Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Sustainable Farms, Fibers, and Forests Act of 2023”.
Sustainable Farms, Fibers, and Forests Act of 2023
A BILL
To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to include support for sustainable fibers in the Local Agriculture Market Program, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Sustainable farms, fibers, and forests
Definitions— Section 210A(a) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c(a)) is amended—
by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (11), (12), and (13) as paragraphs (5) through (12), (14), and (15), respectively;
by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
“(4) Food—The term food includes sustainable fibers.”
by inserting after paragraph (12) (as so redesignated) the following:
“(13) Sustainable fibers—The term sustainable fibers means fibers produced by farming operations that use sustainable cropping or grazing systems, or other systems and practices beneficial to natural ecosystems, as determined by the Secretary, including—
“(A) textile products from plant-based fibers, such as cotton, flax, and hemp;
“(B) animal-based fibers and products, such as wool, alpaca, and leather; and
“(C) natural dye products, such as plant extracts.”
Technical assistance and outreach— Section 210A(c)(3) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c(c)(3)) is amended by striking “services,” and inserting “services and the National Agroforestry Center,”.
Eligible activities— Section 210A(d)(2)(A) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c(d)(2)(A)) is amended—
in clause (v), by striking “or” at the end;
in clause (vi), by inserting “or” after the semicolon; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(vii) agroforestry, including demonstration infrastructure for farmer or landowner learning;”
Regional food partnerships— Section 210A(e)(2) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c(e)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(C) Agricultural product diversity—To the maximum extent practicable, in selecting partnerships to receive grants under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure diversity among the types of agricultural products supported by the partnerships, including sustainable fibers.”