The New York Farm Viability Institute's mission is to help New York farmers become more profitable and improve the long-term economic viability and sustainability of the state's farms, food system, and communities. The organization aims to meet this goal through a farmer-driven grantmaking process that connects farmer-identified needs with practical research and education solutions. They seek to amplify their efforts and those of others through leadership and collaboration, focusing on creating and sharing knowledge to have a positive farm-level impact.
The New York Farm Viability Institute, in partnership with New York State's Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM), manages the competitive grant program for New York State’s USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program application. The 2023 Request for Proposals (RFP) is designed to fund projects that focus on improving pest and disease control processes, developing new seed varieties and specialty crops, expanding specialty crop research and development, and enhancing the environmental sustainability of specialty crops. Additionally, the RFP is aligned with specific research and education priorities developed by the New York Specialty Crop Block Grant Advisory Committee. These priorities include addressing key production problems, developing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, combating native and exotic pest and disease threats, plant breeding for pest resistance, applied research and development for extending the growing season, developing new seed varieties optimized for New York State conditions, sustainable packaging development, and market-based research to enhance the competitiveness of New York specialty crops.