Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production

Section 222 of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6923) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(3)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting production after emerging agricultural; (B) in subparagraph (D)— (i) by inserting controlled-environment agriculture, including before hydroponic; and (ii) by striking and at the end; (C) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (H); and (D) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following: (E) using the resources of the Department and of State, Tribal, and local agencies to provide technical assistance for business incorporation, navigating local zoning, and managing farm tract numbers for smaller, noncontiguous parcels to growers implementing activities described in this paragraph; (F) using the resources of the Department and of State, Tribal, and local agencies to promote conservation techniques unique to urban agriculture and innovative production, including techniques that address stormwater runoff and the impacted nature of urban land and the subsurface of the land; (G) assisting urban and innovative producers in navigating Federal, State, Tribal, and local policies and regulations that impact business or operations; and; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking 2023 and inserting 2031; and (B) in paragraph (7)(A), by striking the date that is 5 years after the date on which the members are appointed under paragraph (2)(B) and inserting September 30, 2031; (3) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows: (c) Grants and cooperative agreements (1) Grants (A) In general The Director shall award competitive grants to support the development of urban and innovative agricultural production and technical or financial assistance to producers. (B) Subgrants An eligible entity may use funds from a grant under subparagraph (A) to provide subgrants to urban and innovative producers to support the growth of the farm or farm business of the urban and innovative producers. (C) Eligible entities An entity eligible to receive a grant under subparagraph (A) is— (i) a nonprofit organization; (ii) a unit of local government; (iii) a Tribal organization; (iv) an agricultural cooperative or other agricultural business entity or a producer network or association; or (v) a school that serves any of grades kindergarten through grade 12. (2) Cooperative agreements (A) In general The Director may enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities to support the development of urban and innovative agricultural production. (B) Eligible entities An entity eligible to enter into cooperative agreements under subparagraph (A) is— (i) a nonprofit organization; (ii) a unit of local government; (iii) a Tribal organization; or (iv) an agricultural cooperative or other agricultural business entity or a producer network or association.; (4) in subsection (d)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking pilot; (B) by striking pilot each place it appears in paragraphs (1) and (2); (C) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program for not fewer than 5 years that and inserting The Secretary shall continue to implement a program that; (D) in paragraph (1)(C), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 2023 and inserting 2031; and (E) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting and construct at-scale composting, food-to-feed, or anaerobic digestion food waste-to-energy projects before the period at the end; and (ii) in subparagraph (B)— (I) in the subparagraph heading, strike by striking PILOT; (II) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting Tribal governments, after local governments,; (III) by redesignating clauses (vi) through (viii) as clauses (vii) through (ix), respectively; and (IV) by inserting after clause (v) the following: (vi) develop food waste-to-energy operations;; and (5) in subsection (e), by striking 2023 and inserting 2031.