Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI)

Overview

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 priorities of SCRI reflect the needs of the specialty crops industries.

The intent of SCRI is not to fund start-up businesses; however, a small business may apply. Projects must address only scientific research and extension activities. A small business must not propose technical assistance, demonstration projects, classified research, or financial assistance to start, create, or expand a company or submit patent applications.

Project Characteristics

SCRI projects must integrate key stakeholders throughout the life of the project, from the development of the concept through the project implementation and dissemination of the findings.

SCRI projects must be transdisciplinary, intentionally integrating knowledge from different disciplines (such as biology, social sciences, economics, etc.) with relevant stakeholders and community members to address societal challenges. The development of transdisciplinary approaches engages these diverse teams from the onset of project conceptualization. Learn more about transdisciplinary approaches.

SCRI projects must use 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.

Legislative Focus Area Priorities

Research 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 Types

The SCRI offers the following four project types. These project types are described in more detail in the NOFO. 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.

Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAPs)
Standard Research and Extension Projects (SREPs)
Workforce Readiness and Talent Pipeline Projects (WRTPP)
Research and Extension Planning Projects

Application Process with Relevance Review - How It Works

The SCRI application review is now a two-stage process:

Stakeholder Relevance Review

Applicants submit a Stakeholder Relevance Statement (SRS) and other supporting documents as detailed in the Pre-Application NOFO. The SRS is reviewed by Stakeholder Relevance Review panels, composed of specialty crop industry representatives. To the degree possible, crop types are grouped and considered by industry representatives familiar with that crop. The Stakeholder Relevance Review panels evaluate SRS based on criteria listed in the Pre-Application NOFO, which are focused on stakeholder engagement and relevance of the project to the industry. The panels decide whether applicants will be invited to submit a full project proposal or not.

Volunteer to be an Industry Relevance Reviewer

Scientific Merit Review

Applicants who are invited to submit a full application are sent a targeted NOFO with information and directions for full applications is included. Those full applications are reviewed by a Scientific Merit Review panel, composed of academic, government, and industry scientists. The Scientific Merit Review panel evaluates the full application based on criteria listed in the NOFO, which are focused on the scientific processes used by the project team.

The final ranking of proposals incorporates results from both the relevance and the scientific merit reviews.

Image of grains, courtesy of Adobe Stock

Featured Grant

Specialty Crop Research Initiative

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...

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