The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of nearly $121 million to advance research and extension activities aimed at addressing key challenges faced by specialty crop and organic agriculture producers. This includes $70.4 million for specialty crop production research across the United States and $50.5 million to support farmers and ranchers growing high-quality organic food, fiber, and products.

Specialty crops, as defined in the Farm Bill, include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops such as floriculture. This investment is part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Specialty Crop Research Initiative.

“We know specialty and organic crops add nutrition to our diets and value to sustainable agriculture systems,” said Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics. “These crops also play a vital role preserving cultural heritage and enhancing economic opportunities across local, regional, and global food systems.”

NIFA's investment builds on USDA’s recent announcement of $82.3 million in grant funding through the Agricultural Marketing Service to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. The funding was awarded through USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) and the Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant (SCMP) Program.

Examples of projects funded by NIFA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative include:

- North Carolina State University: Researchers will develop sustainable solutions for labor efficiency, automation, and production in the nursery industry ($9.8 million).

- Washington State University: Researchers will develop mitigation strategies for apple and pear crops affected by extreme temperatures due to climate change ($6.7 million).

NIFA’s $50.5 million investment in 30 organic agriculture projects is part of NIFA’s Organic Agriculture Program, which includes the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) and the Organic Transitions Program.

“Organic agriculture plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable and healthy food systems that benefit people and the planet,” said USDA NIFA Director Dr. Manjit Misra.

Examples of projects funded by NIFA’s OREI grants include:

- Pennsylvania State University: A project aimed at improving productivity and market potential of organic small grains within reduced-tillage systems ($1.9 million).

- The Organic Center for Education and Promotion: A workforce development project focusing on increasing racial diversity within the agricultural sector ($705,000).

Examples of projects funded under NIFA’s Organic Transitions Program include:

- University of Wisconsin: Developing soil health management practices tailored for organic farmers in Wisconsin ($997,000).

- Michigan State University: Investigating phage-disease dynamics on apple trees for fire blight management ($1 million).

The USDA aims to transform America’s food system with a focus on resilient local food production, fairer markets for all producers, access to nutritious food in all communities, building new income streams using climate-smart practices, investing in rural infrastructure and clean energy capabilities while committing to equity across its operations.

For more information about these initiatives visit www.usda.gov.