,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cebh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #ag1 #bjbe,mr4 ,schiff 7for himself and ,mr4 ,padilla7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij to direct the ,secretary of ,agriculture to establish research centers of excellence for alternative protein innovation1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,producing ,real ,opportunities for ,technology and ,entrepreneurs ,investing in ,nutrition ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,protein innovation that produces high-quality foods using under-utilized biomass and biomanufacturing processes is an essential component of the bioeconomy4 7#b7 ,the ,united ,states has produced several groundbreaking biotechnological breakthroughs across the last decade that can diversify the food system4 7#c7 ,in recent years1 multiple countries have dramatically increased public investments into alternative protein research and development4 7#d7 ,according to the ,department of ,agriculture1 every #a of investment into agricultural research results in #bj of economic productivity4 7#e7 ,as of #bjai1 the plant-based food industry supported over #ee1jjj jobs in the ,united ,states1 and the protein sector could create as many as #aj1jjj1jjj jobs globally by #bjej4 7#f7 ,diversifying the protein supply of the ,united ,states will increase domestic supply chain resilience1 decrease reliance on foreign grain and other commodities1 and provide more choices to ,american consumers4 7#g7 ,the global demand for meat is predicted to double by #bjej1 thus increasing the need for additional food sources4 7#h7 ,a diversified food system would improve global and domestic food security4 7#i7 ,protein innovation can strengthen national security1 improve supply chain resilience1 and lower the risk of bioterrorism4 #c4 ,research centers of excellence for food and agriculture innovation ,section #afgc of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #eibf7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by inserting of ,agriculture 7referred to in this section as the ,secretary7 after ,the ,secretary2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7e7 ,centers of ,excellence for ,food and ,agriculture ,innovation 7#a7 ,recognition ,the ,secretary shall recognize not fewer than #c centers of excellence1 one of which shall be led by an #ahij ,institution 7as defined in section #b of the ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,education ,reform ,act of #aiih 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #gfja771 to focus on the areas specified in paragraph 7#b7 relating to the advancement of emerging and innovative food and agriculture with an emphasis on diversifying edible protein sources4 7#b7 ,areas of focus 7,a7 ,food biomanufacturing research and development ,a center of excellence recognized under paragraph 7#a7 may carry out research1 development1 and education programs that support the quality1 production1 or cost-effectiveness of emerging and innovative foods that employ-- 7i7 bioprocessing2 7ii7 biomanufacturing2 and 7iii7 the conversion of biomass into proteins and fats at scale4 7,b7 ,student success and workforce development ,a center of excellence recognized under paragraph 7#a7 may engage in activities to ensure that students have the skills and education needed to work in innovative food and agriculture industries1 including agricultural science1 technology1 engineering1 mathematics1 and related fields of study4 7#c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection #ae1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcj4 7#d7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,producing ,real ,opportunities for ,technology and ,entrepreneurs ,investing in ,nutrition ,act1 and every year thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate a report describing-- 7,a7 the resources invested in the centers of excellence recognized under paragraph 7#a72 and 7,b7 the work being done by such centers of excellence4 4 #d4 ,agriculture and ,food ,research ,initiative ,section #b7;b77#b77;,e7 of the ,competitive1 ,special1 and ,facilities ,research ,grant ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #caeg7;b77#b77;,e77 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating clauses 7ii7 through 7v7 as clauses 7iii7 through 7vi71 respectively2 and 7#b7 by inserting after clause 7i7 the following new clause3 7ii7 tools and production methods that increase the availability of edible protein sources using bioprocessing1 biomanufacturing1 and the conversion of under-utilized biomass into high-value ingredients2 4 #e4 ,agricultural ,research ,service 7a7 ,establishment of national program ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,agricultural ,research ,service1 shall establish a national program dedicated to protein security that increases rural prosperity and farmer profits1 which is focused on-- 7#a7 bioprocessing2 7#b7 biomanufacturing2 and 7#c7 the conversion of under-utilized biomass into high-value ingredients4 7b7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program under this section #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcj4 #f4 ,food biomanufacturing and production grant program 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture 7referred to in this section as the ,secretary7 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 protein4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,an entity is eligible to receive a grant under subsection 7a7 if-- 7#a7 such entity is-- 7,a7 a nonprofit or for-profit private entity2 7,b7 an institution of higher education2 7,c7 a ,national ,laboratory2 7,d7 a ,state or local government2 or 7,e7 a consortium of entities described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d72 and 7#b7 such entity-- 7,a7 is headquartered in the ,united ,states and operates primarily within the ,united ,states2 7,b7 is at least #ea percent owned and controlled by #a or more individuals who are citizens of the ,united ,states2 and 7,c7 deploys intellectual property and content that is owned by ,united ,states individuals4 7c7 ,grants 7#a7 ,use of funds ,an entity that receives a grant under this section shall use funds received through the grant-- 7,a7 to carry out #a or more demonstration projects for the advanced biomanufacturing1 production1 or bioprocessing of edible proteins and fats at scale2 7,b7 to construct #a or more new commercial-scale facilities for such advanced biomanufacturing1 production1 or bioprocessing2 and 7,c7 to retool1 retrofit1 or expand #a or more existing facilities located in the ,united ,states and determined qualified by the ,secretary for such advanced biomanufacturing1 production1 or bioprocessing4 7#b7 ,amount of grants ,the amount of a grant awarded under this section shall be not less than #aj1jjj1jjj4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out the program under this section #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcj4 #g4 ,food bioworkforce development grant program 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall establish a competitive grant program to support food biomanufacturing and bioprocessing workforce development4 7b7 ,eligible entity ,an entity is eligible to receive a grant under this section if the entity is-- 7#a7 a governmental entity2 7#b7 a public1 private1 or cooperative organization organized on a for-profit or nonprofit basis2 or 7#c7 an ,indian ,tribe 7as defined in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd77 on a ,federal or ,state reservation or any other federally recognized ,indian ,tribe4 7c7 ,use of funds ,an entity to which a grant is made under this section shall use the grant funds to-- 7#a7 train new and existing employees on food biomanufacturing and bioprocessing methods2 7#b7 establish a center for training1 technology1 and trade that will provide training to employees in food biomanufacturing and bioprocessing2 7#c7 provide higher-education scholarships to students pursuing careers in food biomanufacturing and bioprocessing1 including at community colleges2 7#d7 conduct regional1 community1 and local economic development planning and coordination for the purpose of increasing food biomanufacturing and bioprocessing2 7#e7 provide technical assistance to gain compliance with ,federal1 ,state1 or local regulations related to food biomanufacturing and bioprocessing2 or 7#f7 facilitate business and lending opportunities related to food biomanufacturing and bioprocessing1 including identifying relevant information necessary for obtaining-- 7,a7 private capital investments2 7,b7 ,federal and ,state loan guarantees2 7,c7 ,federal and ,state direct grants2 or 7,d7 other financial support mechanisms from ,federal and ,state entities4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #be1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcj4 #h4 ,national strategy on alternative proteins 7a7 ,establishment of a national strategy on alternative proteins ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture 7referred to in this section as the ,secretary7 shall-- 7#a7 establish a national strategy on protein security in coordination with the ,secretaries concerned that meets the requirements of subsection 7c72 and 7#b7 not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 finalize such strategy4 7b7 ,considerations ,when developing the national strategy under subsection 7a71 the ,secretaries concerned shall consider-- 7#a7 the best available science related to edible protein diversification that is focused on bioprocessing1 biomanufacturing1 and the conversion of under-utilized biomass into high-value ingredients2 7#b7 the strategic benefits of expanding research1 development1 and production of protein diversification relating to-- 7,a7 national security and warfighter readiness2 7,b7 agriculture opportunities for domestic farmers2 7,c7 food and agricultural innovation2 7,d7 resilient supply chains2 and 7,e7 cross-cutting scientific advancements2 7#c7 global competition and the economic benefits of protein diversification relating to-- 7,a7 future economic productivity2 7,b7 job creation in the biotechnology sector2 and 7,c7 existing public investments and strategies of competitor countries2 and 7#d7 existing policies and programs offered by the ,federal ,government and ,state governments that-- 7,a7 fund open-access research and development at institutions of higher education and government agencies2 7,b7 incentivize private sector research and development2 7,c7 support new and existing food biomanufacturers2 7,d7 support farmers in the ,united ,states that produce crops and feedstocks that support protein diversification and food biomanufacturing2 and 7,e7 represent a barrier for effective-- 7i7 open-access food biomanufacturing research and development2 7ii7 scale-up of food biomanufacturing2 and 7iii7 regulatory oversight4 7c7 ,contents ,the national strategy shall-- 7#a7 use a whole-of-government approach to ensure that the ,united ,states remains the global leader of food biomanufacturing1 bioprocessing1 and bioworkforce development for future generations2 and 7#b7 include-- 7,a7 objectives to fulfill the purpose of the national strategy specified in paragraph 7#a71 including interagency coordination2 7,b7 barriers to fulfill such purpose2 7,c7 solutions to the barriers identified under subsection 7b77#d77;,e72 and 7,d7 a plan for the implementation of the national strategy4 7d7 ,secretaries concerned defined ,in this section1 the term ,secretaries concerned means-- 7#a7 the ,secretary of ,defense2 7#b7 the ,secretary of ,energy2 7#c7 the ,secretary of ,commerce2 7#d7 the ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation2 7#e7 the ,director of the ,national ,institutes of ,health2 7#f7 the ,commissioner of ,food and ,drugs2 7#g7 the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention2 7#h7 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 and 7#i7 the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy4 #i4 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this ,act1 or an amendment made by this ,act1 shall be construed to support the production of insects for food or animal feed4