The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced the 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP).
Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline:03/21/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Minnesota seeks projects that pertain to the following issues affecting the specialty crop industry by awarding up to eight points for proposals according to how well they address one of these priorities:
- Improving distribution systems, promotion, and marketing of specialty crops.
Increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops. - Researching and developing techniques that focus on pest or disease control.
- Developing new or improved specialty crop seed or plant varieties.
- Researching and developing techniques to improve sustainable production of specialty crops and environmental outcomes.
- Improving capacity of all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain to ensure food safety and comply with food safety standards and requirements.
Funding Information
- The MDA anticipates awarding approximately $1.25 million.
- The maximum award is $125,000 and the minimum award is $20,000.
Eligible Projects
Projects must enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, by addressing one of these mean:
- Leveraging efforts to market and promote specialty crops;
- Assisting producers with research and development relevant to specialty crops;
- Expanding availability and access to specialty crops; or
- Addressing local, regional, and national challenges confronting specialty crop producers.
The focus of Minnesota Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) projects should be on benefiting the competitiveness of specialty crops that are or will be grown in Minnesota. Specialty crops are defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and include “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture.”
Eligibility Criteria
- Nonprofit organizations, producer organizations, government agencies, universities, and other organizations involved in Minnesota agriculture are eligible to apply. Proposals may involve collaborations or partnerships between producers, industry, academia, or agricultural organizations. Applicants may cooperate with any public or private organization. Organizations may submit more than one application but may be asked to prioritize those projects. Projects proposed by individual producers, for-profit businesses, or commercial entities are eligible only if they demonstrate a significant benefit to the broader specialty crop industry.
- Projects proposed by such applicants must provide knowledge that is transferable to other entities and incorporate a clear plan for disseminating the results of their research, production methods, etc., to provide value to the industry at large.
For more information, visit MDA.
