S. 2695 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Sep 3, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryDepartment of Agriculture Creates Synthetic Biology Hub
The bill directs the Department of Agriculture to set up a new National Synthetic Biology Center to help researchers and industry partners work together on solutions using synthetic biology—the science of designing organisms for specific purposes. The center would give grants to land-grant universities (schools that focus on practical education in agriculture and engineering) to run projects that use tools like gene editing and digital farming to boost farm productivity while protecting the environment and strengthening the food supply. The center would also run a website to share findings and connect researchers and innovators.
How it affects you
If you work in agriculture or food production, this center could eventually lead to new farming techniques and crops developed near you through land-grant universities in your state. For most other people, the direct effects aren't immediate, though the research might eventually influence the food system and farming practices across the country.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Sep 3, 2025)
Synthetic Biology Advancement Act of 2025
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to establish the National Synthetic Biology Center. The purpose of the center is to provide a hub for researchers and U.S. industry partners to discover and develop science-based solutions based on synthetic biology to improve agricultural performance while (1) minimizing environmental impact, and (2) improving the overall resiliency of the food system.
The center must provide grants to certain land-grant universities to carry out projects in partnership with nonprofit organizations, state entities, national laboratories, or other land-grant universities. In awarding grants, the center must prioritize certain areas of research, including microbiomes or microbes, gene editing, digital agriculture, and controlled environment agriculture.
In addition, the center must establish and maintain a website with a user-friendly portal in order to disseminate synthetic biology findings and connect researchers and innovators.
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. 2695
A BILL
Synthetic Biology Advancement Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) · Introduced Sep 3, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Sep 3, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.”