The purpose of the SCRI program is to address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry (as defined in Appendix III) by awarding grants to support research and extension that address key challenges of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of food and agriculture, including conventional and organic food production systems. The program recognizes that for some specialty crops which are grown in a limited number of states, the multi-state nature of projects can be difficult to address. Except for Research and Extension Planning Projects, the SCRI program only considers projects that integrate research and extension activities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to propose a unique approach to solving problems facing the specialty crop industry using a systems approach.
In FY 2025, applicants will compete for the SCRI program in two stages. Applicants will be required to submit a pre-application containing a Stakeholder Relevance Statement (SRS). The content required in an SRS is described in Part IV § B of this Request for Pre-Applications (RFPA). Panels of industry representatives from various specialty crop sectors will conduct a review of the pre-applications and submit recommendations about which applicants should be invited to apply in the full application process. NIFA will provide details of the full-application process to invitees in a separate RFA. Review criteria for the SRS can be found in Part V § A of this RFPA.
Deadline for Pre-applications: Nov. 8, 2024
The SCRI program has five legislatively mandated focus areas to address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry by developing and disseminating science-based tools to address needs of specific crops and their regions, including the following:
1. Research in plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and other methods to improve crop characteristics, such as:
a. product, taste, quality, and appearance:
b. size-controlling rootstocks for perennial crops:
c. climate adaptation, environmental responses, and tolerances:
d. nutrient management, including plant nutrient uptake efficiency:
e. pest and disease management, including resistance to pests and diseases resulting in reduced application management strategies; and
f. enhanced phytonutrient content.
2. Efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including:
a. threats to specialty crop pollinators:
b. emerging and invasive species; and
c. a more effective understanding and utilization of existing natural enemy complexes.
3. Efforts
a. to improve production efficiency, handling and processing, productivity, competitiveness in trade, and profitability over the long term (including specialty crop policy and marketing); and
b. to achieve a better understanding of
i. the soil rhizosphere microbiome;
ii. pesticide application systems and certified drift-reduction technologies; and
iii. systems to improve and extend the storage life of specialty crops.
4. New innovations, data-driven predictive tools using Artificial Intelligence, and technology, including:
a. mechanization and automation of labor-intensive tasks in production and processing;
b. technologies that delay or inhibit ripening;
c. decision support systems driven by phenology and environmental factors;
d. improved monitoring systems for agricultural pests; and
e. effective systems for pre-harvest and postharvest management of quarantine pests.
5. Methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production and processing of specialty crops, including fresh produce.
NIFA will address all focus areas by funding projects that emphasize systems-based, transdisciplinary approaches. In addition, for the purposes of this program, NIFA interprets new innovations and technology to include, among other things, automation, robotics, sensor technology, and precision agriculture that can be made scale-appropriate for all specialty crops operations. NIFA also recognizes the importance of specialty crops in enhancing human nutrition and health.
Pre-applications may only 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 two or more of these entities.
This RFA is being released prior to the passage of a full appropriations act for FY 2025. Enactment of a continuing resolution, appropriations act, or other authorizing legislation may affect the availability or level of funding for this program. The amount available for support of this program in FY 2025 is approximately $75,440,000. The SCRI Pre-Application process does not result in award recommendations. However, an estimate of project costs is required. Applicants must use the information in Part II § B of this RFPA to develop the estimate.