- Author: Kendra T Rose
Dear Colleagues,
1) USDA NIFA is soliciting pre-applications for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI). The purpose of the SCRI program is to address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry 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. Projects must address at least one of five focus areas:
- Research in plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and other methods 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, handling and processing, productivity, and profitability over the long term (including specialty crop policy and marketing)
- 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 efficiency, handling and processing of specialty crops
Visit the program web page at Specialty Crop Research Initiative | NIFA (usda.gov) for more information.
Pre-Applications Due: 2:00 P.M. PT, November 8, 2024 (Full applications by invite only)
Project Types:
Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAPs)
Project period: Up to 5 years
Normally, Federal funds will not exceed $2,000,000 per year (Median award amount: $5,756,354)
Standard Research and Extension Projects (SREPs)
Project period: Up to 5 years
Normally, Federal funds will not exceed $1,000,000 per year (Median award amount: $2,180,834)
Research and Extension Planning Projects
Project period: One year
Federal funds up to $50,000 per project
2) The Center for Produce Safety research program is directed toanswering critical research questions that fill the gaps in our foundational understanding and systems-based implementation in specific areas of food safety practices for fruit, vegetable, and tree nut production, harvest, post-harvest handling, and distribution. The objective is to provide the produce industry with practical, translatable research data that can be used throughout the supply chain.
Please refer to the 2025 CPS Research Priorities on the CPS website.
Award Amount: Research projects cannot exceed $200,000 per year; Proof of concept proposals cannot exceed $50,000.
Pre-Applications Due: November 6, 2024 (Full applications by invite only due 02/06/2025)
Visit the Center for Produce Safety web page at for more information.
Thank you.
Kimberly Lamar, Associate Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kendra T Rose
Dear Colleagues,
The California Cherry Board (CCB) is soliciting proposals for research found to be of highest priority by the industry and which will significantly benefit the production and post-harvest handling practices of sweet cherry in California.
Production Research Priorities:
- Pest Management with emphasis on management of spotted wing drosophila (SWD)
- New chemistry
- Timing of application
- Tree Health with emphasis on pre- and postharvest disease biology and management, soilborne and canker diseases, and orchard replant diseases with emphasis on nematode management and alternatives to fumigations.
- Variety Development
- Pruning and Tree Architecture (including mechanical pruning)
- Dormancy/Firmness
- New chemistry
- Heat Stress on Fruit Quality
Post Harvest Research Priorities:
- Marketing/Sales
- Implications of grocery store purchases on applications (i.e. pick-up) instead of in-store
- Consumer Preferences and quality including minimizing Defects, fruit quality attributes such as Brix, Acid content.
- Minimum Maturity and Grade Standards
- Crop management to match market demands
- Stem retention
- Nutrition
Applications Due: September 30, 2024
Please see the RFA for specific details: https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/401773.pdf
Proposal Template: https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/401774.docx
Thank you.
ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kendra T Rose
Dear Colleagues,
California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) is soliciting concept proposals for Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). SCBGP funds projects that enhance the competitiveness of California specialty crops and is designed to support all sectors of California's specialty crop industry and will fund efforts which improve the performance of California specialty crops within local, domestic, national, and international markets. Specialty crops are fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.
The proposal process for SCBGP consists of two phases. In phase I, concept proposals should be submitted via the specified online tool by concept proposal deadline specified below. Successful concept proposals will be invited to submit a full proposal in December 2024 with a due date in January 2025 (exact dates are yet to be determined).
SCBGP program consists of three funding areas each of which have up to three subcategories. The concept proposals must be aligned with one primary funding category. These are:
- Funding Area I: Market Enhancement
o Category A: Grown in California
- Funding Area II: Access, Education and Training
o Category A: Healthy Specialty Crops for all Californians
o Category B: Equity, Opportunity and Education for all California Specialty Crop Farmers
- Funding Area III: Research
o Category A: Environmental Stewardship, Conservation and Climate Smart Agriculture
o Category B: Plant Health and Pest Management
o Category C: Food Safety (Separate Proposal Solicitation). Please see http://www.centerforproducesafety.org/.
For more information, please visit the sponsor's website at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/Specialty_Crop_Competitiveness_Grants/ and see the Request for Concept Proposals (RFCP)
Concept Proposal Due: 09/09/2024
Funding Amount: $100,000 to $500,000
Project Duration: up to2 years 8 months with a start date of 11/01/2025
Match: Not required
Thank you.
ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kendra T Rose
Dear Colleagues,
1) WSARE California is Now Accepting Applications for Professional Development Education Implementation Mini-Grants
WSARE California invites proposals for small grants (up to $25,000) to support professional development opportunities in sustainable agriculture targeted primarily to agricultural professionals such as extension staff, non-profit, state and federal agency staff, PCAs/CCAs, etc. Farmers and ranchers may be included but should NOT be the primary audience. The goal of the program is to increase the capacity of agriculture professionals who work in California to apply the principles of sustainable agriculture while working with their clientele (farmers, ranchers, consumers, youth, businesses, government, or communities). Applications will be accepted through September 25, 2024. For more information regarding priority areas, eligibility, and the application process, please visit: https://sarep.ucdavis.edu/news/western-sare-mini-grants24-26
2) The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is soliciting proposals for two programs; Research Grants and Alliance Grants Programs. The DPR's 2025 solicitations aims to fund projects that support the state's goal of transitioning to systemwide adoption of safer, more sustainable pest management, aligned with the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap objectives.
Alliance Grant Program
Alliance Grants Program provides funding for projects that promote or increase the implementation, expansion, and/or adoption of effective, proven, and affordable integrated pest management (IPM) systems or practices that reduce risks to public health and the environment in agricultural, urban, or wildland settings.
Projects under this category must address one or more of the following priority areas:
- IPM for underserved or disadvantaged communities;
- Decreasing the use of pesticides of high regulatory interest (such as fumigants like 1,3-dichloropropene or sulfuryl fluoride);
- Advancement of urban IPM and safer, more sustainable pest management tools and strategies in urban settings;
- Advancement of IPM and safer, more sustainable pest management tools and strategies in agricultural settings adjacent to or near a school(s);
- Meeting the IPM needs of small growers; and/or
- TWO or more of the three sustainability pillars noted below and referenced in the
- Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) Roadmap:
- Human Health and Social Equity
- Environmental Protections
- Economic Vitality
The RFA and application materials for Alliance grants are available at: https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pestmgt/grants/alliance/app_materials.htm
Proposals Due: November 21, 2024 for Alliance Grants
Funding Amount: $50,000 to $400,000 for Alliance Grants
Project Length: Up to 3 years
Research Grants Program
Research Grants Program provides funding for research projects that advance integrated pest management (IPM) knowledge in agricultural, urban, and wildland settings. Projects should focus on reducing impacts to public health or the environment from pesticides of high regulatory interest.
Projects under this category must address one or more of the following priority areas:
- IPM for underserved or disadvantaged communities;
- Decreasing the use of pesticides of high regulatory interest (such as fumigants like 1,3-dichloropropene or sulfuryl fluoride);
- Advancement of urban IPM and safer, more sustainable pest management tools and strategies in urban settings;
- Advancement of IPM and safer, more sustainable pest management tools and strategies in agricultural settings adjacent to or near a school(s);
- Meeting the IPM needs of small growers; and/or
- TWO or more of the three sustainability pillars noted below and referenced in the Sustainable Pest Management (SPM)Roadmap:
- Human Health and Social Equity
- Environmental Protections
- Economic Vitality
The RFA and application materials for Research grants programs are available at: https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pestmgt/grants/research/app_materials.htm
Proposals Due: September 19, 2024 for Research Grants.
Funding Amount: $50,000 to $500,000 for Research Grants
Project Length: Up to 3 years
Visit the DPR Grants web page at https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/dprgrants.htm for more information.
Thank you.
Kimberly Lamar, Associate Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kendra T Rose
Dear Colleagues,
1) USDA NIFA is soliciting proposals for the Mentoring at Risk and Rural Youth Program (MARRY). Mentoring promotes positive behaviors, attitudes, and outcomes for youth and reduces risk factors associated with delinquency and juvenile justice system involvement, such as poor school attendance, school failure, and alcohol and drug abuse. The MARRY program supports the expansion of high-quality mentoring services for targeted youth across the country to help close this gap.
All projects funded under MARRY must support opportunities for targeted youth to have meaningful positive youth development opportunities through established mentoring programs and/or expansion of target audience for existing mentoring programs as part of the 4-H program. Projects must indicate how their 4-H program opens opportunities for at least one of the following 1) juvenile justice-involved youth, 2) youth at-risk of juvenile justice involvement or 3) rural youth so that they have access to the same programs and opportunities as other 4-H youth.
Visit the program web page at https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/mentoring-risk-rural-youth#:~:text=The%20mission%20of%20the%20MARRY,services%20through%204%2DH%20programming for more information.
Applications Due: August 5, 2024 at 2PM
Grant Amount: $308,333 for implementation of mentoring project (plus $50,000 to one grantee to implement the MARRY Project Director meeting)
Eligibility: Project Directors and Co-Project Directors can only participate on one application.
2) The California Blueberry Commission is seeking research proposals that benefit California blueberry growers and processors by increasing the efficiency of blueberry production and processing practices in California.
California Blueberry Commission Research Priorities for 2024-2025
- Mechanical Harvesting for fresh blueberries
- Packing house automation techniques
- Mechanical pruning
- Management of Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD)
- GPS Blueberry Acreage Mapping
- Irradiation of Blueberries
- Low-cost UAV Based System for Bird Control
- Frost detection/prevention technology
- Postharvest treatments/alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation
- Increase shelf life/quality preservation
- Alternate packaging options instead of single use plastic in response to CA state laws
- Any other topic related to cost reduction/increasing the effectiveness of California blueberry production.
Please see the RFA for specific details: https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/399408.pdf
Applications Due: September 6, 2024
Thank you.
ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)