What the Specialty Crop Research Initiative Does and Who It Reaches

The Specialty Crop Research Initiative funds research, not direct payments to consumers

The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) is a federal grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that funds research projects about fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other specialty crops. It does not send money to individual consumers, farmers, or households. Instead, it pays universities, research institutions, and agricultural organizations to study problems that affect specialty crop growers — things like pest management, disease resistance, water efficiency, and post-harvest handling.

If you arrived here looking for direct financial help with food costs, medical expenses, or other household needs, SCRI is not the program for that. This guide explains what SCRI actually does, who runs it, and how the research it funds might eventually affect the food you buy.

Key Takeaways

• SCRI is a research funding program, not a consumer information program — it does not provide money, food, or services to individuals or families.
• The USDA awards SCRI grants to universities and research organizations to study problems in specialty crop production, from disease control to water use.
• Research funded by SCRI may eventually lead to better crop varieties, lower prices, or improved food safety, but these benefits reach consumers indirectly over time.
• Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, hops, and some ornamental plants — essentially anything except the major commodity crops like corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton.

How SCRI funding works and who receives it

SCRI operates as a competitive grant program. The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announces funding opportunities, and organizations submit research proposals. Grants typically range from $50,000 to several hundred thousand dollars per project, though the exact amounts vary by year and funding round. Universities, state agricultural experiment stations, nonprofit research organizations, and some private agricultural companies can explore.

The USDA does not give money directly to consumers through SCRI. Instead, researchers use the grants to conduct studies — testing new pest-control methods, breeding crops for drought resistance, developing better storage techniques, or investigating food safety issues. A university might receive a grant to study how to reduce pesticide use on strawberries, or a research center might study disease resistance in almonds. The results of these projects are published in scientific journals and shared with farmers and the agricultural industry.

What counts as a specialty crop under SCRI

SCRI defines specialty crops broadly: fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, hops, and some ornamental plants. This includes common items like apples, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, almonds, walnuts, blueberries, and peppers. It also includes less common crops like artichokes, figs, and specialty mushrooms.

The program explicitly excludes the major commodity crops — corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and sorghum — because those have separate research funding mechanisms. If you grow or sell one of the excluded crops, SCRI research funding is not available to you. If you work with or depend on specialty crops in any way, the research SCRI funds may eventually affect your work or the products you buy.

Types of research SCRI funds

SCRI grants support research in several areas. Pest and disease management projects study ways to control insects, fungi, and other problems without relying solely on chemical pesticides. Crop improvement research develops new varieties that are more nutritious, disease-resistant, or suited to changing climates. Water and soil management projects investigate how to grow crops more efficiently in regions facing drought or water scarcity.

Post-harvest and food safety research addresses how to keep crops fresh longer, reduce waste, and prevent contamination during storage and transport. Market development projects help farmers and businesses find new uses for specialty crops or reach new customers. Organic production research focuses on methods for growing specialty crops without synthetic chemicals.

Each research project typically lasts two to five years. The results are shared through scientific publications, conferences, and extension programs that reach farmers and agricultural professionals. Over time, successful research may lead to new farming practices, better crop varieties, or improved food safety standards that eventually affect what consumers can buy and at what price.

How SCRI research eventually reaches consumers

The connection between SCRI research and what you see in a grocery store is indirect and often takes years. A research project funded by SCRI might develop a new tomato variety that resists a particular disease. If the variety performs well in field trials, seed companies may begin selling seeds to farmers. Farmers may adopt the new variety if it reduces their costs or improves their yields. Over several growing seasons, the new variety may become common enough that you encounter it in stores or farmers markets.

Similarly, research on pest management might lead to new techniques that reduce the need for pesticides. If these techniques are adopted widely, they could lower production costs for farmers, potentially affecting retail prices. Research on water efficiency might help farmers in drought-prone regions continue growing specialty crops, keeping supply stable and prices predictable.

However, SCRI research does not may provide lower prices, better nutrition, or any specific consumer outcome. Research results must be adopted by farmers, approved by regulators if necessary, and deemed profitable or practical before they change what reaches the market. The timeline from research to consumer impact can be five to ten years or longer.

Who runs SCRI and where to find information

SCRI is administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NIFA announces funding opportunities, reviews grant proposals, and manages the funded research projects. The program operates on a competitive basis — not all proposals receive funding, and the amount of money available varies by year depending on congressional appropriations.

Information about SCRI is available on the NIFA website at nifa.usda.gov. The site lists current funding opportunities, past research projects, and contact information for program staff. If you are a researcher, university administrator, or agricultural organization interested in submitting a proposal, you can find the process process and requirements there. If you are a consumer or farmer straightforward wanting to learn about specialty crop research, the website also publishes summaries of completed projects and their findings.

SCRI versus other USDA research and support programs

The USDA runs several research and support programs that can be confused with SCRI. The Crop Insurance Program helps farmers manage financial risk from crop failure or price drops — it provides insurance, not research funding. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers loans and payments to farmers based on their production and circumstances. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides cost-sharing for conservation practices on farmland.

SCRI is distinct because it funds research only, not insurance, loans, or direct payments. If you are a farmer looking for financial help, crop insurance, or conservation support, you would contact FSA or NRCS, not SCRI. If you are a researcher or institution wanting to study specialty crop problems, SCRI is the relevant program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get money from SCRI as a consumer or household?

No. SCRI funds research organizations and universities, not individuals or families. If you are looking for help with food costs, housing, medical bills, or other household expenses, you would need to explore other information programs. SCRI research may eventually affect the price or availability of specialty crops you buy, but it does not provide direct financial support.

I am a farmer growing specialty crops. Can I explore for SCRI funding?

Most SCRI grants go to universities and research institutions, not individual farmers. However, some proposals include partnerships with farmers or farming organizations. If you are part of a farming cooperative, agricultural nonprofit, or similar organization, you might collaborate with a university on a research proposal. Contact NIFA directly to discuss whether your situation fits the program's scope.

How long does it take for SCRI research to change what I buy at the store?

There is no set timeline. Some research leads to practical changes within a few years; other projects produce results that take a decade or more to reach farmers and consumers, if they ever do. Research must be adopted voluntarily by farmers, approved by regulators if necessary, and deemed economically worthwhile. Many research projects produce valuable information but do not directly change consumer-facing products.

What happens to the results of SCRI research projects?

Results are published in scientific journals, presented at conferences, and shared through extension programs that reach farmers and agricultural professionals. NIFA maintains a database of completed projects and their findings on its website. Some results lead to new farming practices or crop varieties; others contribute to scientific knowledge without when ready practical process.

Does SCRI research include organic farming methods?

Yes. SCRI funds research on organic production methods for specialty crops, including pest management, soil health, and crop varieties suited to organic systems. If you are interested in organic specialty crop research specifically, the NIFA website allows you to filter projects by topic and production method.