Oct 4, 2017NIFA/USDA to distribute $48 million for specialty crops research
The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture has announced its funding levels for fiscal year 2018 research in the specialty crop industry, including potatoes. This is made through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.
“These NIFA investments support large-scale systems projects that we expect will result in knowledge, which can promote efficient and effective production, processing and distribution practices, along with long-term solutions to specialty crop industry challenges,” said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy.
NIFA will distribute $48 million for FY 2018 specialty crops research. Potatoes USA has already called for researchers to share what they might seek funding for, in order to coordinate efforts more efficiently.
In a letter urging researchers to share pending SCRI proposals or plans for an SCRI proposal, Chairman of the Potato Research Advisory Committee Steve Gangwish and Director of Research at Potatoes USA Ryan Krabill said that one of the most effective ways to begin to plan for SCRI success in the upcoming fiscal year is to better understand the potato research landscape.
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative invites pre-applications to solve critical U.S. specialty crop issues, priorities, or problems through integrated research and extension activities that use systems-based, trans-disciplinary approaches. The SCRI program will give priority to projects that are multistate, multi-institutional, or trans-disciplinary and include clearly defined mechanisms to communicate results to producers and the public. Five focus areas for SCRI projects include research on breeding, pest and disease management, production efficiency, innovations and technology, and food safety.
The application deadline is Dec. 8. See the request for applications for details.
