Shellfish research under Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

(a) In general Subsection (b)(2)(B)(i) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)(2)(B)(i)) is amended to read as follows: (i) (I) aquaculture; and (II) methods of increasing survival rate and adaptability of shellfish, including resistance to heat, disease, salinity, and acidification;. (b) Developing next generation technology for the seafood and aquaculture industries Title IX of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 9015. Developing next generation technology for the seafood and aquaculture industries (a) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall make competitive grants to eligible entities to develop next generation technology, which may include more efficient gear and equipment, to reduce pollution and fuel usage in the seafood and aquaculture industries. (b) Eligible entity defined In this section, the term eligible entity includes a regional aquaculture center established under section 1475 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3322), institution of higher education, federally-funded research and development center, and an organization organization described in section 501(c)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code. (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030..