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:

1. Research in plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and other methods to improve crop characteristics
2. Efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including threats to specialty crop pollinators
3. Efforts to improve production efficiency, handling and processing, productivity, and profitability over the long term (including specialty crop policy and marketing)
4. New innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening
5. 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)