Application News and Updates

March 13, 2009

CSREES Modifies Specialty Crop Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program

In accordance with the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act,  for the purposes of a grant made under section 412 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998, which established the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), in-kind support from non-Federal sources in the form of unrecovered indirect costs may be used to meet the matching requirements under 412(e)(3). These indirect costs are those that are not otherwise charged against the grant and must be consistent with the approved indirect cost rate of the organization. This constitutes a change for the program and the SCRI request for applications (RFA) has been modified accordingly. CSREES announced $47.3 million in FY 2009 funds available for the SCRI.  The SCRI was established to solve critical industry issues through research and extension activities. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. SCRI will give priority to projects that are multistate, multi-institutional or trans-disciplinary, and include explicit mechanisms to communicate results to producers and the public. Applications are due April 15. Please refer to the updated SCRI Matching Fund FAQs and the updated SCRI RFA for more information.