Producing Real Opportunities for Technology and Entrepreneurs Investing in Nutrition Act

Key Points

• The bill creates at least three research centers focused on alternative protein innovation, with one required to be led by a historically Black land-grant university (an 1890 Institution). These centers would research biomanufacturing, bioprocessing, and converting plant biomass into edible proteins and fats at scale.
• A grant program offering at least $10 million per grant would help U.S.-owned companies build or upgrade food biomanufacturing facilities, with $50 million authorized annually from 2026 through 2030. Only entities headquartered in the U.S. and at least 51% owned by American citizens are eligible.
• A $25 million annual workforce development program would fund employee training, scholarships for students at community colleges and universities, and regional economic development planning in food biomanufacturing. Tribal nations are also explicitly eligible.
• The bill directs USDA to create a national strategy on protein security within one year, coordinating across nine agencies including the Departments of Defense, Energy, Commerce, NSF, NIH, FDA, CDC, EPA, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
• In total, the bill authorizes $100 million per year for five years (FY 2026–2030) across its three main programs: $15 million for research centers, $10 million for an Agricultural Research Service program, $50 million for biomanufacturing grants, and $25 million for workforce development.
• The bill explicitly prohibits the use of any of its funds for insect-based food or animal feed production, keeping the focus on plant-based and other biomanufactured proteins.

Votes

No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.