Sec. 15. Emerging protein production research, education, and extension initiative
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Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 6911 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary shall establish in the Department an Office of Plant-Based Foods and Innovative Production. The Secretary shall appoint a senior official to serve as the Director of the Office of Plant-Based Foods and Innovative Production (referred to in this section as the Director ). The mission of the Office of Plant-Based Foods and Innovative Production shall be to encourage and promote plant-based protein and plant-based food options and plant protein products, including the edible proteins made from plants (such as vegetables, beans, and legumes), fungi, or other nonanimal sources, through any of the following:
The development, construction, or acquisition of land, buildings, plants, equipment, access streets and roads, parking areas, facility construction, expansion, or production capacity expansions. Providing technical and nontechnical assistance to plant-based food suppliers and processors in product development. Supporting other innovations in plant-based protein and food products, as determined by the Secretary. The Director shall be responsible for engaging in activities to carry out the mission described in paragraph (3), including by— managing programs and providing assistance to plant-based companies and industry; advising the Secretary with respect to the promotion of plant protein products; coordinating with the agencies and officials of the Department to update relevant programs; engaging in stakeholder relations and developing external partnerships; identifying common State and municipal best practices for navigating local policies; coordinating networks of existing stakeholder organizations; and collaborating with heads of other Federal agencies, including the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish an Emerging Protein and Innovative Production Advisory Committee (referred to in this subsection as the Committee ) to advise the Secretary on— the development of policies and outreach relating to protein-rich foods sourced from plant ingredients and emerging agricultural production practices; and any other aspects of the implementation of this section. The Committee shall be composed of 12 members, of whom— 4 shall be individuals who are agricultural producers, of whom— 2 individuals shall be agricultural producers located in a rural area; and 2 individuals shall be farmers that use innovative technology; 2 shall be representatives from an institution of higher education or extension program; 1 shall be an individual who represents a nonprofit organization, which may include a public health, environmental, or community organization; 1 shall be an individual who represents business and economic development, which may include a business development entity, a chamber of commerce, a city government, or a planning organization; 1 shall be an individual with supply chain experience, which may include a food aggregator, wholesale food distributor, food hub, or an individual who has direct-to-consumer market experience; 1 shall be an individual from a financing entity; and 2 shall be individuals with related experience or expertise in research focused on protein-rich foods sourced from plants and in products sourced from plants as determined by the Secretary.
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— 4 of the members, as determined by the Secretary, shall be appointed for a term of 3 years; 4 of the members, as determined by the Secretary, shall be appointed for a term of 2 years; and 4 of the members, as determined by the Secretary, 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 as soon as practicable in the same manner as the original appointment. An initial appointee of the Committee may serve an additional consecutive term if the member is reappointed by the Secretary. The Committee shall meet not fewer than 3 times per year. Not later than 180 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 and advise the Director on policies, initiatives, and outreach administered by the Office of Emerging Protein and Innovative Production; evaluate and review ongoing research and extension activities relating to protein-rich products sourced from plants and the development of other plant-based foods; identify new and existing barriers to successful plant protein product development and emerging agricultural practices employed by plant protein producers; and provide additional assistance and advice to the Director as appropriate.
Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Committee is established, and every 2 years through 2028, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report describing the recommendations developed 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 1 or more 2-year periods. The Director shall award competitive grants to support the development of plant-based foods and related innovative production to any of the following eligible entities: A nonprofit organization. A unit of local government.
A Tribal government. Any school that serves any of grades kindergarten through grade 12. A for-profit organization with fewer than 500 employees. An institution of higher education, including a land-grant college or university and a nonland-grant college of agriculture (as those terms are defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 ( 7 U.S.C. 3103 )). In this section: The term plant protein product means a protein product made from a plant (such as a vegetable, bean, or legume), fungi, or other nonanimal source of protein.
The term plant protein producer means a producer of a plant protein product or any processed or manufactured product thereof. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section and the amendments made by this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. .
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Sec. 15
Emerging protein production research, education, and extension initiative
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