USDA Invests $46 Million In Specialty Crops

Posted by Christina Herrick|October 18, 2011

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is awarding 29 grants across 19 states to develop and share science-based tools to address the needs of the specialty crop industry. The grants, totaling $46 million, will be awarded through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI).

SCRI supports the specialty crop industry by developing and disseminating science-based tools to address the needs of specific crops. Funded projects address five focus areas: 1) improve crop characteristics through plant breeding, genetics, and genomics; 2) address threats from pests and diseases; 3) improve production efficiency, productivity, and profitability; 4) develop new innovations and technologies and 5) develop methods to improve food safety.

Projects were funded in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Most of the grant recipients are universities and colleges. Grant highlights include:
• The University of Massachusetts-Amherst will study pollination security for fruit and vegetable crops;
• Michigan State University will develop a system to deliver resource-efficient, ecologically sustainable fruit production systems for apple and cherry producers
• The University of Wisconsin system will study improved breeding and variety evaluation methods to increase quality in processed potato products
• The University of Georgia Research Foundation will help to improve the long-term competitiveness of U.S. pecans based on their nutritional and health-promoting components
• Washington State University will help U.S. raspberry producers find new tools for breeding and reaching markets

“Over the last 60 years, agriculture, including horticulture, has become increasingly reliant on science and technology to maintain profitable production,” said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. “Specialty crop producers in the United States — as with all of American agriculture — are seeing sales surge both domestically and abroad as consumers search for high quality, ‘Grown in America’ fruits, vegetables and tree nuts. These projects will help provide specialty crop producers with the information and tools they need to successfully grow, process and market safe and high quality products, supporting jobs and opportunities for Americans working in specialty crops. From herbs to apples, from walnuts to grapes, specialty crops are central to the richness of American agriculture.”

The projects funded address research and Extension needs for crops that span the entire spectrum of specialty crops production, from researching plant genetics to improving crop characteristics; identifying and addressing threats from pests and diseases; improving production and profitability; developing new production innovations and technologies; and developing methods to respond to food safety hazards.