Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA CSREES SCRI 002038
Apply for USDA CSREES SCRI 002038
- The CSREES in the agriculture employment, labor and training environment food and nutrition health natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Specialty Crop Research Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.309 Specialty Crop Research Initiative.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 2, 2009 and posted on Feb 2, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 15, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $47,300,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Individuals Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses Private institutions of higher education.
- Applications may 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 2 or more of these entities.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) is a USDA competitive grant program designed to tackle high-priority problems facing the specialty crop sector by funding coordinated research and extension work. In this program, "specialty crops" includes fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and a wide range of horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. The core idea is to fund projects that not only generate new science and practical solutions, but also make sure those results reach growers, industry stakeholders, and the public through clear and intentional outreach and communication activities. SCRI places particular emphasis on projects that cross state lines, bring together multiple institutions, or integrate multiple disciplines, reflecting the reality that many specialty crop challenges (like pests, market demands, and food safety risks) are not limited to a single region or field of expertise.
Funded projects must address at least one of five major focus areas. The first focus area centers on plant breeding, genetics, and genomics, with the goal of improving crop traits such as yield, quality, flavor, nutrition, stress tolerance, shelf life, and other characteristics that matter to producers and consumers. The second focus area targets threats from pests and diseases, including risks to pollinators that specialty crops depend on; this can include detection, prevention, and management strategies as well as broader systems approaches to reducing losses and protecting pollination services. The third area aims at improving production efficiency, productivity, and profitability over the long term, which can include better production systems, resource use efficiency, labor solutions, and practices that keep specialty crop operations economically viable. The fourth area supports new innovations and technology, including mechanization and postharvest technologies that delay or inhibit ripening, extend shelf life, and reduce waste while preserving quality. The fifth area is food safety, supporting methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards during the production and processing of specialty crops, recognizing the public health and market impacts of foodborne contamination incidents.
This opportunity was posted February 2, 2009, under Funding Opportunity Number USDA-CSREES-SCRI-002038, with the administering agency listed as CSREES (Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service). The program anticipated making about 60 awards, supported by an estimated total program funding level of $47,300,000. Individual awards could be as large as $10,000,000, with no stated minimum award floor. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants should plan for some level of non-federal contribution consistent with the program rules outlined in the Request for Applications (RFA). The closing date for applications was April 15, 2009, and the opportunity was later archived on February 17, 2010.
Eligibility is broad and supports the kind of cross-sector collaboration the program is trying to encourage. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, federal agencies and national laboratories, state agricultural experiment stations, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and those without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, individuals, and teams or groups consisting of two or more eligible entities. In practice, SCRI is geared toward larger, coordinated efforts that combine research with extension and education, so competitive proposals typically involve partnerships among universities, growers or industry groups, and other technical experts, with clear plans for how findings will be put into use in real-world specialty crop production and supply chains.
A key administrative note for this specific announcement is that the RFA was updated on February 4, 2009, to change the notification of intent to submit deadline to March 2, 2009. Applicants were directed to consult the RFA for exact requirements and instructions. For technical issues accessing the full announcement, the listed point of contact was the CSREES Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time).
Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI)?
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) is a USDA competitive grant program that funds coordinated research and extension efforts to address high-priority problems facing the specialty crop sector.
What does SCRI consider a "specialty crop"?
In SCRI, "specialty crops" includes fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and a broad range of horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.
What kinds of projects does SCRI fund?
SCRI funds projects that generate new science and practical solutions, and that also include clear, intentional outreach and communication so results reach growers, industry stakeholders, and the public.
Does SCRI require both research and extension components?
SCRI is designed to fund coordinated research and extension work. The program places strong importance on ensuring findings are communicated and put into practice through outreach and related activities.
Does SCRI prioritize multi-state or multi-institution projects?
Yes. SCRI places particular emphasis on projects that cross state lines, bring together multiple institutions, or integrate multiple disciplines, reflecting that specialty crop challenges often extend beyond one region or single field of expertise.
What focus areas must a funded SCRI project address?
Funded projects must address at least one of five major focus areas: (1) plant breeding, genetics, and genomics; (2) pests and diseases (including pollinators); (3) production efficiency, productivity, and profitability; (4) innovations and technology (including mechanization and postharvest technology); and (5) food safety.
What is included in the plant breeding, genetics, and genomics focus area?
This focus area supports improving specialty crop traits such as yield, quality, flavor, nutrition, stress tolerance, shelf life, and other producer- and consumer-relevant characteristics through breeding, genetics, and genomics work.
What is covered under the pests, diseases, and pollinators focus area?
This area targets threats from pests and diseases, including risks to pollinators that specialty crops rely on. It may include detection, prevention, and management strategies, as well as broader systems approaches to reduce losses and protect pollination services.
What does SCRI mean by improving production efficiency, productivity, and profitability?
This focus area supports efforts to improve long-term efficiency and economic viability, which can include better production systems, resource use efficiency, labor solutions, and practices that help keep specialty crop operations profitable over time.
What kinds of innovations and technologies are supported?
The innovations and technology area includes mechanization and postharvest technologies, including approaches that delay or inhibit ripening, extend shelf life, and reduce waste while preserving quality.
What types of food safety work does SCRI support?
The food safety focus area supports methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards during production and processing of specialty crops, acknowledging the public health and market impacts of contamination incidents.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA-CSREES-SCRI-002038.
Which agency administered this opportunity?
The administering agency listed for this opportunity is CSREES (Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service).
When was this opportunity posted?
This opportunity was posted on February 2, 2009.
When were applications due?
The closing date for applications was April 15, 2009.
Was there an update to the Request for Applications (RFA)?
Yes. The RFA was updated on February 4, 2009 to change the notification of intent to submit deadline to March 2, 2009. Applicants were directed to consult the RFA for exact requirements and instructions.
How many awards were anticipated?
The program anticipated making about 60 awards.
What was the estimated total funding level for the program?
The estimated total program funding level was $47,300,000.
What was the maximum award size?
Individual awards could be as large as $10,000,000.
Was there a minimum award amount stated?
No stated minimum award floor was provided in the information given.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants were expected to provide some level of non-federal contribution consistent with the program rules outlined in the Request for Applications (RFA).
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility included public and private institutions of higher education, federal agencies and national laboratories, state agricultural experiment stations, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and those without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, individuals, and teams or groups consisting of two or more eligible entities.
Can teams or partnerships apply?
Yes. Teams or groups consisting of two or more eligible entities were included in the eligibility list, and the program emphasizes coordinated, collaborative efforts.
Are individual applicants allowed?
Yes. Individuals were listed among eligible applicants.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) were listed as eligible, and small businesses were also listed as eligible.
What kinds of proposals tend to be competitive under SCRI?
Based on the program description, SCRI is geared toward larger, coordinated efforts that combine research with extension and education, often involving partnerships among universities, growers or industry groups, and other technical experts, along with clear plans for real-world adoption across specialty crop production and supply chains.
What happens if someone had trouble accessing the full announcement?
For technical issues accessing the full announcement, applicants were directed to contact the CSREES Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time).
Is this opportunity still active?
No. The opportunity was later archived on February 17, 2010.
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