T he funding aims to tackle key challenges in specialty crop production, enhance organic farming practices, and promote sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture across the United States.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an allocation of nearly $121 million to advance research and outreach efforts aimed at addressing the challenges faced by specialty crop and organic agriculture producers.
Of this amount, $70.4 million will be dedicated to supporting research on specialty crop production, while $50.5 million will go toward initiatives that benefit farmers and ranchers involved in organic food, fiber, and other organic products. These investments come as part of the USDA’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable and competitive agricultural practices across the country.
Specialty crops, which include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, play a significant role in the U.S. agricultural system. As defined by the Farm Bill, they represent essential components of both local and global food systems. This investment forms part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Specialty Crop Research Initiative, which seeks to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of specialty crop industries through targeted research projects.
According to a press release from the USDA, the funds will support a wide range of projects, including those that address labor efficiency, climate change mitigation, and organic farming practices. “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. Jacobs-Young emphasized that these crops are vital in preserving cultural heritage and creating economic opportunities in various food systems.
Building upon previous USDA efforts, this new funding follows the $82.3 million grant allocation announced earlier through the Agricultural Marketing Service, which aimed to bolster the competitiveness of the specialty crop sector. These funds, awarded via the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) and the Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant (SCMP) Program, are designed to enhance market development, consumer education, and research activities that benefit specialty crop producers.
Several specific projects have been highlighted as part of NIFA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative. For instance, researchers at North Carolina State University are working to address labor costs in the horticulture industry by developing sustainable solutions related to automation and production efficiency in nursery crops. This project has been allocated $9.8 million.
Additionally, a team from Washington State University is focusing on apple and pear crops, which have become more vulnerable to extreme temperatures caused by climate change. Their work, funded with $6.7 million, aims to develop mitigation strategies and assess the suitability of new cultivars for future climate conditions.
In the realm of organic agriculture, the USDA has committed $50.5 million to support 30 projects under its Organic Agriculture Program, which includes both the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) and the Organic Transitions Program. These initiatives are designed to improve yields, quality, and market potential for organic producers. For example, Pennsylvania State University is undertaking research to enhance the productivity and resilience of organic grain production systems in the Northeast U.S., with a particular focus on integrated crop management practices. This project has received $1.9 million in funding.
In addition to production-focused research, NIFA’s investments in organic agriculture also address workforce diversity within the sector. A project led by The Organic Center for Education and Promotion, for example, seeks to tackle the lack of racial diversity among organic certifiers and inspectors. The initiative aims to foster more equitable and inclusive representation within the organic industry’s leadership and technical assistance workforce. This effort has been allocated $705,000.
Other projects funded under the Organic Transitions Program include a research initiative at the University of Wisconsin, which aims to assist farmers transitioning to organic practices by developing tailored soil health management guidelines. These guidelines will leverage advanced machine learning models and remote sensing data to create a web tool offering region-specific recommendations for improving soil health and mitigating climate change impacts. The project has been awarded $997,000.
As part of its broader mission, the USDA continues to support efforts that create new markets and income streams for farmers, promote climate-smart practices, and ensure equitable access to resources. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the USDA is focusing on transforming the nation’s food systems to be more resilient and inclusive, with initiatives that prioritize fairer markets, infrastructure investments, and sustainable food production practices.
