Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC)

The Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program funds projects that address sanitary, phytosanitary, and technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. Eligible activities include seminars and workshops, study tours, field surveys, pest and disease research, and pre-clearance programs. Eligible crops include all cultivated plants and their products produced in the United States except wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar, and tobacco. Awards are for a maximum of $500,000 per year and for projects of up to five years.

The TASC program is intended to benefit an entire industry or commodity rather than a specific company or brand. U.S. non-profit, for-profit, and government entities are eligible to apply. Proposals may target individual countries or reasonable regional groupings of countries. Each year, FAS announces the TASC application period and criteria on its website and via Grants.gov.