Specialty Crop Research Initiative
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- USDA-NIFA-SCRI-011676
- Agency
-
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
- Applications due
- Award size
- $50,000 to $10,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Agriculture
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is soliciting pre-applications for research and extension projects that address critical challenges in specialty crop industries, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops. Eligible applicants include federal agencies, universities, research institutions, private organizations, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, and collaborative entities. All projects except planning initiatives must integrate research and extension components using systems-based, transdisciplinary approaches and must address at least one of five legislatively mandated focus areas: plant breeding and genetics, pest and disease management, production efficiency and soil health, new innovations and data-driven technologies, or food safety. The pre-application phase requires submission of a Stakeholder Relevance Statement (SRS) that will undergo a two-phase administrative screening and industry relevance evaluation by specialty crop sector representatives. The pre-application deadline is June 15, 2026, at 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, with selected applicants subsequently invited to submit full applications.
Approximately $175,000,000 in federal funding is available for FY 2026, with SCRI supporting four project types: Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAPs) up to $2,000,000 per year for five years; Standard Research and Extension Projects (SREPs) up to $1,000,000 per year for five years; Workforce Readiness and Talent Pipeline Projects ($1,000,000-$5,000,000 for the project period); and Research and Extension Planning Projects up to $100,000 for one year. All applicants must meet a dollar-for-dollar matching requirement for federal funds, with indirect costs capped at 30 percent of total federal funds awarded. Projects will be performed at university research facilities, experimental farms, commercial growing operations, and other eligible locations, with typical award durations spanning three to five years.
Synopsis
The purpose of the SCRI program is to address the critical needs of the specialty crops industries (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 that 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.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| FY26-SCRI-PA-NOFO.pdf |
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