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7 U.S. Code § 7632. Specialty crop research initiative
(a) DefinitionsIn this section:
(1) Citrus disease subcommittee
The term “citrus disease subcommittee” means the subcommittee established under section 3123a(a)(2) of this title.
(2) Initiative
The term “Initiative” means the specialty crop research and extension initiative established by subsection (b).
(3) Specialty crop
The term “specialty crop” has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note; Public Law 108–465).
(4) Specialty crops committee
The term “specialty crops committee” means the committee established under section 3123a of this title.
(b) EstablishmentThere is established within the Department a specialty crop research and extension initiative to address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry by developing and disseminating science-based tools to address needs of specific crops and their regions, including—
(1) research in plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and other methods to improve crop characteristics, such as—
(A)
product, taste, quality, and appearance;
(B)
size-controlling rootstock systems for perennial crops;
(C)
environmental responses and tolerances;
(D)
nutrient management, including plant nutrient uptake efficiency;
(E)
pest and disease management, including resistance to pests and diseases resulting in reduced application management strategies; and
(F)
enhanced phytonutrient content;
(2) efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including—
(A)
threats to specialty crop pollinators;
(B)
emerging and invasive species; and
(C)
a more effective understanding and utilization of existing natural enemy complexes;
(3) efforts—
(A)
to improve production efficiency, handling and processing, productivity, and profitability over the long term (including specialty crop policy and marketing); and
(B) to achieve a better understanding of—
(i)
the soil rhizosphere microbiome;
(ii)
pesticide application systems and certified drift-reduction technologies; and
(iii)
systems to improve and extend the storage life of specialty crops;