PLANT ENGINEERING TO REVOLUTIONIZE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION AND HEIGHTEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR NOVEL EFFICIENCY (PERSEPHONE)

The Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) has announced a funding opportunity under Notice of Funding Opportunity No. DE-FOA-0003551, titled "Plant Engineering to Revolutionize Sustainable Energy Production and Heighten Opportunities for Novel Efficiency (PERSEPHONE)." This program intends to enhance genetic engineering technologies for bioenergy crops to significantly increase U.S. bioenergy production and mitigate carbon emissions. With approximately $15 million available, ARPA-E aims to foster projects in three key areas: developing high-performance tools for crop engineering, introducing novel genetic engineering techniques, and enhancing biocontainment measures to reduce environmental risks. The expected outcomes include producing at least one quadrillion British Thermal Units of energy and preventing transgene flow into the environment. Eligible applicants consist of individuals, domestic entities, and consortia, with a submission deadline set for March 4, 2025. The program seeks projects that can transform bioenergy crop engineering into more accessible and efficient processes, contributing to energy security and reducing dependency on fossil fuels.