Investing $40 million into research on crop and animal genetics is the goal of a new bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra.

The measure is called the Genome to Phenome Initiative Reauthorization Act. It would reauthorize the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Genome to Phenome Initiative. The Republican from Hull said that kind of research will increase yields, lower input costs and generally make agriculture more efficient.

“Investments in agricultural research are critical to our farm economy and the long term strength of Iowa agriculture,” Feenstra said in a written statement. “It’s why I introduced legislation to reauthorize the Genome to Phenome Initiative and ensure that this program receives funding to continue this cutting-edge research.”

A genome is the complete set of DNA in any plant or animal. The phenome is the set of traits of a plant or animal that is derived from its genome.

The bill has been endorsed by the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the National Corn Growers Association.

“In Iowa, we continue to grow more with less and this progress is largely due to our ongoing efforts to enhance corn’s resilience against various environmental challenges through genomes to phenomes research,” said Stu Swanson, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

The bill awaits action by committees in the House of Representatives.