Specialty Crop Research Initiative
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-04-29. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you're solving a multi-state specialty crop production problem with both research and on-farm solutions, SCRI can fund you up to $10M.
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What this is
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) funds applied research and extension work that solves real problems for specialty crop growers—fruits, vegetables, nuts, and similar commodities. Awards range from $50,000 to $10 million, making this suitable for teams with institutional backing. Most projects must combine research with extension (outreach/implementation), and preference goes to multi-state or systems-approach solutions. Planning-only projects are an exception and don't require extension components.
Who can apply
Eligibility is broad but institutional in nature; see agency "Additional Information on Eligibility" section for details. Universities, non-profits, state departments of agriculture, commodity groups, and some for-profit entities can apply, but solo founders and very small teams are unlikely to meet the extension and institutional infrastructure requirements.
Eligible applicant types
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Full description — from the agency
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 agriculture, including conventional and organic food production systems. The program recognizes that for some specialty crops that are grown in a limited number of states, the multi-state nature of projects can be difficult to address. Except for Research and Extension Planning Projects, the SCRI program only considers projects that integrate research and extension activities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to propose a unique approach to solving problems facing the specialty crop industry using a systems approach.
Topics: specialty crops · agricultural research · extension programs · usda grants · multi-state collaboration · crop production systems
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.