Streamlining Organic Research Act of 2023
This bill expands Department of Agriculture (USDA) support for organic agricultural research.
USDA must establish the Coordinating and Expanding Organic Research Initiative for USDA resources dedicated to organic agricultural research. Every five years, the initiative must survey USDA's organic agricultural research and produce a report, including findings and recommendations on expanding research and increasing coordination. USDA must take the findings and recommendations into consideration when preparing USDA's annual budget recommendations.
The bill also reauthorizes the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative through FY2028. Further, eligible grant projects are expanded to include (1) facilitating the identification and adoption of traditional ecological knowledge; (2) developing cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to substances recommended for removal from the National List of approved and prohibited substances for organic production; and (3) identifying how organic agriculture can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build landscape resiliency, and facilitate other related ecosystem services.
The bill also reauthorizes, and extends funding for, USDA's organic production and market data initiatives through FY2028. The Economic Research Service must conduct an economic impact analysis of organic agricultural management conducted in accordance with the National Organic Program.
USDA may make competitive grants to support research, education, and extension activities relating to the transition from nonorganic into organic agricultural production systems.
Further, the Agricultural Research Service must submit a report to Congress on the resources needed to increase the research conducted on certified organic agricultural land.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2756 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2756
To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act
of 1998 and the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
to direct the Agricultural Research Service to expand organic research,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 11, 2023
Mr. Fetterman (for himself and Mr. Braun) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act
of 1998 and the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
to direct the Agricultural Research Service to expand organic research,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Streamlining Organic Research Act of
2023''.
SEC. 2. COORDINATING AND EXPANDING ORGANIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
Title IV of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education
Reform Act of 1998 is amended by inserting before section 404 (7 U.S.C.
7624) the following:
``SEC. 401. COORDINATING AND EXPANDING ORGANIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Initiative.--The term `Initiative' means the
Coordinating and Expanding Organic Research Initiative
established under subsection (b).
``(2) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary,
acting through the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and
Economics, in consultation with the Office of the Chief
Scientist.
``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish, and appoint
the members of, an initiative, to be known as the `Coordinating and
Expanding Organic Research Initiative', to coordinate and expand the
resources that the Agricultural Research Service, the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Economic Research Service, and
the National Agricultural Statistics Service dedicate to organic
agricultural research.
``(c) Duties.--The Initiative shall carry out the following duties:
``(1) Coordinating all research conducted by the Secretary
that is applicable to organic agricultural producers and
transitioning-to-organic agricultural producers.
``(2) Reviewing and assessing the completed and ongoing
organic and transitioning-to-organic agricultural research of
the Secretary.
``(3) Developing iterative strategic plans for future
organic and transitioning-to-organic agricultural research of
the Secretary.
``(4) Conducting the surveys and submitting to the
Secretary the reports under subsection (e)(1).
``(d) Appointment of Members.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall appoint not fewer
than 12, and not more than 18, members to the Initiative.
``(2) Eligibility.--To be eligible for appointment to the
Initiative under paragraph (1), an individual shall--
``(A) be in the competitive service or the Senior
Executive Service (as defined in sections 2102 and
2101a of title 5, United States Code); and
``(B) have expertise in organic agriculture from a
science, research, or technical assistance division of
a Department agency.
``(3) Representation.--In appointing members to the
Initiative, the Secretary shall ensure that--
``(A) not fewer than \1/4\ of the members are
appointed from each of--
``(i) the Agricultural Research Service;
and
``(ii) the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture; and
``(B) not fewer than 1 member is appointed from
each of--
``(i) the Office of the Chief Scientist;
``(ii) the Agricultural Marketing Service;
``(iii) the Economic Research Service; and
``(iv) the National Agricultural Statistics
Service.
``(4) Chair.--The Secretary shall designate a member of the
Initiative appointed from the Office of the Chief Scientist to
serve as the Chair of the Initiative.
``(5) Term.--A member of the Initiative--
``(A) shall serve for a term of 5 years; and
``(B) may be reappointed to the Initiative.
``(e) Surveys; Reports.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the
establishment of the Initiative, and every 5 years thereafter,
in coordination with the roadmap for agricultural research,
education, and extension described in section 7504 of the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 7614a), the
Initiative shall--
``(A) conduct a survey of all research relating to
organic agriculture of the Secretary; and
``(B) submit to the Secretary a report containing
the findings of the survey conducted under subparagraph
(A), which shall include sections relating to each of
the 4 agencies described in subsection (b).
``(2) Recommendations.--The Initiative shall include in
each report submitted under paragraph (1)(B) recommendations
relating to--
``(A) expanding the research conducted by the
Secretary that--
``(i) is applicable to agricultural
producers that adhere to the requirements under
the national organic program established under
the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7
U.S.C. 6501 et seq.); and
``(ii) would explore the new or enhanced
research opportunities that could lead to new
discoveries, foster innovation, improve
technologies, and promote integrated systems
approaches to assist--
``(I) organic agricultural
producers;
``(II) consumers of organic food
products;
``(III) organic marketing and
distribution channels;
``(IV) transitioning-to-organic
agricultural producers, including with
respect to barriers to transitioning to
organic production and producers who
have considered transitioning to
organic production but decided not to
do so; and
``(V) the organic food industry;
``(B) strategies to increase the coordination and
effectiveness of projects carried out by the Secretary
that are applicable to organic production and that
would improve the efficiency, productivity,
profitability, and ecosystem services of organic crop
and livestock production, including strategies relating
to--
``(i) developing new public plant cultivars
and livestock breeds that are regionally
adapted and appropriate for organic production;
``(ii) expanding the applicability and
cost-effectiveness of integrated, ecologically
based pest, weed, and disease management for
crop and livestock systems;
``(iii) developing integrated organic
production systems that--
``(I) enhance ecosystem services
relating to organic crop and livestock
production; and
``(II) optimize agricultural
resilience to the impacts of climate
change and other stresses, including
soil conservation and soil health,
biodiversity, water management, carbon
sequestration, and greenhouse gas
mitigation;
``(iv) improving the remote sensing and
monitoring capabilities for ecosystem services
relating to organic crop and livestock
production, including soil conservation and
soil health, biodiversity, water management,
carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas
mitigation;
``(v) developing grazing, pasture, forage,
and livestock manure management techniques that
are regionally adapted and appropriate for
organic production;
``(vi) enhancing irrigation and water
management techniques used in organic crop and
livestock production;
``(vii) enhancing food safety relating to
organic crops and livestock products, including
guidance on compliance with the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.);
``(viii) developing new products and new
uses of organic crops and livestock products;
``(ix) enhancing the quality of organically
produced food, including taste, appearance, and
nutritional value, after being processed into
organic crop and livestock products, through
genetic, processing, and related research
topics; and
``(x) other similar, relevant topics, as
determined by the Initiative; and
``(C) the development of data and applied research-
based information useful to organic and conventional
crop producers, associations of those producers, and
other interested beneficiaries in evaluating the
organic and conventional crops industries from a
regional and national perspective.
``(3) Review of prior report.--The Initiative shall include
in each report submitted under paragraph (1)(B)--
``(A) a review of the recommendations described in
paragraph (2) included in the prior report submitted
under paragraph (1)(B); and
``(B) the actions taken by the Secretary to
implement those recommendations.
``(f) Consultation.--
``(1) In general.--In carrying out this section, the
Initiative shall engage in consultation, including with--
``(A) the National Organic Standards Board; and
``(B) land-grant colleges and universities.
``(2) Organic and conventional industries.--In preparing
each report under subsection (e)(1)(B), the Initiative shall
consult, on an ongoing basis, with a diverse array of--
``(A) organic and conventional farmers, ranchers,
handlers; and
``(B) organizations that serve those farmers,
ranchers, and handlers.
``(g) Consideration by Secretary.--In preparing the annual budget
recommendations for the Department, the Secretary shall take into
consideration the findings and recommendations contained in the most
recently submitted report under subsection (e)(1)(B).
``(h) Report by Secretary.--In the budget material submitted to
Congress by the Secretary of Agriculture in connection with the budget
of the United States Government submitted by the President under
section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for each fiscal year, the
Secretary of Agriculture shall include a report describing how the
Secretary addressed each recommendation of the Initiative contained in
the most recently submitted report under subsection (e)(1)(B).''.
SEC. 3. REPORT ON ORGANIC ACREAGE ON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
STATIONS.
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the
Agricultural Research Service, shall--
(1) prepare a report describing the resources needed to
increase the research conducted on certified organic
agricultural land, as determined by the Administrator of the
National Agricultural Statistics Service; and
(2) submit the report prepared under paragraph (1) to the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the
Senate.
SEC. 4. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.
Section 1672B of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925b) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``subsection (e)'' and
inserting ``subsection (f)''; and
(ii) by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2028'';
(B) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(C) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the
end and inserting a semicolon; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) facilitating the identification and adoption of
traditional ecological knowledge in accordance with subsection
(e);
``(10) developing cultural practices and other allowable
alternatives to substances recommended for removal from the
National List of approved and prohibited substances under
section 2118; and
``(11) identifying how organic agriculture can reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, build landscape resiliency, and
facilitate other related ecosystem services.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Types
and Process,'' and inserting ``Term, Types, and
Process;'';
(B) by inserting ``(3)'' after ``Paragraphs''; and
(C) by striking ``(7 U.S.C. 450i)'' and inserting
``(7 U.S.C. 3157(b))'';
(3) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
``(e) Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge.--Any grants made
under this section for the purposes of facilitating the identification
and adoption of indigenous traditional ecological knowledge shall be
subject to the following requirements:
``(1) A 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 of the
Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C.
301 note; Public Law 103-382)) shall have the role of project
director.
``(2) The free, prior, and informed consent of any Indian
Tribes (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) or
Native Hawaiian organizations that possess the applicable
indigenous traditional ecological knowledge shall be obtained.
``(3) Appropriate attribution to the sources of the
applicable indigenous traditional ecological knowledge shall be
identified.''; and
(4) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$25,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023'' and inserting
``$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through
2028''; and
(C) by striking paragraph (3).
SEC. 5. RESEARCHING THE TRANSITION TO ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION.
Title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of
1990 is amended by inserting after section 1673 (7 U.S.C. 5926) the
following:
``SEC. 1674. RESEARCHING THE TRANSITION TO ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTION.
``(a) Competitive Specialized Research and Extension Grants
Authorized.--The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section
as the `Secretary'), in consultation with the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board, may make
competitive grants to support research, education, and extension
activities relating to the transition of nonorganic agricultural
production systems into organic agricultural production systems for the
purposes of--
``(1) overcoming barriers to transitioning to organic
agricultural production;
``(2) documenting and understanding the effects of organic
agricultural production practices on ecosystem services,
including soil health and fertility, greenhouse gas mitigation
and sequestration, water management, biodiversity-related
services, and pest management; and
``(3) developing improved technologies, methods, models,
and metrics to document, describe, and optimize ecosystem
services of transitioning nonorganic agricultural production
systems into organic agricultural production systems.
``(b) Grant Term, Types, and Process; Prohibition on
Construction.--Paragraphs (3), (4), (7), (8), and (11)(B) of subsection
(b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7
U.S.C. 3157(b)) shall apply with respect to the making of grants under
this section.
``(c) Partnerships Encouraged.--Following the completion of a peer
review process for grant proposals received under this section, the
Secretary may provide a priority to the grant proposals, found in the
peer review process to be scientifically meritorious, that--
``(1) would involve--
``(A) active partnerships with agricultural
producers; or
``(B) the conduct of on-farm or consumer research;
and
``(2) would involve active partnerships with--
``(A) 1862 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of
the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education
Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601));
``(B) 1890 Institutions (as defined in section 2 of
the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education
Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601));
``(C) 1994 Institutions (as defined in section 532
of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of
1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103-382)); and
``(D) Hispanic-serving institutions (as defined in
section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1101a)).
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2024 through 2028.''.
SEC. 6. ORGANIC PRODUCTION AND MARKET DATA INITIATIVES.
Section 7407 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(7 U.S.C. 5925c) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e);
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
``(d) Economic Impact Analysis of Organic Farming and
Certification.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Administrator of the Economic Research Service (referred to in
this subsection as the `Secretary'), shall conduct an economic
impact analysis of organic agricultural management conducted in
accordance with the national organic program established under
the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et
seq.).
``(2) Requirements.--The analysis under paragraph (1)
shall--
``(A) take into consideration information about
farming and ranching operations of a variety of sizes,
with regional differences, and that have a diversity of
production practices and methods; and
``(B) consider the direct and indirect economic
impacts of organic agriculture on rural and urban
communities, including--
``(i) the vitality of the local economy;
``(ii) the labor market;
``(iii) environmental quality;
``(iv) social dynamics;
``(v) land ownership; and
``(vi) any other information, data, or
analysis that the Secretary determines to be
necessary to make the analysis comprehensive,
accurate, and useful.
``(3) Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Streamlining Organic Research Act of 2023, the
Secretary shall submit a plan to conduct the analysis under
paragraph (1) to--
``(A) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate; and
``(B) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives.
``(4) Submission.--Not later than 3 years after the date on
which the Secretary submits the plan under paragraph (3), the
Secretary shall submit to the committees described in that
paragraph a report describing the results of the analysis
conducted under paragraph (1).''; and
(3) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) $5,000,000 for the period of fiscal years
2024 through 2028.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$5,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2023'' and inserting
``$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through
2028''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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