S3528119th CongressWALLET

Producing Real Opportunities for Technology and Entrepreneurs Investing in Nutrition Act

Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

Introduced

Summary

Build U.S. capacity in food biomanufacturing and alternative proteins. The bill would direct USDA to set up research centers, grant programs, a protein-security office, and a national strategy to scale edible proteins made by bioprocessing and converting biomass into ingredients.

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  • Would create at least three Centers of Excellence, including one led by an 1890 Institution, to fund research, student training, and innovation in biomanufacturing and biomass-to-protein work. It would authorize $15 million per year for those centers for 2026–2030.
  • Would fund domestic production and scale-up through a Food Biomanufacturing and Production Grant Program with minimum awards of $10 million, eligibility rules favoring U.S.-headquartered and majority U.S.-owned entities, and $50 million per year authorized for 2026–2030.
  • Would boost workforce, rural prosperity, and coordination by creating a national protein-security program ($10 million per year), a Food Bioworkforce Development Grant Program ($25 million per year), and a National Strategy on Alternative Proteins to align agencies and address barriers.

*Would authorize $500 million in appropriations across fiscal years 2026–2030 for the programs described.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Workforce grants for food biotech

This bill would require USDA to set up a competitive workforce grant program within 180 days. It would be authorized $25 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Grants could pay for employee training, training centers, higher-education scholarships (including community colleges), regional planning, regulatory help, and support to access financing. Eligible recipients include governments, public or private organizations, and federally recognized Indian Tribes.

Grants to build U.S. food plants

This bill would create a grant program within 180 days to build U.S. food biomanufacturing capacity. It would authorize $50 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Each grant must be at least $10 million. Eligible applicants must be U.S.-headquartered, at least 51% U.S.-owned, and deploy intellectual property owned by U.S. individuals. Grants could fund demonstrations, new commercial-scale facilities, or retooling and expansion of existing facilities.

National plan for alternative proteins

This bill would require USDA to lead a national strategy on alternative proteins and finalize it within 1 year of enactment. Many federal agencies would help, including Defense, Energy, Commerce, NIH, NSF, FDA, CDC, EPA, and OSTP. The strategy would review science, national security, supply-chain resilience, global competition, policy barriers, and include objectives and an implementation plan.

USDA protein security research program

This bill would require the Agricultural Research Service to establish a national program on protein security. The program would focus on bioprocessing, biomanufacturing, and converting under-used biomass into high-value food ingredients. It would be authorized $10 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. The program would target research to boost rural prosperity and farmer profits tied to alternative protein production.

Centers for food innovation and training

This bill would require USDA to recognize at least three Centers of Excellence for food and agriculture. At least one center must be led by an 1890 land-grant institution. The centers would do research and workforce development on biomanufacturing and converting biomass into proteins and fats. The bill would authorize $15 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 and require an initial report within 1 year and annual reports to Congress.

Research rules for alternative proteins

This bill would add edible-protein topics to competitive Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) grants, explicitly including bioprocessing, biomanufacturing, and conversion of under-used biomass. At the same time, the bill would say that nothing in the Act supports producing insects for food or animal feed. Together these provisions expand research topics but bar insect-for-food or feed claims under the Act.

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Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 12/17/2025

  • Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 1/28/2026

  • Richard Blumenthal

    CT • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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