I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5097 

To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 

to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish research centers of 

excellence for alternative protein innovation, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 1, 2023 

Ms. BROWNLEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Education 

and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 

Act of 1990 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to 

establish research centers of excellence for alternative 

protein innovation, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Producing Real Oppor5 tunities for Technology and Entrepreneurs Investing in 

6 Nutrition Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 Congress finds the following: 

3 (1) Protein innovation that produces the char4 acteristics of animal protein using plants, animal cell 

5 cultivation, and fermentation is an essential compo6 nent of the bioeconomy. 

7 (2) The United States has produced several 

8 groundbreaking biotechnological breakthroughs 

9 across the alternative protein sector in the last dec10 ade. 

11 (3) In recent years, multiple countries have dra12 matically increased public investments into alter13 native protein research and development while gov14 ernment spending in the United States is still ex15 tremely modest. 

16 (4) According to the United States Department 

17 of Agriculture, every one dollar of investment into 

18 agricultural research results in twenty dollars of eco19 nomic productivity. 

20 (5) As of 2019, the plant-based food industry 

21 supported over 55,000 jobs in the United States, 

22 and the alternative protein sector could create as 

23 many as 10 million jobs globally by 2050. 

24 (6) Diversifying the protein supply of the 

25 United States will increase domestic supply chain re26 silience, decrease reliance on foreign grain and other 


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1 commodities, and provide more choices to American 

2 consumers. 

3 (7) The global demand for meat is predicted to 

4 double by 2050, thus increasing the need for addi5 tional food sources such as alternative proteins. 

6 (8) Widespread adoption of alternative proteins 

7 would decrease the risks associated with antibiotic 

8 resistance and zoonotic disease. 

9 (9) Widespread adoption of alternative proteins 

10 would improve global and domestic food security. 

11 (10) Widespread adoption of alternative pro12 teins would improve the nutritional quality of the 

13 United States food system, contributing to improved 

14 health outcomes. 

15 (11) Widespread adoption of alternative pro16 teins would likely help the United States’ food sys17 tem become more climate-friendly and sustainable. 

18 SEC. 3. RESEARCH CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR ALTER19 NATIVE PROTEIN INNOVATION. 

20 Section 1673 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 

21 and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926) is amended by 

22 adding at the end the following: 

23 ‘‘(d) CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR ALTERNATIVE

24 PROTEIN INNOVATION.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) RECOGNITION.—The Secretary shall recog2 nize not fewer than 3 centers of excellence, one of 

3 which will be led by an 1890 Institution (as defined 

4 in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, 

5 and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 

6 7601)), to focus on the advancement of alternative 

7 proteins in the areas described in paragraph (2). 

8 ‘‘(2) AREAS OF FOCUS.— 

9 ‘‘(A) ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS RESEARCH

10 AND DEVELOPMENT.—A center of excellence 

11 recognized under paragraph (1) may carry out 

12 research, development, and education programs 

13 that support the quality, production, or cost-ef14 fectiveness of foods with the characteristics of 

15 animal meat using plants, animal cell cultiva16 tion, or fermentation. 

17 ‘‘(B) STUDENT SUCCESS AND WORKFORCE

18 DEVELOPMENT.—A center of excellence recog19 nized under paragraph (1) may engage in ac20 tivities to ensure that students have the skills 

21 and education needed to work in the alternative 

22 proteins industries, including agricultural 

23 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, 

24 and related fields of study. 


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1 ‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

2 There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 

3 this subsection $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 

4 2024 through 2028. 

5 ‘‘(4) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 

6 date of enactment of the Producing Real Opportuni7 ties for Technology and Entrepreneurs Investing in 

8 Nutrition Act, and every year thereafter, the Sec9 retary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture 

10 of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

11 on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Sen12 ate a report describing— 

13 ‘‘(A) the resources invested in the centers 

14 of excellence recognized under paragraph (1); 

15 and 

16 ‘‘(B) the work being done by such centers 

17 of excellence.’’. 

18 SEC. 4. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE. 

19 Section 2(b)(2)(E) of the Competitive, Special, and 

20 Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)(2)(E)) 

21 is amended— 

22 (1) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (v) as 

23 clauses (iii) through (vi), respectively; and 

24 (2) by inserting after clause (i) the following 

25 new clause: 


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1 ‘‘(ii) characteristics of animal meat 

2 using plants, animal cell cultivation, or fer3 mentation;’’. 

4 SEC. 5. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE. 

5 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL PROGRAM.—The 

6 Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Adminis7 trator of the Agricultural Research Service (referred to in 

8 this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’), shall establish a new na9 tional program dedicated to the research of alternative 

10 proteins that is focused on developing knowledge and ena11 bling commercially-viable technologies related to foods 

12 with the characteristics of animal meat using plants, ani13 mal cell cultivation, or fermentation. 

14 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

15 authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program 

16 $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. 

17 SEC. 6. ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN ADVANCED MANUFAC18 TURING AND PRODUCTION GRANT PROGRAM. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

20 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture 

21 (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall estab22 lish a grant program to ensure that the United States has 

23 a viable domestic manufacturing and production capability 

24 to support and sustain increased global demand for alter25 native proteins. 


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1 (b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity is eligible to re2 ceive a grant under subsection (a) if— 

3 (1) such entity is— 

4 (A) a nonprofit or for-profit private entity; 

5 (B) an institution of higher education; 

6 (C) a National Laboratory; 

7 (D) a State or local government; or 

8 (E) a consortium of entities described in 

9 subparagraphs (A) through (D); and 

10 (2) such entity— 

11 (A) is headquartered in the United States 

12 and operates primarily within the United 

13 States; 

14 (B) is at least 51 percent owned and con15 trolled by 1 or more individuals who are citizens 

16 of the United States; and 

17 (C) deploys intellectual property and con18 tent that is owned by United States individuals. 

19 (c) GRANTS.— 

20 (1) USE OF FUNDS.—An entity that receives a 

21 grant under this section shall use funds received 

22 through the grant— 

23 (A) to carry out 1 or more demonstration 

24 projects for the advanced manufacturing, pro25 duction, or processing of alternative protein; 


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1 (B) to construct 1 or more new commer2 cial-scale facilities for the advanced manufac3 turing, production, or processing of alternative 

4 protein in the United States; and 

5 (C) to retool, retrofit, or expand 1 or more 

6 existing facilities located in the United States 

7 and determined qualified by the Secretary for 

8 advanced manufacturing, production, or proc9 essing of alternative proteins. 

10 (2) AMOUNT OF GRANTS.—The amount of a 

11 grant awarded under this section shall be not less 

12 than $10,000,000 for an eligible entity carrying out 

13 1 or more projects described in paragraph (1). 

14 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

15 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 

16 out the program $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 

17 through 2028. 

18 SEC. 7. ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN WORKFORCE DEVELOP19 MENT GRANT PROGRAM. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

21 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agri22 culture (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’) 

23 shall establish a competitive grant program to support al24 ternative protein workforce development. 


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1 (b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—An entity is eligible to re2 ceive a grant under this section if the entity is— 

3 (1) a governmental entity; 

4 (2) a public, private, or cooperative organiza5 tion organized on a for-profit or nonprofit basis; or 

6 (3) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of 

7 the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assist8 ance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) on a Federal or State 

9 reservation or any other federally recognized Indian 

10 Tribe. 

11 (c) USE OF FUNDS.—An entity to which a grant is 

12 made under this section may use the grant funds to— 

13 (1) train new and existing employees on alter14 native protein production and processing methods; 

15 (2) establish a center for training, technology, 

16 and trade that will provide training to employees 

17 who process alternative protein; 

18 (3) provide higher-education scholarships to 

19 students pursuing careers in alternative protein pro20 duction and processing, including at community col21 leges; 

22 (4) conduct regional, community, and local eco23 nomic development planning and coordination for 

24 the purpose of increasing alternative protein produc25 tion and processing; 


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1 (5) provide technical assistance to gain compli2 ance with Federal, State, or local regulations related 

3 to alternative protein production and processing; or 

4 (6) facilitate business and lending opportunities 

5 related to alternative protein production and proc6 essing, including identifying relevant information 

7 necessary for obtaining— 

8 (A) private capital investments; 

9 (B) Federal and State loan guarantees; 

10 (C) Federal and State direct grants; or 

11 (D) other financial support mechanisms 

12 from Federal and State entities. 

13 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

14 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

15 $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. 

16 SEC. 8. NATIONAL STRATEGY ON ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS. 

17 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL STRATEGY ON

18 ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS.—The Secretary of Agriculture 

19 (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall— 

20 (1) establish a national strategy on alternative 

21 proteins in coordination with the Secretaries con22 cerned that meets the requirements of subsection 

23 (c); and 

24 (2) not later than 1 year after the date of en25 actment of this Act, finalize such strategy. 


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1 (b) CONSIDERATIONS.—When developing the na2 tional strategy under subsection (a), the Secretaries con3 cerned shall consider— 

4 (1) the best available science related to prod5 ucts with the characteristics of animal meat using 

6 plants, animal cell cultivation, and fermentation; 

7 (2) the societal benefits of expanding research, 

8 development, and production of alternative proteins 

9 relating to— 

10 (A) personal and public health; 

11 (B) climate change and energy; 

12 (C) food and agricultural innovation; 

13 (D) resilient supply chains; and 

14 (E) cross-cutting scientific advancements; 

15 (3) global competition and the economic bene16 fits of alternative proteins relating to— 

17 (A) future economic productivity; 

18 (B) job creation in the biotechnology sec19 tor; and 

20 (C) existing public investments and strate21 gies of competitor countries; and 

22 (4) existing policies and programs offered by 

23 the Federal and State governments that— 


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1 (A) fund open-access research and develop2 ment at higher-learning institutions and govern3 ment agencies; 

4 (B) incentivize private sector research and 

5 development; 

6 (C) support new and existing alternative 

7 protein producers and manufacturers; 

8 (D) support farmers in the United States 

9 that produce outputs related to alternative pro10 teins; and 

11 (E) represent a barrier for effective— 

12 (i) open-access alternative protein re13 search and development; 

14 (ii) scale-up of alternative protein pro15 duction and manufacturing; and 

16 (iii) regulatory oversight. 

17 (c) CONTENTS.—The national strategy shall— 

18 (1) use a whole-of-government approach to en19 sure that the United States remains the global lead20 er of alternative protein research, development, pro21 duction, and workforce development for future gen22 erations; and 

23 (2) include— 


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1 (A) objectives to fulfill the purpose of the 

2 national strategy specified in paragraph (1), in3 cluding interagency coordination; 

4 (B) barriers to fulfill such purpose; 

5 (C) solutions to the barriers identified in 

6 subsection (b)(4)(E); and 

7 (D) a plan for the implementation of the 

8 national strategy. 

9 (d) SECRETARIES CONCERNED DEFINED.—In this 

10 section, the term ‘‘Secretaries concerned’’ means— 

11 (1) the Secretary of Defense; 

12 (2) the Secretary of Energy; 

13 (3) the Secretary of Commerce; 

14 (4) the Director of the National Science Foun15 dation; 

16 (5) the Director of the National Institutes of 

17 Health; 

18 (6) the Commissioner of Food and Drugs; 

19 (7) the Director of the Centers for Disease 

20 Control and Prevention; 

21 (8) the Administrator of the Environmental 

22 Protection Agency; and 

23 (9) the Director of the Office of Science and 

24 Technology Policy. 


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1 SEC. 9. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

2 Nothing in this Act, or an amendment made by this 

3 Act, shall be construed to support the production of in4 sects for food or animal feed. 

Æ 


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