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Specialty Crop Research Initiative Offers a Funding Opportunity

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.