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Update: Specialty Crop Research Initiative. Daniel L. Schmoldt National Program Leader. SCRI Legislation. $230 million in mandatory funding 2008-2012 Research and extension
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Update: Specialty Crop Research Initiative Daniel L. Schmoldt National Program Leader
SCRI Legislation • $230 million in mandatory funding 2008-2012 • Research and extension • Priority given to multi-state and multi-institutional projects, and to projects that contain explicit mechanisms to communicate results to producers and the public • Address the critical needs of the specialty crop industries by developing and disseminating science-based tools to address needs of specific crops and their regions • 100% non-federal match requirement
SCRI Legislation • Five focus areas (10% of funds in each area) • Research in plant breeding, genetics, and genomics to improve crop characteristics • Efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including threats to specialty crop pollinators • Efforts to improve production efficiency, productivity, and profitability over the long term (including specialty crop policy and marketing) • New innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening • Methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production and processing of specialty crops, including fresh produce
SCRI Program • Sustainability is the foundation of the program • Applications must document how a holistic approach to sustainability is achieved • Whole-systems approaches required • Trans-disciplinary teams (biological, physical, and socio-economic disciplines) • Stakeholder driven objectives, and involvement throughout the life of the project (advisory boards)
Project Types Awards CAP 5 SDP 3 RPI 1 eX 0 SREP 9 Planning 9 SCRI 2008 Results • 231 applications reviewed using three panels ($266 million requested) • $28.4 million awarded to 27 projects (9 planning grants) • 31% success rate for planning grants, 9% for other grants • For all grants, $1M mean/$500K median award • For non-planning grants, $1.5M mean/$1M median award • For all awards, 60% of funds retained by lead institutions
8 1 1 1 6 1 1 5 1 4 5 2 4 NJ 3 4 3 1 9 2 3 2 1 MD 3 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 3 5 1 ARS 11 (6 lead)
SCRI 2009 • Approx. $47.3 million available • Application deadline was April 15 • 2009 RFA was very similar to 2008 • Priority topics within each mandated focus area • Funding boundaries relaxed • 277 applications received • Over 40% waited until the last day
The Review Process • The first part of the process is the administrative review • Applicant eligibility • Application pertains to program • All essential elements of application present • Evidence of matching funds • If these criteria are met, application is accepted for peer review and notification sent with a CSREES proposal number • The second part of the process is a peer review
Other SCRI News & Info • New Program Specialist hire will focus on SCRI • First Project Directors Meeting in 2010 • On the lecture circuit with Sanjiv Singh • Examine projects of past awardees (http://cris.csrees.usda.gov/ Grant No. = scri)