Sponsors (14)
The bill directs modest federal funding and technical support to research and guide biochar use—potentially boosting farm productivity and informing climate policy—but imposes upfront taxpayer costs and carries risks of limited payoff or environmental harms if contaminants or ineffectiveness emerge.
Farmers, foresters, and land managers across U.S. regions receive science-based, region-specific guidance on using biochar, helping them potentially increase crop productivity and resilience.
The bill funds applied research ($50M/year FY2026–FY2030) to improve biochar production efficiency, test and screen for contaminants, and develop safe, cost-effective testing methods, accelerating technological improvements and commercialization.
Generates life-cycle analyses and data on soil carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas impacts, informing climate mitigation strategies and future policymaking.
Taxpayers face an increase in federal spending of about $50 million per year for five years to fund the research program.
If some biochars contain contaminants or are promoted without adequate safeguards, farmers and surrounding communities could experience unintended soil or water harms.
If research finds limited benefits or identifies harms, early public investment could yield a low return, leaving taxpayers with little long-term payoff.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes USDA to create a National Biochar Research Network (up to 20 sites) to study biochar impacts and provide region-specific guidance, with $50M/year for FY2026–FY2030.
Creates a National Biochar Research Network of up to 20 research sites to study how different biochars are made and used, and how they affect soil carbon storage, greenhouse gas emissions, crop yields, soil and ecosystem health, and costs. The network will run experiments, pilot tests, life‑cycle greenhouse gas and economic analyses, develop testing methods, and produce region-specific, practical guidance for farmers, foresters, and land managers. Assigns the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Administrator to run the network in partnership with other federal research agencies and requires coordination with NRCS for conservation practice standards and program support. The bill authorizes $50 million per year for FY2026 through FY2030 to carry out the program.
Introduced July 25, 2025 by Mariannette Miller-Meeks · Last progress July 25, 2025