Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 011676
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) is a mandatory USDA grant program run by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that funds work aimed at solving high-priority problems in the specialty crop sector. Its central goal is to support research and extension efforts that respond to critical needs across specialty crop industries, with an emphasis on challenges that matter at a national, regional, or multi-state scale. The program is designed to strengthen the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of specialty crops and the broader food and agriculture system, and it explicitly includes both conventional and organic production systems.
A defining feature of SCRI is its requirement for integrated projects: with the exception of Research and Extension Planning Projects, proposals are expected to combine research activities with extension activities so that new knowledge is not only generated but also translated into practical tools, recommendations, and on-the-ground adoption. The notice also encourages applicants to avoid narrow, single-issue work in favor of a systems approach, meaning projects should look at interconnected factors affecting specialty crops (for example, production constraints, pest and disease pressures, postharvest handling, supply chain issues, environmental stressors, labor, and other real-world limitations) and propose coordinated solutions that can be implemented by growers and industry partners.
SCRI recognizes a common practical issue in specialty crops: some crops are produced primarily in just a few states, which can make it harder to build a truly multi-state project even when the issue has wider relevance. Even so, the program is still oriented toward projects with broader significance beyond a single location, especially when the outcomes, methods, or technologies could be adapted by other regions or similar crops.
The opportunity is published under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SCRI 011676 and is categorized as an agriculture grant (CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.309). The stated award ceiling is up to $10,000,000, indicating that larger-scale, collaborative projects are within scope. The listing shows an expected awards value of 0, which often reflects that the specific number of awards is not predetermined in the summary record and may depend on available funding and proposal quality.
Eligibility for submitting pre-applications is broad and includes federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, individuals, and consortia or groups made up of two or more of these entity types. The original closing date provided is 2026-06-15, and the opportunity record was created on 2026-04-13. Specialty crops are referenced as being defined in Appendix III of the program materials, which applicants would need to consult to confirm whether their targeted crop(s) fall within the program definition.Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 011676
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Specialty Crop Research Initiative" 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 2026-04-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-15. (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 $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) FAQs
What is the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI)?
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) is a mandatory USDA grant program administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It funds work intended to solve high-priority problems in the specialty crop sector through research and extension efforts that address critical needs across specialty crop industries.
What is the main goal of SCRI funding?
The central goal is to support research and extension efforts that respond to critical needs across specialty crop industries, especially needs that matter at a national, regional, or multi-state scale. SCRI is designed to strengthen the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of specialty crops and the broader food and agriculture system.
Does SCRI support both conventional and organic production systems?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes both conventional and organic production systems.
What types of projects does SCRI prioritize?
SCRI prioritizes projects that address high-priority problems in the specialty crop sector and that have significance at a national, regional, or multi-state level. The program encourages proposals that take a systems approach and propose coordinated solutions that can be implemented by growers and industry partners.
What does SCRI mean by a "systems approach"?
A systems approach means avoiding narrow, single-issue work and instead considering interconnected factors that affect specialty crops. Examples mentioned in the opportunity include production constraints, pest and disease pressures, postharvest handling, supply chain issues, environmental stressors, labor, and other real-world limitations, with coordinated solutions addressing these connected challenges.
Are SCRI projects required to be "integrated"?
Yes, with one stated exception. A defining feature of SCRI is the expectation that proposals combine research activities with extension activities so that new knowledge is generated and also translated into practical tools, recommendations, and on-the-ground adoption.
What is the exception to the integrated project requirement?
The exception noted is Research and Extension Planning Projects. Other project types are expected to integrate research and extension.
Why does SCRI emphasize extension alongside research?
Because SCRI is designed not only to generate new knowledge, but also to ensure that results are translated into practical tools, recommendations, and real-world adoption by growers and industry partners.
Does SCRI require projects to be multi-state?
SCRI is oriented toward projects that matter at a national, regional, or multi-state scale. The opportunity also recognizes that some specialty crops are produced mainly in a few states, which can make multi-state collaboration harder even when the issue has wider relevance.
Can a project focused on a crop grown mainly in a few states still fit SCRI?
Potentially, yes. SCRI recognizes that certain crops are primarily produced in just a few states. Even so, the program is still oriented toward projects with broader significance beyond a single location, particularly when outcomes, methods, or technologies could be adapted by other regions or similar crops.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this SCRI notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA SCRI 011676.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for SCRI?
The program is categorized under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.309.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The stated award ceiling is up to $10,000,000, indicating that larger-scale, collaborative projects are within scope.
How many awards will be made?
The summary listing shows an expected awards value of 0. This often indicates that the number of awards is not predetermined in the summary record and may depend on available funding and proposal quality.
Who is eligible to submit a pre-application?
Eligibility for submitting pre-applications is broad. It includes federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, individuals, and consortia or groups made up of two or more of these entity types.
Are consortia or multi-entity groups eligible?
Yes. Consortia or groups consisting of two or more eligible entity types are included as eligible to submit pre-applications.
Can individuals apply?
Yes. Individuals are included in the eligibility list for submitting pre-applications.
What kinds of entities count as eligible organizations under this notice?
Examples listed include federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, and State Agricultural Experiment Stations.
What is the application deadline (closing date) shown in the record?
The original closing date provided is 2026-06-15.
When was this opportunity record created?
The opportunity record was created on 2026-04-13.
What counts as a "specialty crop" for SCRI?
Specialty crops are referenced as being defined in Appendix III of the program materials. Applicants should consult Appendix III to confirm whether their targeted crop or crops fall within the program definition.
Where do applicants confirm whether their crop is eligible as a specialty crop?
The notice points applicants to Appendix III of the program materials for the specialty crop definition.
What is the administering agency for SCRI?
SCRI is run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What sector and theme is this funding opportunity associated with?
It is categorized as an agriculture grant opportunity focused on the specialty crop sector, with an emphasis on research plus extension to address high-priority, real-world challenges.
What kinds of challenges does SCRI expect projects to address?
The opportunity highlights interconnected challenges such as production constraints, pest and disease pressures, postharvest handling, supply chain issues, environmental stressors, labor, and other practical limitations affecting specialty crops.
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