According to the USDA, the purpose of the SCRI program is to address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry by awarding grants to support research and extension that address key challenges of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of food and agriculture, including conventional and organic food production systems.

Southern United States turf breeders, extension specialists, and researchers have collaborated to explore plant genetics and genomics to improve drought and salinity tolerance for sustainable turfgrass production in the southern United States using grant funding from the USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative.

Texas A&M University

Oklahoma State University

University of Georgia

University of Florida

North Carolina State University

Please see the 2015 SERA-SCRI powerpoint for more information.