[FUNDING OPPORTUNITY] Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI)

16 Jul 2008 15:12:56 GMT

Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI)

The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (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 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. Projects must address at least one of five focus areas: research in plant breeding, genetics, and genomics to improve crop characteristics; efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including threats to pollinators; efforts to improve production efficiency, productivity, and profitability over the long term; new innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening; and methods to prevent, detect, monitor control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production and processing of specialty crops.

Special Notation

More SCRI Information

Who Is Eligible to Apply

1862 Land-Grant Institutions

1890 Land-Grant Institutions

1994 Land-Grant Institutions

For-profit Organizations Other Than Small Businesses

Individuals

Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status, other than Institutions of Higher Ed

Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS status, other than Institutions of Higher Ed

Other or Additional Information (See below)

Private Institutions of Higher Ed

State Agricultural Experiment Stations

State Controlled Institutions of Higher Ed

More Information on Eligibility

Applications may be submitted by Federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, State agricultural experiment stations, individuals, or groups consisting of 2 or more of these entities.

Request for Application (RFA) | Apply: Electronic

Solicitation Date (Opening)	July 14, 2008
Letter of Intent Due Date	None
Due Date (Closing)	August 14, 2008
Anticipated Award Date	None
Estimated Total Program Funding	$28,400,000.00
Range of Awards	$0.00 to $6,000,000.00
Percent of Applications Funded Last Fiscal Year	0%
Cost Sharing Requirements	100 %
For More Information Contact	Thomas (Tom) Bewick
Funding Opportunity Number	USDA-CSREES-SCRI-001765
CFDA Number	10.309 Specialty Crop Research Initiative
Contact for Electronic Access Problems	webcomments@csrees.usda.gov

[IN FOCUS] CSREES' Green Team supports Federal Sustainability Executive Order.

14 Apr 2008 19:45:51 GMT

CSREES Green Team

At CSREES, a Green Team is working to advance recycling, reduce the use of paper through double-sided printing and copying, promote green electronics stewardship, and encourage energy conservation. Formed from the Science for Sustainability Working Group and encouraged by USDA's Sustainable Operations Council, the Green Team is a group of employees working on pragmatic implementation of sustainable operations principles in their units.

The team is also exploring the issue of carbon offsets for travel and other measures that may be incorporated into future agreements for the leased office space occupied by CSREES. Some of these solutions might include improvements in building energy efficiency, use of green cleaning products, and more advanced recycling.

The Green Team supports Federal Executive Order 13423, which directs federal agencies to conduct their environmental, transportation and energy-related activities "in an environmentally, economically, and fiscally sound, integrated, continuously improving, efficient, and sustainable manner." The order defines sustainable as "to create and maintain conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans." USDA's Sustainable Operations Council provides leadership to USDA's implementation E.O. 13423, and maintains a Sustainable Operations Web site with information about activities such as energy management, recycling and waste reduction, green purchasing, electronics stewardship, and much more.

CSREES Green Team members include:

Jill Auburn , ECS
Anne Henderson, Communications
Dennis Kopp, OA
Patricia McAleer, ECS
Eric Norland , NRE
Alexandra Raver, CP
Daniel Schmoldt , PAS
Debra Williams, ISTM
Joe Wysocki, PAS

Sustainable Agriculture Home Page

CSREES Sustainable Agriculture Program

[FUNDING OPPORTUNITY] Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI)

Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI)

[IN FOCUS] CSREES' Green Team supports Federal Sustainability Executive Order.

CSREES Green Team