Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program

This notice identifies the objectives for Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program (ECDRE) projects, deadlines, funding information, eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and application forms and associated instructions. NIFA requests pre-applications for the ECDRE program for fiscal year 2020 to address priorities identified by the Citrus Disease Sub-committee (CDS) of the National Agricultural Research, Education, Extension and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board through projects that integrate research and extension activities and use systems-based, trans-disciplinary approaches to provide solutions to U.S. citrus growers.

The overarching goals and desired outcomes for the ECDRE program are:

• To combat Huanglongbing (HLB) and its disease complex in order to continue to be able to farm citrus in a financially sustainable way through collaborative approaches and knowledge;

• Transition from component-focused research to deploying research outcomes and conclusions on farms; and

• Encourage research teams to bring knowledge together to find grower solutions to combat and prevent HLB infection.

The ECDRE program will address these needs through the promotion of collaboration, open communication, the exchange of information, and the development of resources that accelerate application of scientific discovery and technology to farm-level solutions for HLB. The anticipated amount available for support of this program in FY 2020 is approximately $45.2 million.