S. 1385 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Apr 9, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExpands funding for organic farming research
This bill asks the USDA to create a new initiative that regularly reviews and expands its organic farming research efforts. The USDA would also increase funding for organic agriculture research through 2030 and add new research areas, like studying how organic farming can address climate change and preserve traditional farming practices. The bill also funds programs that help farmers transition from conventional to organic production.
How it affects you
If you're an organic farmer or rancher, you'd benefit from more research and resources to improve organic practices and transition to organic production. Conventional farmers might also gain from research on sustainable practices. Most consumers would see this as affecting the future availability and development of organic agricultural products, though the immediate impact on everyday people isn't directly spelled out in the summary.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Apr 9, 2025)
Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2025
This bill expands Department of Agriculture (USDA) support for organic agricultural research.
USDA must establish the Coordinating and Expanding Organic Research Initiative for USDA resources dedicated to organic agricultural research. Every five years, the initiative must survey USDA's organic agricultural research and produce a report, including findings and recommendations on expanding research and increasing project coordination and effectiveness. USDA must take the findings and recommendations into consideration when preparing USDA's annual budget recommendations.
In carrying out its work, the initiative must consult with the National Organic Standards Board and land-grant colleges and universities. In preparing each report, the initiative must consult organic and conventional farmers, ranchers, handlers and the organizations that serve them.
The bill also reauthorizes the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative through FY2030 and increases funding for the initiative. Further, eligible grant projects are expanded to include (1) facilitating the identification and adoption of traditional ecological knowledge and cultural practices, and (2) identifying how organic agriculture can adapt to and mitigate climate change.
The bill also reauthorizes, and extends funding for, USDA's organic production and market data initiatives through FY2030. The Economic Research Service must conduct an economic impact analysis of organic agricultural management conducted in accordance with the National Organic Program.
USDA may make competitive grants to support research, education, and extension activities relating to the transition from nonorganic production systems into organic agricultural production systems.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 1385
A BILL
Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) · Introduced Apr 9, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 9, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.”