Sec. 101. Office of Urban Agriculture
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The Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. ) is amended— by redesignating subtitle J as subtitle K; and by inserting after section 285 ( 7 U.S.C. 7005 ) the following: The Secretary shall establish in the Agricultural Marketing Service an Office of Urban Agriculture, which shall be headed by a Director appointed by the Secretary. The Office of Urban Agriculture shall manage programs, coordinate agencies, and advise the Secretary on urban agriculture and urban food systems, including— engaging in external relations with urban agriculture stakeholders; facilitating interagency and cross-government program coordination; creating resources that identify common State and municipal best practices for navigating local policies; developing and implementing new policy recommendations; identifying and working with agencies to update existing guidance for which agricultural programs may not have clear policies for urban production; coordinating resources for technical assistance, training, and outreach; and other activities as determined by the Secretary.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish an Urban Agriculture Advisory Committee (referred to in this subsection as the Committee ) to advise the Secretary on— the development of urban agriculture production policies; and any other aspects of the implementation of— this section; and the Urban Agriculture Act of 2016 and amendments made by that Act. The Committee shall be composed of 15 members of whom— 3 shall be individuals who are urban agricultural producers; 1 shall be an individual who is an agricultural producer; 2 shall be individuals with farm-to-school expertise; 2 shall be representatives from an institution of higher education or extension program; 1 shall be an individual who represents a public health organization; 1 shall be an individual who represents an environmental organization; 1 shall be an individual who represents a business development entity; 1 shall be an individual who represents a city government or is an urban planner; 1 shall be an individual who represents an urban food aggregator; 1 shall be an individual who has extensive experience with farmers markets; and 1 shall be an individual from a nonprofit or advocacy group.
The Secretary shall appoint the members of the Committee not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section. Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a member of the Committee shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. Of the members first appointed to the Committee— the members described in clauses
(i)through
(iii)of paragraph (2)(A) shall be appointed for a term of 3 years; the members described in clauses
(iv)through
(vii)of paragraph (2)(A) shall be appointed for a term of 2 years; and the members described in clauses
(viii)through
(xi)of paragraph (2)(A) shall be appointed for a term of 1 year. Any vacancy in the Committee— shall not affect the powers of the Committee; and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The Committee shall meet not fewer than 3 times per year. Not later than 60 days after the date on which the members are appointed under paragraph (2)(B), the Committee shall hold the first meeting of the Committee. The Committee shall— develop recommendations regarding— the implementation of— this section; and the Urban Agriculture Act of 2016 and amendments made by that Act; and the establishment of ongoing urban agriculture policy priorities and goals; review emerging policies and initiatives within the Office of Urban Agriculture; evaluate and review ongoing research and extension activities; identify new and existing barriers to successful urban agriculture practices; and provide additional assistance and advice to the Secretary as appropriate. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, and every year thereafter, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary a report describing the activities of the Committee under subparagraph (A). A member of the Committee shall serve without compensation. A member of the Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. Subject to subparagraph (B), the Committee shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date on which the members are appointed under paragraph (2)(B). Before the date on which the Committee terminates, the Secretary may renew the Committee for one or more 2-year periods. The Secretary shall continue, within the Office of Urban Agriculture, a community garden program, under which the Director of the Office of Urban Agriculture shall— develop tools and offer technical assistance, education, and resources for community gardening and community master gardener classes, in partnership with the National Institute of Food and Agriculture; consult with Federal building property managers to develop community gardens on Federal property; coordinate a network of community gardens across the United States; facilitate connections to local food banks, in partnership with the Food and Nutrition Service; and carry out other activities, as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary shall establish within the Office of Urban Agriculture a rooftop agriculture and outdoor vertical production program. The rooftop agriculture and outdoor vertical production program shall include activities relating to— providing technical assistance on the planning and development of a rooftop farm; providing educational opportunities on innovative and sustainable production methods; coordinating and sharing best practices of rooftop agricultural producers; collaborating with other Federal agencies that support green infrastructure improvements; and entering into cooperative agreements to conduct research and test strategies that— develop new markets for products produced on rooftops; evaluate rooftop farm feasibility; determine building material efficiencies and upgrades to ensure structural safety and efficiency of rooftop farms; measure environmental impacts of rooftop farms and green roofs; work with a network of farms to streamline production; optimize growing potential for products grown on a rooftop; and support other priorities important to rooftop farming, as determined by the Secretary. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall review the programs established under this section and other programs in the Department that support urban agriculture. The review conducted under paragraph
(1)shall include— a comprehensive analysis of resources of the Department; a description of programs used by urban agricultural producers; a review of outreach activities and program promotion; an evaluation of updated policies and guidance documents; a review of internal collaboration and coordination; an evaluation of urban agricultural ordinances adopted by State and local governments; and any priorities identified by the Secretary. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, 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 the review conducted under paragraph (1). Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive study of urban agricultural activities to evaluate the impacts of urban agriculture across the United States. The study conducted under paragraph
(1)shall measure— the community and social benefits of urban agricultural activities; potential production; agricultural production site availability, including— urban farm land; rooftop production sites; outdoor vertical growing spaces; and indoor production sites; suitability of land for food production; the effectiveness of methods used to address food security; new job opportunities and workforce development; economic feasibility and opportunities created; environmental impacts; and other activities, as determined by the Secretary. Not later than 2 years after date of enactment of this section, 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 the study conducted under paragraph (1). In this subsection, the term eligible entity means— a community organization; a nonprofit organization; a municipality; a school or institution of higher education; and any other entity as determined by the Secretary. The Director of the Office of Urban Agriculture may award competitive grants to eligible entities— to support urban agriculture development; to better coordinate program delivery; and to enhance community gardens. In awarding grants under this subsection, priority shall be given to an eligible entity that uses a grant received under this subsection— to plan and assess sites for gardens or nonprofit farms; or to construct new gardens or nonprofit farms; to operate community gardens or nonprofit farms that— produce food for donation; and have a demonstrated environmental benefit and educational component; and to educate a community on— nutrition; or pollinator health; or for other priorities, as designated by the Secretary. Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this subsection $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, to remain available until expended. Of the funds made available under subsection (j), the Secretary shall provide 50 percent to cooperative extension services (as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 ( 7 U.S.C. 3103 )) for the purpose of carrying out outreach and technical assistance provided under this section. The Secretary shall provide for the designation of a farm number (as defined in section 718.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of the Urban Agriculture Act of 2016 )) for rooftop farms, indoor farms, and other urban farms, as determined by the Secretary. In addition to amounts made available under subsection (g)(4), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each fiscal year. . Section 296(b) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 7014(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: The authority of the Secretary to carry out subtitle J. .
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