In the initial planning document, it was estimated that approximately $400 million would be needed to accomplish the goals set by the IWG in 1998 for the NPGI. In the past five years, NSF, DOE and USDA have expended approximately $350 million. These investments have opened new and exciting research opportunities. Expanded opportunities are now available to a large segment of the plant sciences research community interested in genomics of diverse plants beyond a few key model plant species. In order to fully capitalize on the investments made to date and to enable further advances in plant genome research, the IWG recommends continued investment in the NPGI by all participating agencies. The IWG currently estimates that achievement of the objectives outlined in this five-year plan could be accomplished through an investment, over the next five years, of approximately $1.3 billion total as follows. These estimates, which are subject to future change and refinement, do not represent a commitment to specific or cumulative resource levels by the Federal government or any other partners in annual budget proposals. 

• $400M for generating sequences and sequence resources for genome structure and organizational studies will result in the production of: (1) a completely finished rice genome sequence; (2) completely finished and mapped sequences of gene-rich regions of the maize genome; (3) highly accurate draft sequences of gene-rich regions of several key plant species; and (4) a variety of genome analysis tools to study structure and organization of a large number of plant species of economic importance.

• $200M for functional genomics studies will allow US scientists to participate in international projects to determine the function of all of the genes in Arabidopsis and rice. The resulting functional genomics research resources will be shared freely and quickly, building a foundation for functional genomics research for all plant species.

• $300M for translational genomics studies will enable a broad community of scientists to begin applying the knowledge, resources and tools of genomics to understand the fundamental biology of plants and the underlying mechanisms for economically important plant processes.

• $250M for data management and informatics tools development will enable a broad community of both basic and applied scientists to utilize the outcomes of NPGI research activities. $250M is a conservative estimate since all plant genome research activities described above will include informatics as an integral component, and thus the actual expenditure for data management and informatics will be considerably higher.

• $125M for training, education and outreach will allow establishment of a NPGI training grant program and incorporation of training activities in all NPGI research activities.

The above budget estimates and distribution are based on the current state of science and technology in plant genomics. Continued advances in technology are expected to decrease costs in some areas, while new technologies and unexpected opportunities will necessitate increased investments in other areas. The Interagency Working Group will continue to monitor and report annually the constantly changing opportunities and needs to maintain effective and efficient utilization of resources in this coordinated national research program.

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