The 2011 ASHS Annual Conference

Recent trends in federal, state, and foundation grants require us to consider how our research projects will have a direct impact on end-users. To be successful with specialty crop research initiative grants, multidisciplinary teams must demonstrate tangible research and socio-economic benefits for horticultural producers, and society at large. Designing research projects that directly involve industry stakeholders and demonstrate returns on investment is not easy, but not as daunting as it may seem. Creating functional teams is a given, but the real key to successful projects is designing strategies to provide support, motivation and communication between teams, and ultimately to communicate our research and impacts to all people. These strategies are essential to the successful functioning of our SCRI funded national project.