118 HR 5097 IH: Producing Real Opportunities for Technology and Entrepreneurs Investing in Nutrition Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2023-08-01
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I
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5097
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 1, 2023
Ms. Brownley introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
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.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Producing Real Opportunities for Technology and Entrepreneurs Investing in Nutrition Act”.
2.

Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
Protein innovation that produces the characteristics of animal protein using plants, animal cell cultivation, and fermentation is an essential component of the bioeconomy.
(2)
The United States has produced several groundbreaking biotechnological breakthroughs across the alternative protein sector in the last decade.
(3)
In recent years, multiple countries have dramatically increased public investments into alternative protein research and development while government spending in the United States is still extremely modest.
(4)
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, every one dollar of investment into agricultural research results in twenty dollars of economic productivity.
(5)
As of 2019, the plant-based food industry supported over 55,000 jobs in the United States, and the alternative protein sector could create as many as 10 million 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 such as alternative proteins.
(8)
Widespread adoption of alternative proteins would decrease the risks associated with antibiotic resistance and zoonotic disease.
(9)
Widespread adoption of alternative proteins would improve global and domestic food security.
(10)
Widespread adoption of alternative proteins would improve the nutritional quality of the United States food system, contributing to improved health outcomes.
(11)
Widespread adoption of alternative proteins would likely help the United States’ food system become more climate-friendly and sustainable.
3.

Research centers of excellence for alternative protein innovation
Section 1673 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(d)

Centers of Excellence for Alternative Protein Innovation
(1)

Recognition
The Secretary shall recognize not fewer than 3 centers of excellence, one of which will 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 advancement of alternative proteins in the areas described in paragraph (2).
(2)

Areas of focus
(A)

Alternative proteins 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 foods with the characteristics of animal meat using plants, animal cell cultivation, or fermentation.
(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 the alternative proteins 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 2024 through 2028.
(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.”.
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)
characteristics of animal meat using plants, animal cell cultivation, or fermentation;”.
5.

Agricultural Research Service
(a)

Establishment of national program
The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”), shall establish a new national program dedicated to the research of alternative proteins that is focused on developing knowledge and enabling commercially-viable technologies related to foods with the characteristics of animal meat using plants, animal cell cultivation, or fermentation.
(b)

Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
6.

Alternative protein advanced manufacturing 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 manufacturing and production capability to support and sustain increased global demand for alternative proteins.
(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 manufacturing, production, or processing of alternative protein;
(B)
to construct 1 or more new commercial-scale facilities for the advanced manufacturing, production, or processing of alternative protein in the United States; and
(C)
to retool, retrofit, or expand 1 or more existing facilities located in the United States and determined qualified by the Secretary for advanced manufacturing, production, or processing of alternative proteins.
(2)

Amount of grants
The amount of a grant awarded under this section shall be not less than $10,000,000 for an eligible entity carrying out 1 or more projects described in paragraph (1).
(d)

Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
7.

Alternative protein workforce development grant program
(a)

In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall establish a competitive grant program to support alternative protein 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 may use the grant funds to—
(1)
train new and existing employees on alternative protein production and processing methods;
(2)
establish a center for training, technology, and trade that will provide training to employees who process alternative protein;
(3)
provide higher-education scholarships to students pursuing careers in alternative protein production and processing, including at community colleges;
(4)
conduct regional, community, and local economic development planning and coordination for the purpose of increasing alternative protein production and processing;
(5)
provide technical assistance to gain compliance with Federal, State, or local regulations related to alternative protein production and processing; or
(6)
facilitate business and lending opportunities related to alternative protein production and processing, 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 2024 through 2028.
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 alternative proteins 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 products with the characteristics of animal meat using plants, animal cell cultivation, and fermentation;
(2)
the societal benefits of expanding research, development, and production of alternative proteins relating to—
(A)
personal and public health;
(B)
climate change and energy;
(C)
food and agricultural innovation;
(D)
resilient supply chains; and
(E)
cross-cutting scientific advancements;
(3)
global competition and the economic benefits of alternative proteins 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 and State governments that—
(A)
fund open-access research and development at higher-learning institutions and government agencies;
(B)
incentivize private sector research and development;
(C)
support new and existing alternative protein producers and manufacturers;
(D)
support farmers in the United States that produce outputs related to alternative proteins; and
(E)
represent a barrier for effective—
(i)
open-access alternative protein research and development;
(ii)
scale-up of alternative protein production and manufacturing; 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 alternative protein research, development, production, and workforce 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 in 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.
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.