Description
The Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program is designed to assist U.S. organizations by providing funding for projects that seek to remove, resolve, or mitigate existing or potential sanitary, phytosanitary, or technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. The program is administered by the Foreign Agricultural Service on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation. Eligible applicants include U.S. organizations, either government or private, with a demonstrated role or interest in exporting U.S. agricultural specialty crops.
Some key points about the program include:
• The program provides funding for projects that address specific export barriers.
• Eligible projects may include initial pre-clearance programs, export protocol and work plan support, seminars and workshops, study tours, field surveys, development of pest lists, pest, disease, and fumigant research, and travel and per diem expenses.
• Proposals must demonstrate that the proposed activities will benefit an entire industry rather than a specific company or brand.
• Proposals must include performance measures for quantifying progress and demonstrating results.
• The program has a total available funding of $9 million, with estimated funding per award ranging from $5,000 to $500,000.