2018 ASHS Annual Conference
How to Build a Blockbuster Funding Program for Horticulture through Politics, Partnerships and Perseverance. *CEU Approved*
How to Build a Blockbuster Funding Program for Horticulture through Politics, Partnerships and Perseverance. *CEU Approved*
Objective(s):
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) was the result of a stakeholder-driven initiative in partnership with USDA. In response, Congress created a competitive grant program to allow a scale of horticultural research not seen before in the U.S. Much of its impact has been achieved because of its systems approach with trans-disciplinary expectations and genuine stakeholder engagement. The SCRI has never received full funding, but project outcomes are helping protect and transform diverse specialty crop industries throughout the country. This session will describe how the initiative began and how continuing alliances keep this influential program growing and effective.
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) was the result of a stakeholder-driven initiative in partnership with USDA. In response, Congress created a competitive grant program to allow a scale of horticultural research not seen before in the U.S. Much of its impact has been achieved because of its systems approach with trans-disciplinary expectations and genuine stakeholder engagement. The SCRI has never received full funding, but project outcomes are helping protect and transform diverse specialty crop industries throughout the country. This session will describe how the initiative began and how continuing alliances keep this influential program growing and effective.
People deeply involved with the creation of SCRI will describe how this novel initiative came to be, and how we can build on it. The session will open with a description of how specialty crop research was funded before SCRI, and the needs that were going unmet. Pairs of researchers and industry stakeholders will describe how their alliances began and have prospered. ASHS leaders will describe their organizing and advocacy role. ARS and NIFA leaders played essential communication roles. Finally, members of Congress and their agricultural staffers wrote excellent legislation that was adopted.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018: 1:00 PM
International Ballroom West (Washington Hilton)