187 
‘‘(B) that would result in significant net 
decreases of greenhouse gas emissions, as deter-
mined by the Secretary using the carbon ac-
counting assessments developed under sub-
section (d).’’; 
(4) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and 
(f) as subsections (f), (g), and (h), respectively; 
(5) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(d) CARBON ACCOUNTING.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of the Agriculture Resil-
ience Act of 2025, the Secretary, in collaboration 
with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 
shall develop carbon accounting assessments for re-
newable energy systems and energy efficiency up-
grades (including technologies on the list described 
in subsection (c)(5)(A) and technologies described in 
subsection (h)(5)(A)) supported by assistance pro-
vided under this section. 
‘‘(2) METHODOLOGIES.—In developing the car-
bon accounting assessments under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, create accurate methodologies for assigning 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00187
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
188 
greenhouse gas emission values, including land use 
change. 
‘‘(3) 
PROGRAM
GUIDANCE.—The 
Secretary 
shall, to the maximum extent practicable, use the 
carbon accounting assessments developed under 
paragraph (1) as guides in carrying out this section. 
‘‘(e) REGIONAL DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out regional demonstration projects that incentivize 
agricultural producers to reduce their carbon foot-
print or overall carbon equivalent emissions to the 
maximum extent practicable through the use of en-
ergy efficiency improvements and renewable energy 
systems. 
‘‘(2) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall pub-
lish the results of the regional demonstration 
projects carried out under paragraph (1).’’; 
(6) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting 
‘‘AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE’’ after ‘‘OUT-
REACH’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘The Secretary shall’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Using funds made available under 
subsection (h)(4), the Secretary shall’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00188
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
189 
(C) by inserting ‘‘and technical assistance’’ 
after ‘‘outreach’’; and 
(D) by inserting ‘‘or provided, as applica-
ble,’’ after ‘‘conducted’’; 
(7) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by 
striking ‘‘subsection (f)’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘subsection (h)’’; and 
(8) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking subpara-
graphs (A) through (E) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2014 through 2025; 
‘‘(B) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
‘‘(C) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; 
‘‘(D) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; 
and 
‘‘(E) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2029 
and each fiscal year thereafter.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ‘‘be-
come available’’ and inserting ‘‘be used’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) 
ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.—Of 
the 
funds made available to carry out this section for a 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00189
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
190 
fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not more than 8 
percent for administrative expenses. 
‘‘(5) RESERVATION OF FUNDS.—Of the funds 
made available to carry out this section for a fiscal 
year, the Secretary may reserve— 
‘‘(A) not more than 15 percent to provide 
grants under subsection (c) to support the 
adoption of underutilized but proven commer-
cial technologies; and 
‘‘(B) not more than 5 percent to carry out 
subsection (e).’’. 
SEC. 602. AGRIVOLTAIC SYSTEMS. 
(a) DEFINITION OF AGRIVOLTAIC SYSTEM.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘agrivoltaic system’’ means a system 
under which solar energy production and agricultural pro-
duction, including crop or animal production or apiculture, 
occurs in an integrated manner on the same piece of land. 
(b) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct 
a study of agrivoltaic systems that shall include— 
(A) an assessment of the compatibility of 
different species of livestock with different 
agrivoltaic system designs, including— 
(i) the optimal height of and distance 
between solar panels for— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00190
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
191 
(I) livestock grazing; and 
(II) shade for livestock; 
(ii) manure management consider-
ations; 
(iii) fencing requirements; and 
(iv) other animal handling consider-
ations; 
(B) an assessment of animal breeding re-
search needs with respect to beneficial and com-
patible characteristics and behaviors of different 
species of grazing animals in agrivoltaic sys-
tems; 
(C) an assessment of the compatibility of 
different crop types with different agrivoltaic 
system designs, including— 
(i) the optimal height of and distance 
between solar panels for— 
(I) plant shading; and 
(II) farm equipment use; 
(ii) the impact on crop yield; and 
(iii) market opportunities to sell crops 
at a premium price; 
(D) an assessment of plant breeding re-
search needs with respect to beneficial and com-
patible characteristics of different crops, includ-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00191
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
192 
ing specialty and perennial crops, in agrivoltaic 
systems; 
(E) a risk-benefit analysis of agrivoltaic 
systems in different regions of the United 
States, including a comparison between the 
total greenhouse gas impact of agrivoltaic sys-
tems and solar energy systems that displace ag-
ricultural production; 
(F) an assessment of the types of agricul-
tural land best suited and worst suited for 
agrivoltaic systems; 
(G) an assessment of how to best develop 
agrivoltaic systems on a national and local scale 
consistent with— 
(i) maintaining or increasing agricul-
tural production; 
(ii) increasing agricultural resilience; 
(iii) retaining prime farmland; 
(iv) increasing economic opportunities 
in farming and rural communities; 
(v) reducing nonfarmer ownership of 
farmland; and 
(vi) enhancing biodiversity; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00192
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
193 
(H) an assessment of the unique risk man-
agement and crop insurance needs of agrivoltaic 
systems; 
(I) an assessment of the means by which 
Federal procurement of agricultural products 
could help build a market for agricultural prod-
ucts from farms with agrivoltaic systems; and 
(J) an assessment of the means by which 
Federal agricultural conservation programs, re-
newable energy programs, and investment tax 
credits can better support agrivoltaic systems. 
(2) 5-YEAR PLAN.—Based on the study under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall develop a 5-year 
plan for using the research, extension, outreach, con-
servation, and renewable energy activities of the De-
partment of Agriculture to better support agrivoltaic 
systems that do not displace agricultural production. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report 
containing the results of the study conducted under 
paragraph (1). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00193
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
194 
(c) AGRIVOLTAIC SYSTEM RESEARCH
AND DEM-
ONSTRATION.— 
(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
Secretary, 
acting 
through the Administrator of the Agricultural Re-
search Service and in coordination with the relevant 
research programs of the Department of Energy, 
shall establish and maintain a network of research 
and demonstration sites operated by the Agricultural 
Research Service to investigate and demonstrate 
agrivoltaic systems in multiple regions of the United 
States, including arid, semiarid, and wet agricultural 
zones, that— 
(A) increase agricultural productivity and 
profitability; 
(B) enhance agricultural resilience and the 
capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate 
change; 
(C) protect biodiversity; and 
(D) increase economic opportunities in 
farming and rural communities. 
(2) COORDINATION.—In establishing and main-
taining the network described in paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall collaborate with the Climate Hubs of 
the Department of Agriculture to share research 
findings and translate those findings into edu-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00194
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
195 
cational, outreach, and technical assistance materials 
for agricultural producers. 
(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and 
each fiscal year thereafter. 
SEC. 603. AGSTAR PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall maintain the 
program known as the ‘‘AgSTAR program’’ within the 
Department of Agriculture, under which the Secretary 
shall— 
(1) support the use of anaerobic digestion in 
the agricultural sector to reduce methane emissions 
from livestock waste; 
(2) conduct outreach, education, and training 
relating to anaerobic digestion of livestock waste; 
(3) provide technical and regulatory assistance 
relating to anaerobic digestion of livestock waste to 
stakeholders, including farmers and ranchers, with 
respect to issues including— 
(A) permitting; 
(B) codigestion of multiple organic wastes 
in one digester; and 
(C) interconnection to physically link a di-
gester to the electrical power grid; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00195
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
196 
(4) promote centralized, multifarm digesters 
that use livestock waste from more than 1 farm or 
ranch; 
(5) collect and report data relating to anaerobic 
digestion of livestock waste; and 
(6) maintain a database of on-farm anaerobic 
digester projects in the United States. 
(b) TRANSITION FROM EPA.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency shall take such 
steps as are necessary to provide for an orderly tran-
sition of the activities carried out under the 
AgSTAR program by the Environmental Protection 
Agency to be carried out by the Secretary, in accord-
ance with subsection (c). 
(2) DEADLINE.—The Administrator of the En-
vironmental Protection Agency shall finish carrying 
out paragraph (1) by not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, such that the Sec-
retary has sole jurisdiction of the AgSTAR program 
by that date. 
(c) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall carry out 
the AgSTAR program through the Chief of the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00196
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
197 
(1) in coordination with the Administrator of 
the Environmental Protection Agency and other 
Federal agencies as necessary; and 
(2) in partnership with the Climate Hubs, coop-
erative extension services, and agencies of the De-
partment of Agriculture. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out the AgSTAR program not more than $5,000,000 for 
each fiscal year. 
TITLE VII—FOOD LOSS AND 
WASTE 
Subtitle A—Food Date Labeling 
SEC. 701. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) ADMINISTERING SECRETARIES.—The term 
‘‘administering Secretaries’’ means— 
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re-
spect to any product that is— 
(i) under the jurisdiction of the Sec-
retary of Agriculture; and 
(ii)(I) a poultry product (as defined in 
section 4 of the Poultry Products Inspec-
tion Act (21 U.S.C. 453)); 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00197
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
198 
(II) a meat food product (as defined 
in section 1 of the Federal Meat Inspection 
Act (21 U.S.C. 601)); or 
(III) an egg product (as defined in 
section 4 of the Egg Products Inspection 
Act (21 U.S.C. 1033)); and 
(B) the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, with respect to any product that is— 
(i) under the jurisdiction of the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services; and 
(ii) a food (as defined in section 201 
of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 
Act (21 U.S.C. 321)). 
(2) DISCARD DATE PHRASE.—The term ‘‘dis-
card date phrase’’ means a phrase voluntarily print-
ed on food packaging that signifies the end of the 
estimated period of shelf life under any stated stor-
age conditions, after which the entity responsible for 
the food label advises the product not be consumed. 
(3) QUALITY DATE PHRASE.—The term ‘‘qual-
ity date phrase’’ means a phrase voluntarily printed 
on food packaging that is intended to communicate 
to consumers when— 
(A) the quality of the product may begin 
to deteriorate; but 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00198
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
199 
(B) the product remains apparently whole-
some food (as defined in subsection (b) of the 
Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1791(b))). 
SEC. 702. QUALITY DATE PHRASES AND DISCARD DATE 
PHRASES. 
(a) QUALITY DATE PHRASES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If a quality date is used on 
a food package, such quality date shall be proceeded 
by the uniform quality date label phrase under para-
graph (2). 
(2) UNIFORM
PHRASE.—The uniform quality 
date label phrase under this paragraph shall be 
‘‘BEST If Used By’’ or, if permissible under sub-
section (c)(3), the standard abbreviation of ‘‘BB’’, 
unless and until the administering Secretaries, act-
ing in coordination, specify through rulemaking an-
other uniform phrase to be used for purposes of 
complying with paragraph (1). 
(3) OPTION
OF
ENTITY
RESPONSIBLE
FOR 
FOOD LABEL.—The decisions of whether to include 
a quality date or quality date phrase on food pack-
aging, and which foods should be so labeled, shall be 
at the discretion of the entity responsible for the 
food label. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00199
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
200 
(b) DISCARD DATE PHRASES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If a discard date is used on 
food packaging, such discard date shall be proceeded 
by the uniform discard date label phrase under para-
graph (2). 
(2) UNIFORM
PHRASE.—The uniform discard 
date label phrase under this paragraph shall be 
‘‘USE By’’ or, if permissible under subsection 
(c)(3), the standard abbreviation of ‘‘UB’’, unless 
and until the administering Secretaries, acting in co-
ordination, specify through rulemaking another uni-
form phrase to be used for purposes of complying 
with paragraph (1). 
(3) OPTION
OF
ENTITY
RESPONSIBLE
FOR 
FOOD LABEL.—The decisions of whether to include 
a discard date or a discard date phrase on food 
packaging and which foods should be so labeled shall 
be at the discretion of the entity responsible for the 
food label. 
(c) QUALITY DATE PHRASE AND DISCARD DATE 
PHRASE LABELING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The quality date or discard 
date, as applicable, shall be— 
(A) in single, easy-to-read type style; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00200
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
201 
(B) located in a conspicuous and promi-
nent place on the food label or elsewhere on the 
package. 
(2) DATE FORMAT.—The format of each quality 
date and discard date that follows the quality date 
phrase and discard date phrase, as applicable, shall 
be stated in terms of month and year or, as appro-
priate, month, day, and year. 
(3) ABBREVIATIONS.—A standard abbreviation 
of ‘‘BB’’ and ‘‘UB’’ for the quality date phrase and 
discard date phrase, respectively, may be used only 
if the food packaging is too small to include the uni-
form phrase described in subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2), 
as applicable. 
(4) USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND ADDITIONAL LA-
BELS.—The labeling required under this subsection 
may utilize time-temperature indicator labels, QR 
codes, smart labels, or similar technology, in addi-
tion to any uniform quality date label phrase under 
subsection (a)(2) or uniform discard label phrase 
under subsection (b)(2). Nothing in this Act or an 
amendment made by this Act prohibits or restricts 
the use of such technology or labeling in lieu of any 
uniform quality date label phrase under subsection 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00201
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
202 
(a)(2) or uniform discard date label phrase under 
subsection (b)(2). 
(5) FREEZE BY.—The entity responsible for the 
food label may add ‘‘or Freeze By’’ following a uni-
form quality date label phrase or discard date label 
phrase. 
(d) EDUCATION.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the administering Secre-
taries, acting in coordination, shall provide consumer edu-
cation and outreach on the meaning of quality date 
phrases and discard date phrases on food packaging. 
(e) EFFECT; PREEMPTION.— 
(1) EFFECT
ON
SALE
OR
DONATION
OF 
FOODS.—Nothing in this Act or an amendment 
made by this Act prohibits any State or political 
subdivision of a State from establishing or con-
tinuing in effect any requirement that prohibits the 
sale or donation of foods based on passage of the 
discard date. 
(2) EFFECT ON INFANT FORMULA.—This title 
and the amendments made by this title shall not— 
(A) apply to infant formula (as defined in 
section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321)); or 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00202
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
203 
(B) affect the requirements relating to in-
fant formula established under section 412 of 
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 
U.S.C. 350a) or any other applicable provision 
of law. 
(3) PREEMPTION.—No State or political sub-
division of a State may establish or continue in ef-
fect any requirement that— 
(A) relates to the inclusion in food labeling 
of a quality date phrase or a discard date 
phrase that is different from, in addition to, or 
otherwise not identical with, the requirements 
of this title and the amendments made by this 
title; or 
(B) prohibits the sale or donation of foods 
based on passage of the quality date. 
(4) ENFORCEMENT.—The administering Secre-
taries, acting jointly and in consultation with the 
Federal Trade Commission, shall ensure that the 
uniform quality date label phrase and uniform dis-
card date label phrase are standardized across all 
food products. 
(5) 
SAVINGS
PROVISION.—Notwithstanding 
paragraph (4), nothing in this title, any amendment 
made by this title, or any standard or requirement 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:34 May 31, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00203
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3077.IH
H3077
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS