Seeds and Breeds for the Future Act
Sponsored By: Senator Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced
Summary
Creates public plant and animal breeding programs and funding to make new cultivars and breeds available. This bill would boost USDA coordination, protect and expand germplasm collections, and push commercialization of publicly funded varieties and breeds.
Show full summary
- Farmers and breeders would gain priority support for regionally adapted and climate-resilient cultivars and breeds, including animals suited to grazing and overwintering where appropriate. A domestic production requirement would aim to keep substantial production in the United States.
- Indigenous and local communities would see endangered place-based cultivars and breeds prioritized for conservation and development. Grants could target improved nutritional and health outcomes for local and Indigenous populations.
- Researchers, land‑grant and minority‑serving institutions, genetic resource centers, and the Agricultural Research Service would get a new USDA coordinator to align breeding research, track federal funding, and convene interagency working groups. The bill sets aside at least $75 million per year for competitive grants and requires annual reporting on germplasm use and released cultivars and breeds.
*This bill would increase annual federal spending by at least $75 million for competitive public cultivar and animal breed grants.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Stronger plant and animal germplasm plans
The bill would require USDA to make and carry out national strategic plans for plant and animal germplasm collections. USDA would address backlogs in characterizing animal accessions, collect traits important to organic and forage-based systems, hire or retain needed staff, and report yearly to Congress on progress, staffing, expenditures, and GRIN request and fulfillment data by crop and ARS location.
USDA coordinator and public reports
The bill would require the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Extension to appoint a Public Cultivar and Animal Breed Research Activities Coordinator. The coordinator would track and publish federal breeding funding and activities within 60 days after each fiscal year end, make a Department-wide strategic plan with investment targets, convene a NIFA/ARS/ERS working group, hold stakeholder sessions, and USDA would send an annual report to Congress by October 1.
At least $75M for public breeding
The bill would require USDA to set aside not less than $75,000,000 each fiscal year for competitive research grants to develop public plant cultivars and animal breeds. Grants would target regional adaptation, climate resilience, germplasm collection, nutrition and Indigenous-focused varieties, and related priorities. The USDA would be required to set grant terms and renewal rules to support long-term breeding and commercialization.
Defines public cultivars and IP limits
The bill would add legal definitions for conventional breeding, cultivar, public animal breed, and public cultivar. It would define public cultivars and breeds as commercially released products of publicly funded programs and limit asserted intellectual property for those public outcomes to plant or animal patents or plant/animal variety protection, not utility patents.
Limits exclusives to US production
The bill would bar anyone who receives title to a patent or variety protection for a publicly funded cultivar or breed from granting an exclusive right to use or sell it unless the grantee agrees that cultivars or animals embodying it will be produced substantially in the United States. The rule would apply to assignees as well.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
WI • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 7/23/2026
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 7/23/2026
Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2026
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 7/28/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov