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    Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI)SharePrint Friendly Email Twitter Facebook
    
    The intent of the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) is to promote collaboration, open communication, the exchange of information, and the development of resources that accelerate application of scientific discovery and technology to solving needs of the various specialty crop industries. SCRI will give priority to projects that are multistate, multi-institutional, or trans-disciplinary, and include explicit mechanisms to communicate results to producers and the public.

  SCRI-funded projects are characterized by integration of research and Extension activities and strong evidence of stakeholder involvement in project development. Applicants to SCRI are strongly encouraged to propose a unique approach to solving problems facing the specialty crop industry using a systems approach.A systems approach is any process of estimating or inferring how local policies, actions, or changes influence the state of the neighboring universe. It is a framework that is based on the belief that the component parts of a system can best be understood in the context of relationships with each other and with other systems, rather than in isolation. The only way to fully understand why a problem or element occurs and persists is to understand the part in relation to the whole.Specialty crops are defined in law as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.Legislative Focus Area PrioritiesResearch in plant breeding, genetics, genomics and other methods to improve crop characteristics. Projects that seek to create improved cultivars through the use of biotechnology must demonstrate an understanding of the regulatory requirements involved in their release and must also present a plan for addressing the regulatory issues.Efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including threats to specialty crop pollinators.Efforts to improve production efficiency, handling and processing, productivity and profitability over the long term (including specialty crop policy and marketing).New innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening.Methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production efficiency, handling and processing of specialty crops, including fresh produce.Project TypesThe SCRI offers the following three project types. These project types are described in more detail in the RFA. Applicants should decide which project type is best suited to the objectives of their research and extension project and develop a budget that fits the objectives.Standard Research and Extension Projects (SREPs)Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAPs)Research and Extension Planning ProjectsApplication Process with Relevance Review - How It WorksThe SCRI application review is now a two-stage process. First, NIFA publishes a call for pre-applications, typically in September or October. Applicants submit a Stakeholder Relevance Statement, estimated budget request, letters of support, and other supporting documents. Those packets undergo a review by members of the specialty crop industry. To the degree possible, crop types are grouped and considered by industry representatives familiar with that crop.Following the relevance review, an invitation to submit a full project proposal is sent to those applicants recommended by the relevance review panels. Generally, this is roughly 50% of applicants. Along with the invitation, a targeted call for proposals with information and directions for full applications is included. Typically, 4 to 6 weeks is allowed for submission of full proposals. After the closing date, a full scientific merit review, which follows the same procedures as other scientific merit reviews at NIFA, is conducted. The final ranking of proposals incorporates results from both the relevance and the scientific merit reviews.Volunteer to be an Industry Relevance Reviewer.What has been Funded in the Past?To find a list of projects funded through SCRI and links to their reports, please go to the bottom of this page and click on the SCRI link under "Related Funding Opportunities". On that page, scroll down to find a link entitled "Read the Abstracts". This will bring you to a list of the reports in our system.Highlights of Project Websites**Lead Institution****Project Title/topic****Website****Technical report**Clemson University**Guava Root Knot Nematode** (Meloiddogyne enterolobii).  Information and tools to assist growers with preventing and managing issues with this pest.https://www.findmenematode.org1020264Penn State UniversityDeveloping IPM systems for **Pseudomonas syringae** issues in cucurbits and chenopods (melons, squash, beets, chard).https://www.pseudosonseed.org/1020279Washington State University"Stop the Rot" Developing strategies for detection and management of bacterial diseases in **onions**.  Note extension videos under "Resources" tab.https://alliumnet.com/stop-the-rot/1020312Michigan State UniversityMulti-state research and extension team working to develop modern **pollination decision tools** to help blueberry growers optimize pollination of their fields.www.blueberrypollination.org1023571University of Georgia"LAMP" = **Lighting Approaches** to Maximize Profits.  Project aims to provide strategies for efficiency with lighting in controlled growing environments.https://www.hortlamp.org/1016320Washington State UniversityFRAME: Fungicide Resistance Assessment, Mitigation and Extension Network for Wine, Table, and Raisin **Grapes**https://framenetworks.wsu.edu/1016359Michigan State UniversityOptimizing **indoor agriculture**for leafy green production.http://www.scri-optimia.org.1020286Washington State UniversityHigh Resolution **Vineyard** Nutritionhttps://highresvineyardnutrition.com1023501Penn State University**"Stop Spotted Lanternfly**"  Biology, ecology, and management of spotted lanternfly in US specialty crops.https://www.stopslf.org/1020284Montana State University**Lentils**.  Developing IPM strategies for lentil crops, including management of fusarium.https://www.montana.edu/legumes/1016372Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityManagement of**boxwood blight**.https://www.boxwoodhealth.org/1023535University of Florida"Sweet CAP" Development of **sweet corn**.https://www.sweetcorndevelopment.org/sweet-cap.html1016512Texas A&M UniversityDeveloping best management practices to resist **Annual bluegrass**(Poa annua) in turf grass.http://resistpoa.org/1016398Cornell University**Produce food safety systems** and resources for growers.  Note "Teaching Modules" under Produce Safety CoE tab and also stakeholder webinar:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oyHZ9xw26chttps://foodsafety.foodscience.cornell.edu/produce-safety-coe/1020233University of Minnesota**Potato soil health** - how to sustain or improve soil health while maintaining productivity levels.  Note links under Education tab.https://potatosoilhealth.cfans.umn.edu/1016514Tennessee State University**Flatheaded borer beetles**https://southernipm.org/partners/working-groups/wood-borers/flatheaded-borer/1023403University of Florida**Produce food safety** risk management.https://contactproducesafety.ifas.ufl.edu/about-contact/1023565Texas A&M UniversityTools for genomics-assisted breeding in **polyploids** (fruits, vegetables, ornamentals).https://www.polyploids.org/welcome1023566Michigan State UniversityCuc CAP2: Harnessing genomic resources for disease resistance and management in **Cucurbit crops** - bringing the tools to the fieldhttps://cuccap.org/1023460North Carolina State UniversityDeveloping drought tolerant **turf grass** and alternate irrigation methodshttps://site.caes.uga.edu/scriturf/1020222Cornell UniversityTools for **apple** crop load managementhttps://pacman.extension.org1023632North Carolina State UniversityVacciniumCAP: genetic and genomic work to improve **blueberry and cranberry**.  See Genome Database at www.vaccinium.org/https://www.vacciniumcap.org/1020223Clemson University**Armillaria root rot** - stone fruitshttps://blogs.clemson.edu/arrsolutions/1023452University of Wisconsin**Potato** breeding to accelerate development of new cultivarshttps://potatov2.github.io/1020255Cornell UniversityVitisGen2:  Advancement of **wine grapes** through breeding, pest management, production efficiency.https://www.vitisgen2.org/1013060Washington State University**Biodegradable plastic mulches**https://smallfruits.wsu.edu/plastic-mulches/219841Additional Highlights of Completed Projects**Grapes:** The Efficient Vineyard Project is working on innovations to measure and manage variations in growing conditions and yields in vineyards across the United States. They post updates on their work regularly on The Efficient Vineyard Project website.**Fruits in the Rose Family:** RosBREED: Combining Disease Resistance with Horticultural Quality in New Rosaceous Cultivars is focused on developing and applying modern DNA tests and related breeding methods to deliver new cultivars of rosaceous crops in 22 U.S. breeding programs, focusing on apple, blackberry, peach, pear, rose, strawberry, sweet cherry, and tart cherry. The project is managed through Michigan State University and Washington State University. Together they are leading a group of 35 scientists from 14 U.S. institutions along with numerous international cooperators. Visit the RosBREED website.**Pollinators:** A team at Michigan State University is wrapping up The Integrated Crop Pollination Project as a part of their Michigan Pollinator Initiative. Check out the Integrated Crop Pollination Project resources for growers!**Broccoli:** The Eastern Broccoli Project at Cornell is “developing an Eastern Broccoli Industry through cultivar development, economically and environmentally sustainable production and delivery”. The project blog provides updates on research.**Vegetable Grafting:** The Vegetable Grafting Project, directed by researchers at NC State University, is working to assist the makers, distributors and users of grafted vegetable plants by providing current, research-based information that addresses specific obstacles to their success.**Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Water:**Clean WateR3 is a project focused on research and outreach to help growers **R**educe, **R**emediate and **R**ecycle irrigation water and it is affiliated with the Water Education Alliance for Horticulture. Visit the Clean Water3 website to learn more about this prolific project.**Managing Irrigation and Nutrition via Distribution Sensing (MINDS):** This project identified and addressed four integral needs in the greenhouse production industry. Researchers developed software for greenhouse management that is affordable and practical for growers. Learn more about this through this video.

  Program type
    Grant Program

  Contact
    Thomas (Tom)  Bewick
              Jessica Shade

  Program Specific Resources
    FY 2023 Full Application RFA (pdf - 479.67 KB)
              Definition of Specialty Crops (pdf - 47.03 KB)
              Project Summary Template (docx - 24.53 KB)
              SCRI Executive Summary Template (docx - 19.77 KB)

  Funding Opportunities
    Specialty Crop Research Initiative

  External Resources
    Transdisciplinary Approaches Webinar Series (2023) | National Agricultural Library (usda.gov)

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