Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. received a $617,000 project grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program (CFDA 10.310), awarded April 1, 2026, with completion targeted for March 31, 2029. This research initiative addresses critical threats to U.S. blueberry production by identifying genetic regions and markers controlling flowering time and fruiting period through pangenome graph-based genotyping and phenomics approaches. The project directly aligns with AFRI's legislative priority to genetically dissect and introduce desirable traits improving plant tolerance to temperature extremes—specifically targeting early spring freeze damage and summer heat stress that compromise fruit quality and economic viability.

The project will deliver multiple public-facing research products and farm management resources to advance the blueberry breeding community. Deliverables include an expanded pangenome graph, genetic markers, and phenomics data that will be made publicly available to complement the VaccAP Project, accelerating trait pyramiding efforts among breeders. Additionally, the award funds development of a mobile phone application providing blueberry growers with real-time phenological development information to enable data-driven farm management decisions. These integrated research outputs and technology transfer tools are designed to support the development of resilient blueberry cultivars while strengthening the scientific infrastructure available to the broader agricultural research community.