U.S. to Spend $28 Million for Specialty Crop Research

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will make available US$28.4 million worth of grants this year, aimed at improving specialty food crops via genetics and genomics programs. The Department’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative will focus on plant breeding, genetics and genomics research to improve crop characteristics, combat pest and disease threats and detect potential food safety hazards in specialty crop processing. USDA emphasized that the specialty crop industry, comprised of producers and handlers of fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and nursery crops, is a major contributor to the U.S. agricultural economy, accounting for 10 million harvested cropland acres in 2004.

For more information, read http://www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/news/2008news/07111_specialty_crop_rfa.html. Those interested in applying for funding can access the request for applications at www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/specialty_crop.html