The fertility of California's valleys and the productivity of its growers provide an unsurpassed field laboratory for sustainable agriculture researchers. The Specialty Crop Research Program seeks cost-effective ways for farmers to develop new market opportunities by growing organic crops or employing other reduced-input production methods. Specialty crop growers reap the benefits of improved environmental stewardship while they identify new niche markets, pest prevention and control alternatives, and other sustainable practices.

The Specialty Crop Research Program supports research and outreach in the following high priority areas to provide clear benefits to the California specialty crop industries and compliment other programs of the Buy California Initiative:

• Management systems for ecologically based agriculture, including organic production
• Agricultural enhancement of environmental quality
• Biological control of pests
• New crops and projects

Click here to see a listing of these grants and learn more about their project status.