Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 010311
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) Pre-Applications opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA NIFA SCRI 010311) is a mandatory federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is designed to support research and extension efforts that respond to pressing, industry-driven needs in the specialty crop sector. Specialty crops generally include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, and the program is oriented toward work that can strengthen the long-term competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience of these industries.
The core purpose of SCRI is to fund projects that tackle major challenges affecting specialty crop production and supply chains at a national, regional, or multi-state scale. The program explicitly supports projects that sustain all components of food and agriculture, and it is intended to be relevant across both conventional and organic production systems. In practice, this means proposals are expected to address real-world constraints faced by growers and related industries, and to combine research with extension or outreach so that results can be translated into usable practices, tools, or decision support for stakeholders rather than remaining purely academic.
This specific posting focuses on pre-applications, which typically serve as an initial screening step before full proposals are invited. Only certain types of applicants may submit pre-applications: federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, individuals, or consortia made up of two or more of these eligible entity types. The inclusion of groups and mixed-entity teams signals that collaborative, multi-institution approaches are welcome, especially for challenges that span multiple states or regions and require coordination among researchers, extension educators, and industry partners.
Key administrative details include the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number 10.309, an original closing date of December 8, 2023, and an award ceiling listed at $2,000,000 per award. The opportunity is categorized under agriculture and uses a grant funding instrument. While the notice lists "ExpectedAwards:" without a number provided in the source text, the ceiling indicates that projects can be sizeable and potentially involve multi-year, multi-disciplinary efforts, depending on the specific SCRI project type and NIFA's requirements in the full solicitation.
Overall, this opportunity is best suited for organizations and teams aiming to deliver high-impact, broadly applicable outcomes for specialty crop stakeholders, with a clear emphasis on addressing industry-identified problems and ensuring that research results are paired with extension activities that support adoption in the field.Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 010311
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Specialty Crop Research Initiative - Pre-Applications" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.309.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-10-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-12-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) Pre-Applications (USDA NIFA SCRI 010311) - FAQs
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This is the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) Pre-Applications opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SCRI 010311.
2) Is this a federal program?
Yes. SCRI is a mandatory federal grant program administered by USDA NIFA.
3) What is the main purpose of SCRI?
The program is designed to support research and extension efforts that respond to pressing, industry-driven needs in the specialty crop sector, with an emphasis on strengthening long-term competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience.
4) What kinds of projects does SCRI aim to fund?
SCRI supports projects that tackle major challenges affecting specialty crop production and supply chains at a national, regional, or multi-state scale. Projects are expected to be grounded in real-world constraints faced by growers and related industries.
5) What are considered "specialty crops" for this opportunity?
Specialty crops generally include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops.
6) Does SCRI support both research and extension activities?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes combining research with extension or outreach so that results are translated into usable practices, tools, or decision support for stakeholders rather than remaining purely academic.
7) Does the program apply to conventional and organic production systems?
Yes. The program is intended to be relevant across both conventional and organic production systems.
8) What is a pre-application in this context?
This posting focuses on pre-applications, which are typically an initial screening step before full proposals are invited.
9) Who is eligible to submit a pre-application?
Eligible applicants include federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, individuals, or consortia made up of two or more of these eligible entity types.
10) Are collaborative or multi-institution teams allowed?
Yes. Consortia of two or more eligible entity types may apply, and the opportunity signals that collaborative, multi-institution approaches are welcome, especially for challenges spanning multiple states or regions.
11) What is the administering agency?
The program is administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
12) What is the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number for this opportunity?
The CFDA (Assistance Listing) number listed for this opportunity is 10.309.
13) What is the funding instrument type?
The opportunity uses a grant as the funding instrument.
14) What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is $2,000,000 per award.
15) How many awards are expected?
The notice lists "ExpectedAwards:" but does not provide a number in the information provided here.
16) When was the original closing date?
The original closing date listed is December 8, 2023.
17) What kinds of outcomes does SCRI want to see?
SCRI is oriented toward high-impact, broadly applicable outcomes for specialty crop stakeholders, with clear relevance to industry-identified problems and practical extension activities that support adoption in the field.
18) What scale of impact is the program looking for?
The opportunity emphasizes national, regional, or multi-state relevance, particularly for challenges that require coordination across researchers, extension educators, and industry partners.
19) What sectors or topics are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under agriculture and focuses on the specialty crop sector, including production and supply chain challenges.
20) What type of applicant is this opportunity best suited for?
This opportunity is best suited for organizations and teams aiming to deliver stakeholder-relevant results for specialty crop industries, especially proposals that combine research with extension or outreach.
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