Use of innovative and emerging food production technologies for components of military rations

(a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that requirements for the future battlefield include dealing with contested logistics that— (1) cannot be achieved with the size and weight of currently fielded rations; and (2) could be mitigated by incorporating within rations, components produced with emerging and innovative technologies developed in partnership with the Department of Defense Combat Feeding Research and Engineering Program. (b) Activities required Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary of Defense shall carry out the following activities with respect to military rations: (1) The Secretary shall seek to enter into one or more contracts for the procurement of rations produced using emerging food technologies such as sonic agglomeration and vacuum microwave drying to reduce size and weight. (2) The Secretary shall maximize the use of the technologies described in paragraph (1) for individual combat ration components to ensure successful technology transition from small business innovation research and research, development, test, and evaluation. (3) As operational needs allow, the Secretary shall prioritize clean-label, nutrient-dense components that do not contain unhealthy fats or artificial preservatives. (c) Report to Congress Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes the following: (1) A description of any emerging and innovative food processing technologies that have been developed or are being developed using research, development, test, and evaluation investments of the Department of Defense. (2) The total amount of Department of Defense investments in the development of sonic agglomeration and vacuum microwave drying technology for military rations, disaggregated by research, development, test, and evaluation budget activity, including small business innovation research. (3) The results of warfighter field testing of potential ration components produced with the technologies described in paragraph (2). (4) An explanation of quantitative and qualitative logistical and nutritional benefits of ration components produced using such technologies. (5) A description of any procurement processes for military rations that may be barriers to the acquisition of components produced with new and emerging food processing technologies. (6) A description of any activities carried out to advance the transition and adoption of such technologies to better meet the challenges of military operations in a contested logistics environment.