However, declining ORE grades are making efficient extraction of critical metals increasingly difficult, adding urgency to developing new sources. Phytomining presents an opportunity to develop economical, low carbon intensity operations using NI-hyperaccumulating plants as crops to mine NI-abundant ultramafic soils. Indeed, the material remaining after combustion of NI-hyperaccumulating plants (BIO-ORE) can contain greater than 25% NI by weight and thus BIO-ORE is the richest and purest NI ORE known. This project is to develop the molecular and genetic tools to domesticate wild odontarrhena corsica and odontarrhena chalcidica for use in an efficient phytomining system adapted to the united states' climatic conditions and requirements for biosafety, with greatly enhanced NI harvesting properties compared to their wild progenitors. The overall domestication goals are to increase the harvested NI yield per hectare compared to current wild progenitor material by 200% with an ultimately goal of >250 KG per hectare, and to mitigate the risk associated with weediness of wild-type odontarrhena species. A key component of domestication of these plant species is the development of a biomolecular toolkit including an annotated genome sequence, an atlas of expressed genes, and development of plant transformation and gene editing systems. Other goals are the development of genetically segregating populations to select for enhanced NI accumulation and development of speed breeding protocols to accelerate breeding. This project will enhance the economic viability of US phytomining.