; (2) in subsection (g)(3), by adding at the end the following: (C) Waiver The Secretary may waive the matching funds requirement under subparagraph (A) with respect to a grant if the Secretary determines that— (i) the results of the grant are of a particular benefit to a specific specialty crop, but such results are likely to be applicable to specialty crops or agricultural commodities, generally; or (ii) (I) the grant— (aa) involves a minor commodity; and (bb) deals with scientifically important research; and (II) the recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement. ; (3) in subjection (j)(5), by striking subsection (k)(1)(C) and inserting subsection (l)(1)(C) ; (4) by redesignating subsection (k) as subsection (l); (5) by inserting after subsection (j) the following: (k) Specialty crop mechanization and automation research and extension program The Secretary shall establish a competitive research and extension grant program to award grants to eligible entities to increase the competitiveness of specialty crops in the United States through the advancement and acceleration of mechanization and automation, including projects that— (1) create or improve cost-effective mechanization and automation technologies to— (A) reduce the manual labor requirements of a specialty crop grower; or (B) increase the efficiency of— (i) crop production; (ii) resource management; (iii) harvesting; (iv) processing; (v) post-harvest technologies; or (vi) packing; (2) increase adoption of mechanization and automation technologies by— (A) emphasizing adoption drivers, including— (i) connectivity; (ii) autonomy; (iii) reliability; (iv) durability; (v) in-field validation; or (vi) cost-effectiveness; or (B) investing in, and developing human capital to, increase the capacity to— (i) utilize new technologies; or (ii) manage a more tech-focused farm workforce; or (3) accelerate automation and mechanization through— (A) prototype development; (B) in-field trial testing; (C) ongoing industry engagement