,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dida ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #a1 #bjbd,ms4 ,baldwin introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to promote meat product innovation1 including in specialty meats1 and value-added meat product development for the economic benefit of ,united ,states farmers and their communities1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,meat ,business ,innovation ,act of #bjbd4 #b4 ,meat product and business innovation initiatives 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,initiative ,the term initiative means a meat product and business innovation initiative established under subsection 7b74 7#b7 ,meat business ,the term meat business means a business that develops1 processes1 produces1 markets1 or distributes meat products4 7#c7 ,meat product ,the term meat product means-- 7,a7 a meat food product 7as defined in section #a of the ,federal ,meat ,inspection ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #fja772 7,b7 a poultry product 7as defined in section #d of the ,poultry ,products ,inspection ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #dec772 7,c7 a food product from an exotic animal 7as defined in section #ceb4a of title #i1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor regulation772 and 7,d7 products derived from byproducts of meat processing for human food or biomedical applications4 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7b7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish not fewer than #c regionally located meat product and business innovation initiatives for the purposes of-- 7#a7 utilizing regional meat production2 7#b7 creating higher-value uses for meat products and byproducts2 7#c7 promoting business development that diversifies farmer income and small1 regional economies through processing and marketing innovation2 7#d7 diversifying meat product markets to reduce risk2 7#e7 protecting the food supply through proven food safety innovations2 and 7#f7 enhancing consumer confidence by promoting practices that will improve animal welfare and ensure humane harvesting4 7c7 ,selection of initiatives ,an initiative-- 7#a7 shall be located in a region with a history of livestock farming and meat processing1 including fresh products and those requiring further processing1 and a proven track record in food safety2 7#b7 shall be positioned in proximity to existing meat industry resources1 including research capacity1 academic and industry expertise1 a density of livestock farms or farmland suitable for livestock1 ranching1 and meat businesses of all sizes2 7#c7 may serve-- 7,a7 a certain product niche1 such as artisanal meat2 or 7,b7 meat businesses with meat products derived from a specific type of animal2 and 7#d7 shall serve meat businesses in other regions4 7d7 ,entities eligible ,to host initiative 7#a7 ,in general ,any of the following entities may submit to the ,secretary an application to host an initiative3 7,a7 ,a ,state department of agriculture or other ,state entity4 7,b7 ,a nonprofit entity with capacity to provide consultation1 expertise1 and grant distribution and tracking4 7,c7 ,an institution of higher education4 7,d7 ,a cooperative extension service with a history of supporting small- and medium-sized businesses4 7#b7 ,partners ,an entity described in paragraph 7#a7 may establish partners prior to the submission of the application under that paragraph1 or add partners on consultation with the ,secretary1 which may include-- 7,a7 a generic program to promote and provide research and information for meat and meat products2 7,b7 a foundation2 or 7,c7 any other entity described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d7 of that paragraph4 7#c7 ,preference ,in considering applications from institutions of higher education1 the ,secretary shall give special consideration to an institution of higher education that has-- 7,a7 biomedical1 veterinary1 microbiology1 and entrepreneurship expertise2 and 7,b7 expertise in meat science4 7e7 ,activities of initiatives 7#a7 ,direct assistance to meat businesses ,an initiative shall provide assistance to meat businesses in accordance with the following3 7,a7 ,provision of direct assistance ,assistance may be provided directly to meat businesses in a private consultation or through widely available distribution1 and may be provided-- 7i7 directly by the entity that hosts the initiative under subsection 7d77#a72 7ii7 through contracting with industry experts2 7iii7 through the provision of technical assistance1 such as informational websites1 webinars1 conferences1 trainings1 plant tours1 and field days2 or 7iv7 through research institutions1 including cooperative extension services4 7,b7 ,types of assistance ,eligible forms of assistance include-- 7i7 business consulting1 including business plan development for processed meat products2 7ii7 accounting and financial literacy training2 7iii7 market evaluation2 7iv7 strategic planning assistance2 7v7 training in animal handling1 animal welfare1 and humane harvesting practices2 7vi7 research on product innovation1 including research relating to value-added products derived from meat byproducts2 7vii7 marketing and branding assistance1 including market messaging1 consumer assessments1 and evaluation of regional1 national1 and international markets2 7viii7 innovation in emerging market opportunities1 including agritourism1 and marketing communication methods2 7ix7 packaging1 distribution1 and supply chain innovation2 7x7 food safety training and assistance with the development of effective food safety programs2 7xi7 meat product production training1 including in new1 rare1 or innovative techniques2 7xii7 reduction of enteric methane emissions2 7xiii7 process and processing facility improvement1 including planning for and implementing plant upgrades1 food safety modernization1 energy and water efficiency1 byproduct reprocessing and use maximization1 and waste treatment2 and 7xiv7 training for ,federal and ,state inspectors and other professionals who are critical for growth of the meat industry4 7#b7 ,competitive grants to meat businesses ,an initiative shall provide competitive grants for new and existing meat businesses for the purposes of-- 7,a7 modernization1 specialization1 and market diversification for livestock farms2 7,b7 value chain and commodity innovation and facility and process updates for meat processors2 7,c7 product development1 packaging1 and marketing of meat products2 7,d7 innovation in biomanufacturing to address the need for-- 7i7 byproduct reprocessing and use maximization2 and 7ii7 improving sustainability2 7,e7 providing food safety education and training to better meet shifting regulatory demands2 7,f7 improving and modernizing food safety infrastructure1 including technological adaptations1 equipment1 and food safety programs2 and 7,g7 improving and modernizing animal handling safety infrastructure1 including technological adaptations1 equipment1 and animal welfare programs4 7f7 ,distribution of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,of the funds made available to carry out this section1 the ,secretary shall provide not fewer than #c awards to eligible entities described in subsection 7d77#a7 for the purposes of carrying out the activities under subsection 7e74 7#b7 ,multiyear funding ,the ,secretary is encouraged-- 7,a7 to award funds under paragraph 7#a7 in multiyear funding allocations2 and 7,b7 to require frequent reporting1 as appropriate4 7#c7 ,use of funds 7,a7 ,in general ,the funds awarded to an eligible entity under paragraph 7#a7 may be used-- 7i7 for program administration of an initiative1 including staff costs2 7ii7 for research activities that-- 7,i7 directly benefit meat businesses2 7,,ii7 have been identified as priorities by meat businesses2 and 7,,iii7 require facilities1 resources1 research1 education1 and expertise provided by a funded entity that-- 7aa7 are necessary for the identified research priorities2 and 7bb7 would otherwise not be accessible to meat businesses2 and 7iii7 for workshops or other informational sessions that-- 7,i7 directly benefit meat businesses1 processors and entrepreneurs1 and livestock farmers2 or 7,,ii7 enhance the capacity of providers of technical assistance to meat businesses and livestock producers4 7,b7 ,allocation ,not less than #ej percent of the funds awarded to an eligible entity under paragraph 7#a7 shall be allocated to directly benefit new meat businesses or meat businesses that wish to update their products or processes using a grant under subsection 7e77#b74 7#d7 ,priority ,in providing direct assistance under subsection 7e77#a7 and grants under subsection 7e77#b71 an eligible entity shall give priority to-- 7,a7 small- and medium-sized livestock farms and meat businesses2 7,b7 employee-owned meat businesses2 7,c7 cooperatives2 7,d7 meat businesses that establish contracting mechanisms that return profits to farmers who supply their meat2 7,e7 meat businesses that1 in addition to salary and wage compensation1 return profits to employees2 7,f7 meat businesses that seek to create meat products that add substantial value in processing or marketing1 such as specialty meats2 7,g7 meat businesses or allied startup companies that seek to address the increasing volume of otherwise discarded byproducts from animal production waste streams generated by the meat industry2 and 7,h7 meat businesses that seek to reduce water usage1 carbon footprint1 or improve overall sustainability efforts4 7#e7 ,requirement ,in the case of direct assistance under subsection 7e77#a7 or a grant under subsection 7e77#b7 that is provided to a specific meat business and does not benefit the general public1 as determined by the ,secretary1 the assistance or grant shall exclusively be available to meat businesses owned in the ,united ,states4 7#f7 ,supplementation ,to the extent practicable1 the ,secretary shall ensure that funds provided to an initiative supplement1 and do not duplicate or replace1 existing meat product research1 development1 and promotion activities4 7g7 ,matching funding 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall encourage1 but not require1 an eligible entity described in subsection 7d77#a7 to provide matching funding to carry out this section4 7#b7 ,additional funding ,after an initial term of funding provided to an eligible entity described in subsection 7d77#a71 the ,secretary is encouraged to work with the eligible entity to develop additional funding streams to supplement the ,federal investment1 including from funds of a generic program to promote and provide research and information for a specific agricultural commodity1 if the provision of funds is approved by the members of the generic program4 7h7 ,reporting 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report describing the implementation of this section4 7#b7 ,innovation reports ,the ,secretary1 in coordination with the ,chief ,economist1 shall publish an annual report on the status of-- 7,a7 innovation in meat products2 7,b7 product development under the program under this section2 7,c7 growth areas for meat product development2 and 7,d7 barriers inhibiting majority member-owned domestic meat firms from-- 7i7 updating capacity2 7ii7 performing competitively in the marketplace2 and 7iii7 returning gains to members or reinvesting the gains in ways that benefit the long-term financial stability of the majority member-owned domestic meat firm and the members of that firm4 7i7 ,funding 7#a7 ,mandatory funding ,of the funds of the ,commodity ,credit ,corporation1 the ,secretary shall use to carry out this section #cj1jjj1jjj1 to remain available until expended4 7#b7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #cj1jjj1jjj for each fiscal year4