Dear Colleagues,
USDA NIFA requests pre-applications for the 2019 Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) to solve critical United States specialty crop issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research and extension activities that use systems-based, trans-disciplinary approaches. The intent of the SCRI program is to address the needs of the various specialty crop industries through the promotion of collaboration, open communication, the exchange of information, and the development of resources that accelerate application of scientific discovery and technology. The SCRI program will give priority to projects that are multistate, or multi-institutional, or trans-disciplinary, and include clearly defined mechanisms to communicate results to producers and the public. For purposes of the SCRI program, the term trans-disciplinary is defined as a multi-disciplinary approach that brings biological and physical scientists together with economists and social scientists to address challenges in a holistic manner.
The SCRI program has five legislatively mandated focus areas, which are:
1. Research in plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and other methods to improve crop characteristics, such as:
a. product, taste, quality, and appearance;
b. environmental responses and tolerances;
c. nutrient management, including plant nutrient uptake efficiency;
d. pest and disease management, including resistance to pests and diseases resulting in reduced application management strategies; and
e. enhanced phytonutrient content.
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; and
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.
The program will address all focus areas by funding projects that emphasize systems-based, trans- disciplinary 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 for specialty crops. The program also recognizes the importance of specialty crops in enhancing human nutrition and health.
The SCRI program will be competed in two stages, where applicants are required to submit a pre-application. Selected pre-applications will be invited to submit a full proposal. Panels of industry representatives from various specialty crop sectors will review and rank the pre-applications for merit, relevance and impact. The industry representatives for each specialty crop sector will decide which pre- applications should be invited to submit full applications.
Applicants will be required to submit a pre-application by December 10, 2018.
Link to Additional Information
Please contact the Office of Contracts and Grants at ocg@ucanr.edu with your upcoming SCRI proposal plans.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)