The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting proposals for anticipated funding through the 2022 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP).
Donor Name: Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA)
State: Missouri
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline (mm/dd/yyyy): 03/08/2022
Size of the Grant: $50,000
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
Eligible projects must “enhance the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops” and expand local, regional, domestic or international markets and distribution. Projects must address research, food safety, crop-specific issues, pest and disease, education, marketing, and promotion for the specialty crop industry. USDA defines specialty crops as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruit, maple syrup, honey, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).
Funding information
- The department will consider grant awards up to a maximum of $50,000 for a specific project with a two-year grant period and a limit of $10,000 total for personnel and fringe benefits
- The project grant period begins on the date (November 2022) both parties sign the agreement and extends up to 24 months.
Project types for the Specialty Crop Industry
- enhancing food safety;
- improving the capacity of all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain to comply with the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (21 U.S.C. Chapter 27). for example, by developing “Good Agricultural Practices,” “Good Handling Practices,” “Good Manufacturing Practices,” and in cost-share arrangements for funding audits of such systems (including USDA Group GAP) for small farmers, packers, and processors;
- investing in specialty crop research, including research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes;
- developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops;
- pest and disease control;
- increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops;
- improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems and;
- sustainability
Eligibility Criteria
MDA will accept proposals from individuals, individual producers, non-profit and for-project businesses, public and private colleges and universities, agencies, institutions, industry, and community-based organizations or commercial entities only if the project focus benefits the entire specialty crop industry.
For more information, visit Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
