Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 003357
Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 003357
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture 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 Oct 29, 2010 and posted on Oct 29, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 31, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $47,300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Individuals Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- For the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, applications may be submitted by Federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, State agricultural experiment stations, Cooperative Extension Services, individuals, or groups consisting of two or more of these entities.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) is a grant program run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) designed to tackle urgent, high-impact problems facing the U.S. specialty crop industry through a combination of research and extension. The intent is not only to generate new knowledge and practical solutions, but also to make sure those results reach growers, industry stakeholders, and the public in usable ways. A major emphasis of the program is on collaborative work, with priority given to projects that are multistate, multi-institutional, or transdisciplinary, and that build in clear plans for outreach, communication, and adoption of findings.
Projects funded under SCRI must address at least one of five program focus areas. These include: (1) plant breeding, genetics, and genomics research aimed at improving specialty crop traits and performance; (2) efforts to identify, prevent, and manage threats from pests and diseases, including risks to specialty crop pollinators; (3) strategies to improve production efficiency, long-term productivity, and farm profitability; (4) development of innovations and technologies, such as improved mechanization, as well as technologies that delay or inhibit ripening to reduce losses and improve marketability; and (5) approaches that strengthen food safety in specialty crop production and processing, including methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards. Overall, the program is structured to support applied, industry-relevant work that can be demonstrated and transferred into practice, rather than research that stays confined to academic settings.
Based on the archived opportunity details, this particular posting (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SCRI 003357; CFDA 10.309) was listed as a mandatory grant opportunity, posted October 29, 2010, with an application deadline of January 31, 2011, and an archive date of March 3, 2011. The award ceiling shown is $47,300,000, with no stated award floor, and the opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement. The activity areas associated with the funding span agriculture and a broad set of related domains, including environment, food and nutrition, health, natural resources, and science and technology research and development, reflecting how specialty crop challenges often intersect with pest management, labor and mechanization, supply chains, and public health.
Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federal agencies, national laboratories, research institutions and organizations, state agricultural experiment stations, Cooperative Extension Services, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and other nonprofit structures), for-profit entities (including small businesses and other for-profit organizations), individuals, and collaborative groups made up of two or more eligible entity types. This wide eligibility range aligns with the program preference for multi-organization and cross-disciplinary teams, where universities, extension, industry partners, and other stakeholders can work together to solve real-world production and market problems.
For applicants, the program expectation is that proposals will pair rigorous research with strong extension and communication components, showing how findings will be translated into practical recommendations, tools, technologies, or management practices. The announcement also provides a NIFA Help Desk contact for technical access issues (202-401-5048, business hours 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET on weekdays excluding federal holidays) and indicates that applicants can seek guidance on application content questions through the program contact channels referenced in the full announcement.
Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) - FAQs
What is the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI)?
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant program focused on addressing urgent, high-impact problems affecting the U.S. specialty crop industry. It supports projects that combine research and extension, with a strong expectation that results will be translated into usable solutions for growers, industry stakeholders, and the public.
What is the main purpose of SCRI funding?
The program is designed to generate new knowledge and practical, industry-relevant solutions, while also ensuring those results are delivered in ways that people can actually use. SCRI places emphasis on outreach, communication, and adoption of project findings, not just producing academic research.
What types of projects does SCRI prioritize?
SCRI prioritizes collaborative projects, especially those that are multistate, multi-institutional, or transdisciplinary. Projects are expected to include clear plans for extension, outreach, communication, and real-world adoption of the work produced.
What are the SCRI program focus areas?
Projects funded under SCRI must address at least one of five focus areas:
- Plant breeding, genetics, and genomics research to improve specialty crop traits and performance
- Identification, prevention, and management of threats from pests and diseases, including risks to specialty crop pollinators
- Strategies to improve production efficiency, long-term productivity, and farm profitability
- Development of innovations and technologies (for example, improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening to reduce losses and improve marketability)
- Approaches to strengthen food safety in specialty crop production and processing, including preventing, detecting, monitoring, controlling, and responding to food safety hazards
Do SCRI projects have to include both research and extension?
Yes. Based on the opportunity description, proposals are expected to pair rigorous research with strong extension and communication components. Applicants should explain how results will be translated into practical recommendations, tools, technologies, or management practices that can be demonstrated and transferred into practice.
Is SCRI intended for basic academic research?
The program is structured to support applied, industry-relevant work that can be demonstrated and transferred into practice. The description emphasizes solutions that move beyond academic settings and are usable by growers and other stakeholders.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for this posting?
This archived posting lists Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SCRI 003357 and CFDA 10.309.
When was this opportunity posted and when was it due?
The archived opportunity information indicates it was posted on October 29, 2010, with an application deadline of January 31, 2011.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The information provided indicates this posting is archived, with an archive date of March 3, 2011.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling shown in the archived details is $47,300,000.
Is there an award floor (minimum award amount)?
No award floor is stated in the information provided.
Does this opportunity require cost sharing or matching funds?
Yes. The archived opportunity details indicate that the opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What activity areas or domains does SCRI cover?
The funding is associated with agriculture and a broad set of related domains, including environment, food and nutrition, health, natural resources, and science and technology research and development. This reflects that specialty crop challenges often intersect with pest management, mechanization and labor, supply chains, and public health.
Who is eligible to apply for SCRI, based on this posting?
Eligibility is broad and includes:
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federal agencies
- National laboratories
- Research institutions and organizations
- State agricultural experiment stations
- Cooperative Extension Services
- Nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and other nonprofit structures)
- For-profit entities (including small businesses and other for-profit organizations)
- Individuals
- Collaborative groups made up of two or more eligible entity types
Are collaborative proposals allowed or encouraged?
Yes. The program places major emphasis on collaborative work and gives priority to projects that are multistate, multi-institutional, or transdisciplinary. The eligibility list also explicitly includes collaborative groups composed of two or more eligible entity types.
What should applicants emphasize in their proposals?
Applicants are expected to show how their project combines rigorous research with extension and communication, including a clear plan for outreach and adoption. Proposals should explain how findings will become practical outputs such as recommendations, tools, technologies, or management practices that stakeholders can use.
Who should applicants contact for technical issues accessing the application system?
The opportunity lists the NIFA Help Desk for technical access issues at 202-401-5048, available during business hours from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays, excluding federal holidays.
Where can applicants get help with application content questions?
The opportunity indicates that applicants can seek guidance on application content questions through the program contact channels referenced in the full announcement.
Is this listed as a mandatory grant opportunity?
Yes. The archived opportunity details describe this posting as a mandatory grant opportunity.
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