Federal Grant Award Summary

Cornell University received a $300,000 project grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI, CFDA 10.310) program, effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028. This integrated research and extension project, led from Ithaca, New York, addresses green fruit anthracnose (GFA) caused by the fungus Colletotrichum scovillei, which threatens pepper production across the Eastern United States and Canada. The project delivers emergency and short-term fungicide efficacy and application timing guidance for both conventional and organic pepper farmers, along with research on host resistance for medium-term disease management solutions.

The project produces foundational knowledge on pathogen population biology through development of selectively neutral molecular markers to identify dominant sources of inoculum and inform disease management strategies. Research findings are integrated into an economic framework to support extension and outreach messaging, with results disseminated directly to farmers through partnerships with extension services. Outputs will facilitate the development of an integrated disease management strategy to minimize GFA losses in New York and South Carolina, reduce risk of spread to major pepper production states including Georgia and Florida, and ensure the continued sustainability and profitability of pepper production in the Eastern United States.