Specialty Crop Research Initiative Request for Pre-Applications (RFPA) | Apply Online

Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) Pre-Application (USDA NIFA SCRI 005437) - FAQs

What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) Request for Pre-Applications (RFPA), funding opportunity number USDA NIFA SCRI 005437 (CFDA 10.309). It is described as a mandatory grant program intended to address pressing, industry-wide challenges facing specialty crops.

What is the main purpose of SCRI?

The core intent is to fund integrated research and extension work that supports the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the specialty crop sector across the full food and agriculture system. Projects are expected to have relevance beyond a single location and address needs of national, regional, or multi-state importance.

Is this a research-only program?

No. The opportunity emphasizes integrated research and extension work. The expectation is that projects combine research with extension components, rather than focusing on research alone.

Do projects need to be relevant beyond a single state or location?

Yes. The opportunity states that projects are expected to address needs of national, regional, or multi-state importance, with relevance beyond a single location.

Does SCRI include both conventional and organic production systems?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes both conventional and organic production systems.

What topics or focus areas must a proposed project address?

To be responsive, proposed projects must directly address at least one of five major focus areas outlined in the opportunity:

• Improving crop traits through plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and related approaches (for example, improved quality, resilience, yield, or other desirable characteristics).
• Addressing threats from pests and diseases, including protecting specialty crop pollinators.
• Improving production efficiency and advancing better handling and processing practices, with an emphasis on increasing long-term productivity and profitability; policy and marketing considerations may be part of building durable economic outcomes.
• Developing new innovations and technologies, including improved mechanization and postharvest technologies that delay or inhibit ripening to reduce losses and extend market windows.
• Improving food safety methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards related to specialty crop production, handling, and processing.

What does the first focus area (crop traits) cover?

It centers on improving crop traits using plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and related approaches, with the goal of developing better-performing specialty crops. Examples mentioned include improved quality, resilience, yield, or other desirable characteristics.

What does the pests, diseases, and pollinators focus area include?

This area targets threats from pests and diseases and also includes protecting specialty crop pollinators. It reflects the program's emphasis on biological risks that can disrupt production and supply chains.

What is included in production efficiency, handling, and processing?

This focus area is about improving production efficiency and advancing better handling and processing practices to increase productivity and profitability over the long term. The description also recognizes that policy and marketing considerations can be part of achieving durable economic outcomes for specialty crop industries.

What kinds of innovations and technologies are encouraged?

The opportunity highlights new innovations and technologies, including improved mechanization. It also specifically mentions postharvest technologies that delay or inhibit ripening, which can help reduce losses and extend market windows.

What does the food safety focus area emphasize?

It focuses on food safety methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards tied to specialty crop production, handling, and processing. The description notes that food safety risks can have major economic and public health consequences.

Is this posting for a full application?

No. This posting is for a pre-application stage, which typically functions as an initial screening step before full applications are invited.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The instrument type is identified as a grant.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is listed as agriculture.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others." The opportunity notes that clarification is expected in the full eligibility language referenced in the opportunity's additional information section.

Is an award ceiling or number of awards provided?

No. Based on the source data provided, the posting does not list an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted on October 29, 2015, and the closing date for submissions was December 3, 2015.

What does it mean that SCRI is a "mandatory" grant program?

The posting describes SCRI as a mandatory grant program. No additional explanation is provided in the source information beyond that label.

What is NIFA's Center of Excellence (COE) designation and why is it mentioned?

The announcement highlights NIFA's Center of Excellence (COE) designation process as a relevant consideration for applicants. It signals that NIFA encourages prospective applicants to understand and, where applicable, align with COE expectations and guidance when developing strong, competitive proposals in SCRI and related programs.

What COE resources are referenced in the announcement?

The opportunity directs prospective applicants to NIFA resources, including:

• A COE factsheet describing criteria and the designation process
• A list of programs offering COE opportunities in fiscal year 2016
• Recordings of COE outreach webinars held in early 2015

Does the announcement indicate that COE information will change or be updated?

Yes. It notes that COE webpages would be updated during FY 2016 with additional details, including summaries of stakeholder feedback.

Does a project need to fit more than one focus area to be considered responsive?

The opportunity states that proposed projects must directly address at least one of the five major focus areas. It does not state that multiple areas are required.

What kind of impact is SCRI aiming for in the specialty crop sector?

SCRI is described as supporting long-term sustainability and competitiveness for specialty crops across the full food and agriculture system. The focus areas and descriptions emphasize practical challenges such as crop improvement, pest and disease pressures (including pollinator protection), production and processing efficiency, technology and mechanization, postharvest loss reduction, and food safety risk management.