DARPA Calls for Cutting-Edge Proposals to Shield Agriculture from Threats
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched “Ag x BTO,” a new initiative aimed at strengthening national food security by inviting bold technological ideas that defend agriculture against both engineered and natural hazards. With a submission deadline of August 31, 2025, the agency is targeting breakthroughs in early warning detection systems, high-speed agricultural countermeasures, long-term crop protection solutions, threat modeling, and techniques to trace and verify human interference.
“We’re seeking visionary ideas that can be quickly transitioned into real-world defense tools,” said Dr. Michael Koeris, director of DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office. “Food supply protection is a pillar of national security, and innovation must lead the way.”
Applicants must submit their concepts through the ERIS Marketplace platform, using a format that includes a video pitch, detailed slides, and a formal submission form. Each proposal must address only one of the five defined technical categories. Selected projects may be invited to an exclusive workshop and pitch event in Washington, D.C., to further present their solutions to DARPA evaluators.
The Ag x BTO challenge is designed to stimulate groundbreaking advances across the agricultural ecosystem, from surveillance of chemical and biological hazards to scalable bio-defense technologies. Importantly, projects must avoid involving human or animal test subjects, focusing instead on high-impact technologies ready for swift implementation. The full solicitation and participation requirements are available on sam.gov..
