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USDA/NIFA: Specialty Crop Research Initiative

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is seeking applications for its Specialty Crop Research Initiative.

Donor Name: National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

State: All States

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 11/08/2024

Size of the Grant: More than $1 million

Grant Duration: 5 Years

Details:

The purpose of the SCRI program is to address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry by awarding grants to support research and extension that address key challenges of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of food and agriculture, including conventional and organic food production systems. The program recognizes that for some specialty crops which are grown in a limited number of states, the multistate nature of projects can be difficult to address. Except for Research and Extension Planning Projects, the SCRI program only considers projects that integrate research and extension activities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to propose a unique approach to solving problems facing the specialty crop industry using a systems approach.

The SCRI program has five legislatively mandated focus areas to address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry by developing and disseminating science-based tools to address needs of specific crops and their regions, including the following:

Research in plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and other methods to improve crop characteristics, such as:

  •  product, taste, quality, and appearance
    • size-controlling rootstocks for perennial crops
    • climate adaptation, environmental responses, and tolerances
    • nutrient management, including plant nutrient uptake efficiency
    • pest and disease management, including resistance to pests and diseases resulting in reduced application management strategies; and
    • enhanced phytonutrient content.
  • Efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including:
    • threats to specialty crop pollinators
    • emerging and invasive species; and
    • a more effective understanding and utilization of existing natural enemy complexes.
  • Efforts
    • to improve production efficiency, handling and processing, productivity, competitiveness in trade, and profitability over the long term (including specialty crop policy and marketing); and
    • to achieve a better understanding of
      • the soil rhizosphere microbiome;
      • pesticide application systems and certified drift-reduction technologies; and iii. systems to improve and extend the storage life of specialty crops.
  • New innovations, data-driven predictive tools using Artificial Intelligence, and technology, including –
    • mechanization and automation of labor-intensive tasks in production and processing
    • technologies that delay or inhibit ripening
    • decision support systems driven by phenology and environmental factors.
    • improved monitoring systems for agricultural pests; and
    • effective systems for pre-harvest and postharvest management of quarantine pests.
  • Methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production and processing of specialty crops, including fresh produce.

The SCRI program is aligned with the following USDA Strategic Plan:

  • Strategic Goal 1: Combat Climate Change to Support America’s Working Lands, Natural Resources and Communities.
  • Strategic Goal 2: Ensure America’s Agricultural System is Equitable, Resilient, and Prosperous.
  • Strategic Goal 3: Foster an Equitable and Competitive Marketplace for All Agricultural Producers.
  • Strategic Goal 4: Provide All Americans Safe, Nutritious Food.
  • Strategic Goal 5: Expand Opportunities for Economic Development and Improve Quality of Life in Rural and Tribal Communities.

Project Types

The SCRI program offers three project types in 2024. Applicants should decide which project type is best suited to the objectives of their research and extension project and develop a preliminary budget that fits the objectives. Applicants are discouraged from developing a project (and selecting a project type) based on a budget request target. The three SCRI project types include:

  • Standard Research and Extension Projects (SREPs)
  • Budget – Normally, Federal funds will not exceed $1,000,000 per year. Requests less than $250,000 per project are discouraged
  • Project Period – Up to five years.
  • Statistical Analysis of previous funding (2008-2022). It is anticipated that the total multi-year funding for most funded SREP awards for 2024 will be close to the historical median:
    • Mean award: $2,675,368
    • Median award: $2,180834
    • Minimum award: $226,905
    • Maximum award: $6,242,957
  • Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAPs)
    • Budget – Normally, Federal funds will not exceed $2,000,000 per year.
    • Project Period – Up to five years.
    • Mean award: $5,484,204
    • Median award: $5,756,354
    • Minimum award: $1,912,178
    • Maximum award: $10,898,772
  • Research and Extension Planning Projects
    • Budget – Federal funds up to $50,000 per project
    • Project period – One year.

Funding Information

The amount available for support of this program in FY 2025 is approximately $75,440,000.

Eligibility Criteria

Pre-applications may only be submitted by Federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, individuals, or groups consisting of two or more of these entities.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.

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