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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3528 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3528
To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to
direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish research centers of
excellence for alternative protein innovation, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 17, 2025
Mr. Schiff (for himself and Mr. Padilla) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to
direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish research centers of
excellence for alternative protein innovation, 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 ``Producing Real Opportunities for
Technology and Entrepreneurs Investing in Nutrition Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Protein innovation that produces high-quality foods
using under-utilized biomass and biomanufacturing processes is
an essential component of the bioeconomy.
(2) The United States has produced several groundbreaking
biotechnological breakthroughs across the last decade that can
diversify the food system.
(3) In recent years, multiple countries have dramatically
increased public investments into alternative protein research
and development.
(4) According to the Department of Agriculture, every $1 of
investment into agricultural research results in $20 of
economic productivity.
(5) As of 2019, the plant-based food industry supported
over 55,000 jobs in the United States, and the protein sector
could create as many as 10,000,000 jobs globally by 2050.
(6) Diversifying the protein supply of the United States
will increase domestic supply chain resilience, decrease
reliance on foreign grain and other commodities, and provide
more choices to American consumers.
(7) The global demand for meat is predicted to double by
2050, thus increasing the need for additional food sources.
(8) A diversified food system would improve global and
domestic food security.
(9) Protein innovation can strengthen national security,
improve supply chain resilience, and lower the risk of
bioterrorism.
SEC. 3. RESEARCH CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
INNOVATION.
Section 1673 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``of Agriculture
(referred to in this section as the `Secretary')'' after ``The
Secretary''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Centers of Excellence for Food and Agriculture Innovation.--
``(1) Recognition.--The Secretary shall recognize not fewer
than 3 centers of excellence, one of which shall be led by an
1890 Institution (as defined in section 2 of the Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C.
7601)), to focus on the areas specified in paragraph (2)
relating to the advancement of emerging and innovative food and
agriculture with an emphasis on diversifying edible protein
sources.
``(2) Areas of focus.--
``(A) Food biomanufacturing research and
development.--A center of excellence recognized under
paragraph (1) may carry out research, development, and
education programs that support the quality,
production, or cost-effectiveness of emerging and
innovative foods that employ--
``(i) bioprocessing;
``(ii) biomanufacturing; and
``(iii) the conversion of biomass into
proteins and fats at scale.
``(B) Student success and workforce development.--A
center of excellence recognized under paragraph (1) may
engage in activities to ensure that students have the
skills and education needed to work in innovative food
and agriculture industries, including agricultural
science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and
related fields of study.
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $15,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
``(4) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Producing Real Opportunities for Technology
and Entrepreneurs Investing in Nutrition Act, and every year
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report
describing--
``(A) the resources invested in the centers of
excellence recognized under paragraph (1); and
``(B) the work being done by such centers of
excellence.''.
SEC. 4. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
Section 2(b)(2)(E) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities
Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)(2)(E)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (v) as clauses
(iii) through (vi), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after clause (i) the following new clause:
``(ii) tools and production methods that
increase the availability of edible protein
sources using bioprocessing, biomanufacturing,
and the conversion of under-utilized biomass
into high-value ingredients;''.
SEC. 5. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE.
(a) Establishment of National Program.--The Secretary of
Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Agricultural
Research Service, shall establish a national program dedicated to
protein security that increases rural prosperity and farmer profits,
which is focused on--
(1) bioprocessing;
(2) biomanufacturing; and
(3) the conversion of under-utilized biomass into high-
value ingredients.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out the program under this section $10,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
SEC. 6. FOOD BIOMANUFACTURING AND PRODUCTION GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in
this section as the ``Secretary'') shall establish a grant program to
ensure that the United States has a viable domestic food
biomanufacturing and production capability to support and sustain
increased global demand for protein.
(b) Eligible Entities.--An entity is eligible to receive a grant
under subsection (a) if--
(1) such entity is--
(A) a nonprofit or for-profit private entity;
(B) an institution of higher education;
(C) a National Laboratory;
(D) a State or local government; or
(E) a consortium of entities described in
subparagraphs (A) through (D); and
(2) such entity--
(A) is headquartered in the United States and
operates primarily within the United States;
(B) is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by
1 or more individuals who are citizens of the United
States; and
(C) deploys intellectual property and content that
is owned by United States individuals.
(c) Grants.--
(1) Use of funds.--An entity that receives a grant under
this section shall use funds received through the grant--
(A) to carry out 1 or more demonstration projects
for the advanced biomanufacturing, production, or
bioprocessing of edible proteins and fats at scale;
(B) to construct 1 or more new commercial-scale
facilities for such advanced biomanufacturing,
production, or bioprocessing; and
(C) to retool, retrofit, or expand 1 or more
existing facilities located in the United States and
determined qualified by the Secretary for such advanced
biomanufacturing, production, or bioprocessing.
(2) Amount of grants.--The amount of a grant awarded under
this section shall be not less than $10,000,000.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program under this
section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
SEC. 7. FOOD BIOWORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a
competitive grant program to support food biomanufacturing and
bioprocessing workforce development.
(b) Eligible Entity.--An entity is eligible to receive a grant
under this section if the entity is--
(1) a governmental entity;
(2) a public, private, or cooperative organization
organized on a for-profit or nonprofit basis; or
(3) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304)) on a Federal or State reservation or any other federally
recognized Indian Tribe.
(c) Use of Funds.--An entity to which a grant is made under this
section shall use the grant funds to--
(1) train new and existing employees on food
biomanufacturing and bioprocessing methods;
(2) establish a center for training, technology, and trade
that will provide training to employees in food
biomanufacturing and bioprocessing;
(3) provide higher-education scholarships to students
pursuing careers in food biomanufacturing and bioprocessing,
including at community colleges;
(4) conduct regional, community, and local economic
development planning and coordination for the purpose of
increasing food biomanufacturing and bioprocessing;
(5) provide technical assistance to gain compliance with
Federal, State, or local regulations related to food
biomanufacturing and bioprocessing; or
(6) facilitate business and lending opportunities related
to food biomanufacturing and bioprocessing, including
identifying relevant information necessary for obtaining--
(A) private capital investments;
(B) Federal and State loan guarantees;
(C) Federal and State direct grants; or
(D) other financial support mechanisms from Federal
and State entities.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030.
SEC. 8. NATIONAL STRATEGY ON ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS.
(a) Establishment of a National Strategy on Alternative Proteins.--
The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the
``Secretary'') shall--
(1) establish a national strategy on protein security in
coordination with the Secretaries concerned that meets the
requirements of subsection (c); and
(2) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, finalize such strategy.
(b) Considerations.--When developing the national strategy under
subsection (a), the Secretaries concerned shall consider--
(1) the best available science related to edible protein
diversification that is focused on bioprocessing,
biomanufacturing, and the conversion of under-utilized biomass
into high-value ingredients;
(2) the strategic benefits of expanding research,
development, and production of protein diversification relating
to--
(A) national security and warfighter readiness;
(B) agriculture opportunities for domestic farmers;
(C) food and agricultural innovation;
(D) resilient supply chains; and
(E) cross-cutting scientific advancements;
(3) global competition and the economic benefits of protein
diversification relating to--
(A) future economic productivity;
(B) job creation in the biotechnology sector; and
(C) existing public investments and strategies of
competitor countries; and
(4) existing policies and programs offered by the Federal
Government and State governments that--
(A) fund open-access research and development at
institutions of higher education and government
agencies;
(B) incentivize private sector research and
development;
(C) support new and existing food biomanufacturers;
(D) support farmers in the United States that
produce crops and feedstocks that support protein
diversification and food biomanufacturing; and
(E) represent a barrier for effective--
(i) open-access food biomanufacturing
research and development;
(ii) scale-up of food biomanufacturing; and
(iii) regulatory oversight.
(c) Contents.--The national strategy shall--
(1) use a whole-of-government approach to ensure that the
United States remains the global leader of food
biomanufacturing, bioprocessing, and bioworkforce development
for future generations; and
(2) include--
(A) objectives to fulfill the purpose of the
national strategy specified in paragraph (1), including
interagency coordination;
(B) barriers to fulfill such purpose;
(C) solutions to the barriers identified under
subsection (b)(4)(E); and
(D) a plan for the implementation of the national
strategy.
(d) Secretaries Concerned Defined.--In this section, the term
``Secretaries concerned'' means--
(1) the Secretary of Defense;
(2) the Secretary of Energy;
(3) the Secretary of Commerce;
(4) the Director of the National Science Foundation;
(5) the Director of the National Institutes of Health;
(6) the Commissioner of Food and Drugs;
(7) the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention;
(8) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency; and
(9) the Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy.
SEC. 9. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act, or an amendment made by this Act, shall be
construed to support the production of insects for food or animal feed.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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