Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Modernization Act” or the “SARE Modernization Act”.
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Modernization Act
A BILL
To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to establish a sustainable agriculture research and education resilience initiative, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Sustainable agriculture research and education purpose, definitions, and funding
Purpose and definitions— Section 1619 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5801) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (5), by striking “and” at the end;
in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(7) increase resilience and climate change mitigation in the context of a changing climate and related economic, social, environmental, and biodiversity challenges.”
by subsection (b) to read as follows:
“(b) Definitions—For purposes of this subtitle:
“(1) The terms “1890 Institution” and “1994 Institution” have the meanings given such terms in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601).
“(2) The term agribusiness includes a producer or organization engaged in an agricultural enterprise with a profit motive.
“(3) The term ‘climate change mitigation’ means, with respect to agricultural management systems, the ability of such system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester and store carbon in agricultural soils and plant biomass.
“(4) The term extension has the meaning given such term in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
“(5) The term “Hispanic-serving institution” has the meaning given such term in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
“(6) The term “regional host institution” means an entity that is identified pursuant to section 1622(a) to carry out projects under section 1621 in a specific region of the United States.
“(7) The term integrated crop and livestock management systems and practices means a set of management measures and activities that integrate all controllable agricultural production and conservation factors for long-term sustained productivity, profitability, resilience, soil carbon sequestration and storage, and ecological soundness.
“(8) The term ‘nonprofit organization’ means an organization, group, institute, or institution that—
“(A) has a demonstrated capacity to conduct agricultural research or education programs;
“(B) has experience in research, demonstration, education, or extension in sustainable agricultural practices and systems; and
“(C) qualifies as a nonprofit organization under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“(9) The term resilience means, with respect to an agricultural management system, the ability of such system to absorb, mitigate, and recover from climate and other disturbances, such that the system thrives in the face of severe challenges.
“(10) The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Agriculture.
“(11) The term ‘State’ means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or federally recognized Indian tribes.
“(12) The term ‘State agricultural experiment stations’ shall have the same meaning given to that term by section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
“(13) The term sustainable agriculture shall have the same meaning given to that term by section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).”
Authorization of appropriations— Title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.) is amended—
by inserting after section 1620 the following:
“1620A. Authorization of appropriations
“There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2028.”
by striking section 1624; and
in section 1627, by striking subsection (d).
Sec. 3 Best utilization of biological applications
Research and extension projects— Section 1621 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5811) is amended—
by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
“(b) Grants and agreements—The Secretary shall carry out this section through grants awarded to, and agreements entered into with, land-grant colleges or universities (including 1890 Institutions and 1994 Institutions), other universities (including Hispanic-serving institutions), State agricultural experiment stations, the State cooperative extension services, nonprofit organizations with demonstrable expertise, or Federal, State, or Tribal governmental entities.”
in subsection (f), by striking “and environmental implications” and inserting “, environmental, and public policy implications”; and
by amending subsection (g) to read as follows:
“(g) Selection; terms
“(1) Regional host institution selection—The Secretary shall select regional host institutions not more frequently than once every 10 years.
“(2) Cooperative agreements—The term of a cooperative agreement entered into under subsection (b) with a regional host institution shall be 10 years.
“(3) Grants—The term of a competitive grant awarded by a regional host institution under this section may not exceed 5 years.”
Program administration— Section 1622(b) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990(b) (7 U.S.C. 5812) is amended—
in paragraph (1)—
by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (K) as subparagraphs (F) through (L);
by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
“(E) 1890 Institutions, 1994 Institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native serving institutions, or Native Hawaiian serving institutions;”
in subparagraph (F), as so redesignated, by striking “Soil” and inserting “Natural Resources”; and
by amending subparagraph (K), as so redesignated, to read as follows:
“(K) rural sociologists or other social scientists with demonstrable expertise; and”
in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting “, with diverse representation of farmers, scientists, educators, and non-profit representatives,” after “technical committee”; and
in paragraph (3), by inserting “, fellowships, or other awards” after “proposed projects”.
Sunset of Federal-State Matching Grant Program— Section 1623 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5813) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(e) Sunset—The Secretary may not award grants under this section on or after September 30, 2023.”
Sec. 4 Sustainable agriculture technology development and transfer program
Technical guides and books— Section 1628 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5831) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
by striking “Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary” and inserting “The Secretary”; and
by striking “educational materials” and inserting “educational and outreach resources and materials”;
in subsection (b)—
in the subsection heading, by striking “and Coordination”;
by striking “educational materials” and inserting “educational and outreach resources and materials”; and
by striking “The Secretary shall coordinate activities” and all that follows through “section 1446”;
in subsection (c), by striking “educational materials” and inserting “educational and outreach resources and materials”;
in subsection (d)—
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “educational materials” and inserting “educational and outreach resources and materials”;
by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and
by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
“(3) adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change;”
in subsection (e), by striking “Soil Conservation” and inserting “Natural Resources Conservation”; and
by striking subsection (f).
National training program— Section 1629 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5832) is amended—
by striking subsections (c), (d), and (i);
by redesignating subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h) as subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f), respectively;
in subsection (e), as so redesignated—
in paragraph (5), by striking “Soil Conservation Service and the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service” and inserting “Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency”;
in paragraph (7), by inserting “cover crops, perennial production systems, integrated crop and livestock management systems and practices” after “alternative crops,”;
by redesignating paragraphs (10) and (11) as paragraphs (13) and (14), respectively; and
by inserting after paragraph (9) the following;
“(10) develop and provide information concerning climate change adaptation and mitigation developed under this subtitle and other research and education programs of the Department;
“(11) provide specific information on ecological systems-based pest management practices developed under this subtitle and other research and education programs of the Department;
“(12) provide specific information on organic farming systems developed under this subtitle and through the research program section 1672B and other appropriate research programs of the Department;”
in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by striking “Soil Conservation Service” and inserting “Natural Resources Conservation Service”.