Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 006064
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) Request for Pre-applications is a mandatory federal grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.309. Its overall aim is to fund research and extension work that tackles high-priority, real-world problems facing the specialty crop sector, with an emphasis on challenges that matter at national, regional, or multi-state scales. The program is designed to strengthen the long-term sustainability of food and agriculture systems that involve specialty crops, and it explicitly includes both conventional and organic production systems.
Projects submitted under this opportunity are expected to be problem-driven and industry-relevant, meaning the work should be framed around critical needs in specialty crops and should generate practical outcomes that can be adopted by growers, supply-chain partners, educators, or related stakeholders. The scope is broad enough to include both research activities and extension activities, with the intent that new knowledge and innovations are not only generated but also translated into usable practices, tools, technologies, or decision-support resources.
To be responsive to the program, a proposed project must address at least one of five required focus areas. The first focus area covers crop improvement through plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and related methods that enhance crop characteristics, such as quality traits, resilience, yield, or other performance attributes important to specialty crop markets and production environments. The second focus area centers on pests and diseases, including identifying threats, understanding them, and developing strategies to manage or reduce their impacts; notably, this area also includes threats to specialty crop pollinators, reflecting the importance of pollination to many fruit, nut, and vegetable systems. The third focus area emphasizes improving production efficiency and the full chain of handling and processing, with goals tied to boosting productivity and profitability over the long term; this area also leaves room for work connected to specialty crop policy and marketing when it supports those long-term outcomes. The fourth focus area targets new innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and postharvest technologies that delay or inhibit ripening, which can reduce losses, extend shelf life, and improve marketability. The fifth focus area addresses food safety, supporting methods and systems to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in production, handling, and processing contexts connected to specialty crops.
This particular posting is a request for pre-applications, meaning prospective applicants are first asked to submit a preliminary application as part of the program’s process. Pre-applications are limited to a defined set of eligible applicants: Federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, Cooperative Extension Services, individuals, or groups made up of two or more of these entity types. In other words, eligibility spans public, private, and academic organizations, as well as collaborative groups, reflecting the program’s interest in multi-entity and multi-state work that can move the specialty crop industry forward.
Administrative details in the source record identify the opportunity as “USDA NIFA SCRI 006064,” categorized as agriculture, using the grant funding instrument type, with an original closing date of November 15, 2016, and a creation date of September 27, 2016. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected award count in the provided data, so applicants would typically need to refer to the full funding announcement or related guidance for funding levels, project types, and submission requirements beyond the pre-application stage.Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 006064
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Specialty Crop Research Initiative Request for 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 2016-09-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-11-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) Pre-application FAQs
What is this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) Request for Pre-applications, a mandatory federal grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.309.
What is the overall purpose of the SCRI program?
The program aims to fund research and extension work that tackles high-priority, real-world problems facing the specialty crop sector, especially challenges that matter at national, regional, or multi-state scales. It is intended to strengthen the long-term sustainability of food and agriculture systems involving specialty crops, including both conventional and organic production systems.
Is this posting for a full application or a pre-application?
This posting is a request for pre-applications. Prospective applicants are first asked to submit a preliminary application as part of the program process.
Why does the opportunity emphasize national, regional, or multi-state importance?
The SCRI program is designed to support work that addresses priority issues at scale, meaning projects are expected to be relevant beyond a single local setting and to generate outcomes that matter across multiple states or broader regions.
What types of activities are supported (research, extension, or both)?
The scope includes both research activities and extension activities. The intent is to generate new knowledge and innovations and also translate them into usable practices, tools, technologies, or decision-support resources.
What does it mean for a project to be "problem-driven" and "industry-relevant"?
Projects are expected to be framed around critical needs in specialty crops and produce practical outcomes that can be adopted by growers, supply-chain partners, educators, or other stakeholders connected to the specialty crop sector.
Does a proposed project have to fit within specific topic areas?
Yes. To be responsive, a proposed project must address at least one of five required focus areas identified for this opportunity.
What are the five required focus areas?
The five focus areas are:
- Crop improvement (plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and related methods to enhance traits such as quality, resilience, yield, and other performance attributes important to specialty crop markets and production environments)
- Pests and diseases (identifying threats, understanding them, and developing strategies to manage or reduce impacts, including threats to specialty crop pollinators)
- Production efficiency and handling/processing (improving productivity and profitability over the long term, including room for policy and marketing work when it supports those outcomes)
- New innovations and technology (including mechanization and postharvest technologies that delay or inhibit ripening to reduce losses, extend shelf life, and improve marketability)
- Food safety (methods and systems to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to food safety hazards in production, handling, and processing related to specialty crops)
Are organic specialty crop systems included, or is it only conventional production?
The program explicitly includes both conventional and organic production systems.
Does the pests and diseases focus area include pollinators?
Yes. The pests and diseases focus area specifically includes threats to specialty crop pollinators, recognizing the importance of pollination to many fruit, nut, and vegetable systems.
Can projects include work related to policy or marketing?
Yes, within the focus area on production efficiency and the handling/processing chain, the scope leaves room for specialty crop policy and marketing work when it supports long-term productivity and profitability outcomes.
What kinds of outcomes is NIFA looking for from funded work?
The program emphasizes practical, adoptable outputs, such as usable practices, tools, technologies, and decision-support resources that stakeholders can apply in real specialty crop settings.
Who is eligible to submit a pre-application?
Pre-applications are limited to the following eligible applicants: Federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, Cooperative Extension Services, individuals, or groups made up of two or more of these entity types.
Are collaborative or multi-entity groups allowed to apply?
Yes. Eligibility includes groups made up of two or more eligible entity types, reflecting the program's interest in collaborative work.
Is this opportunity limited to academic institutions?
No. Eligibility spans public, private, and academic organizations, as well as individuals and collaborative groups.
Which federal agency administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed for this program is 10.309.
What is the opportunity identifier listed in the source record?
The source record identifies the opportunity as "USDA NIFA SCRI 006064."
How is this opportunity categorized in the source record?
It is categorized as agriculture and uses the grant funding instrument type.
What was the original closing date for the pre-application request?
The original closing date listed is November 15, 2016.
What was the creation date of the listing?
The creation date listed is September 27, 2016.
Does the provided information include an award ceiling or number of expected awards?
No. The provided data does not include an award ceiling or expected award count.
Where would an applicant typically look for details not included here (funding levels, project types, or later-stage submission requirements)?
Based on the listing, applicants would typically need to refer to the full funding announcement or related guidance for funding levels, project types, and submission requirements beyond the pre-application stage.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture
Next opportunity: Center for Identification and Study of Individuals with Atypical Diabetes Mellitus (U54)
Previous opportunity: FY 2016 Notice of Funding Opportunity for Global Innovation Programs to promote the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based Violence (GBV) in Emergencies
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 006064
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA SCRI 006064) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 006065 Funding Number: USDA NIFA BFR 006065 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA CFP 006084 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CFP 006084 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA FINI 006104 Funding Number: USDA NIFA FINI 006104 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 006124 Funding Number: USDA NIFA ICGP 006124 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Call for a pre-bid conference: FEED THE FUTURE BANGLADESH NUTRITION ACTIVITY Apply for PRE BID SOL 388 17 000001 Funding Number: PRE BID SOL 388 17 000001 Agency: Bangladesh USAID-Dhaka Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Swine Composting Training for USDA Veterinary Services Employees Apply for USDA GRANTS 111616 001 Funding Number: USDA GRANTS 111616 001 Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Organic Transitions Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 006173 Funding Number: USDA NIFA ICGP 006173 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program (BRAG) Apply for USDA NIFA BRAP 006174 Funding Number: USDA NIFA BRAP 006174 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program WebNEERS Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 006184 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 006184 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Local Food Promotion Program Apply for USDA AMS TM LFPP G 17 0001 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM LFPP G 17 0001 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| AgrAbility - Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 006186 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 006186 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $180,000 |
| Farmers Market Promotion Program Apply for USDA AMS TM FMPP G 17 0002 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM FMPP G 17 0002 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program (ANNH) Apply for USDA NIFA AHSI 006185 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AHSI 006185 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| SAECP � Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 006187 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SAECP 006187 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 1890 Facilities Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA EF47 006205 Funding Number: USDA NIFA EF47 006205 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Special Research Grants Program, Potato Breeding Research Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 006204 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SRGP 006204 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Hispanic Serving Institutions -- Education Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA HSI 006206 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HSI 006206 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Call for Meeting to all Stakeholders Apply for RFI 663 17 00001 Funding Number: RFI 663 17 00001 Agency: Ethiopia USAID-Addis Ababa Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA TCRGP 006224 Funding Number: USDA NIFA TCRGP 006224 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $220,000 |
| Request for Applications for Development Food Security Activities in Uganda Apply for AID FFP 17 00001 Funding Number: AID FFP 17 00001 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "USDA NIFA SCRI 006064", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.