Specialty Crop Research Initiative

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. The program
recognizes that for some specialty crops which 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.

Applications may be submitted by Federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, State agricultural experiment stations, individuals, or groups consisting of two or more of these entities.

Applications are subjected to a system of peer and merit review in accordance with section 103 of the Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613) by a panel of qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the NIFA Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO) shall make grants to those responsible, eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in the NOFO. Reviewers will be selected based upon training and experience in relevant scientific, extension, or education fields, taking into account the following factors: (a) The level of relevant formal scientific, technical education, or extension experience of the individual, as well as the extent to which an individual is engaged in relevant research, education, or extension activities; (b) the need to include as reviewers experts from various areas of specialization within relevant scientific, education, or extension fields; (c) the need to include as reviewers other experts (e.g., producers, range or forest managers/operators, and consumers) who can assess relevance of the applications to targeted audiences and to program needs; (d) the need to include as reviewers experts from a variety of organizational types (e.g., colleges, universities, industry, state and Federal agencies, private profit and non-profit organizations) and geographic locations; (e) the need to maintain a balanced composition of reviewers with regard to minority and female representation and an equitable age distribution; and (f) the need to include reviewers who can judge the effective usefulness to producers and the general public of each application. Evaluation Criteria will be delineated in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). 2 CFR 200 – Subpart C and Appendix I and 2 CFR part 400 apply to this Program.

From 30 to 60 days.

Contact the National Program Leader regarding dates for specific deadlines, start and end dates, and range of approval/disapproval time.

Information is also available via our website and may be obtained via the Grants.gov website. NIFA’s respective links regarding general information are provided below:
http://nifa.usda.gov/
http://www.grants.gov.

SPECIAL NOTE:
Please refer to the Competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for further specific and pertinent details. The most current NOFO is available via:
https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/specialty-crop-research-initiative-scri

NOFOs are generally released annually. Hence, the NOFOs provide the most current and accurate information available. Any specific instructions in the Competitive NOFOs supersede the general information provided in the CFDA database.