The USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) was established to solve critical industry issues through research and Extension activities. The SCRI will give priority to projects that are multistate, multi-institutional, or trans-disciplinary and include explicit mechanisms to communicate results to producers and the public. The pre-application deadline is Jan. 21, 2022. To learn more, visit nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/specialty-crop-research-initiative-scri. Projects must address at least one of five focus areas:
- Research in plant breeding, genetics, and genomics to improve crop characteristics.
- Efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including threats to specialty crop pollinators.
- Efforts to improve production efficiency, productivity, and profitability over the long-term.
- New innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening.
- Methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production and processing of specialty crops including fresh produce.