Harnessing the Ag Genomics Data torrent: An AG2PI Community-Driven Discussion on Best Practices for Using and Re-Using Genomics Data

The livestock and crop communities are accelerating the creation of functional genomics data to uncover the link between genotype and phenotype. The USDA-funded Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative is striving to identify the critical requirements to accelerate such research across these communities. We have identified that an important current and future requirement for this advancement is better methods for integrating disparate datatypes to allow new insights. For example, one specific goal of functional genomics is to predict regulatory elements across cells, tissues, individuals and populations. Tools are needed to easily help gather raw and create processed files and visualize the results of further analysis, such as a web-browser display of chromatin state maps, to extend the availability of such data to many more groups. In this Workshop, we will hear from speakers describing current solutions to data visualization and re-use in several genomics communities, as well as discuss as a group the paths to nurture a sustainable set of such tools. Our discussion is intended to include improving, standardizing and maintaining inputs (data and metadata), as well as creating, enhancing and supporting tools for mining such data.

• THE EVENT: A virtual meeting was held Feb. 9, 2022.
• OUTCOME: A working group was formed.