EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University was recently awarded $7.7 million in Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) grants, which had been authorized by the 2008 farm bill.
Since then the grants, administered by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), have become an important part of agricultural research at MSU, says Douglas Buhler, AgBioResearch director and College of Agriculture and Natural Resources associate dean.
"The SCRI has been a big deal for us since it was created," he added. "MSU places special emphasis on specialty crops. These projects focus on some key areas and are a good match for MSU."
Buhler said the grants also mesh well with other projects at MSU, including the Generating Research and Extension for Environmental and Economic Needs (GREEEN), as well as programs initiated by state-level commodity groups. SCRI grants require matching funds and are extremely competitive, he added; preliminary data on a project are often required in order to have a good chance of being funded.
These projects are part of $51 million in SCRI grants announced by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack Oct. 3. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.
Twenty-three SCRI grants were awarded to 14 states, with MSU receiving the highest amount of all universities. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) has worked hard to give specialty crops a higher profile, Buhler said.
"The specialty crop industry has seen a surge both domestically and internationally," said Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA director. "In order to provide the highest quality horticultural products, growers need sound science and technology to make informed decisions and stay profitable.
"These grants help address these needs by providing specialty crop producers with the information and tools they need to successfully grow, process and market safe and high-quality products."
The grants were awarded to three different scientists at MSU. They include $2.5 million to horticulturalist Eric Hanson.
His project will provide raspberry and strawberry growers with the knowledge base to select protective structures and plastics that optimize productivity and pest management, while increasing profits and minimizing the generation of plastic waste, according to the project summary.
The second grant, for $1.8 million, is the first year of a five-year $10 million project.
It will be led by MSU plant breeder and geneticist Amy Iezzoni, and will assist U.S. Rosaceae crop breeding programs to more efficiently, accurately, creatively and rapidly deliver new varieties with market-essential horticultural quality and producer-required disease resistance.
Entomologist Rufus Isaacs is leading the final project, which received $3.5 million. The goal is to develop sustainable pollination strategies for U.S. specialty crops.
Specifically, the multiyear, multi-institutional project will develop region and crop specific management approaches to diversify pollination sources and maintain consistent crop yields.
