Sponsors (2)
The bill directs multi-agency federal funding to generate science, guidance, and testing for biochar—potentially improving soil health, bioenergy, and carbon accounting—while committing taxpayers to multi-year spending and risking slow rollout or wasted investment if benefits prove limited.
Federal research agencies receive $50 million per year (FY2025–2030) to coordinate biochar science, strengthening federal research capacity and university and state science partnerships.
Policymakers and the research community gain improved data and models to quantify soil carbon sequestration and life-cycle GHG impacts, informing climate mitigation and carbon accounting.
Farmers, foresters, and land managers receive region-specific, science-based guidance on biochar use, which could improve soil health and crop productivity where effective.
Taxpayers are committed to $50 million annually (FY2025–2030), increasing federal spending and budgetary obligations.
If research finds limited carbon or agronomic benefits, land managers and private firms risk wasted investments in biochar infrastructure or subsidies.
Research, pilots, and coordinated study timelines could delay practical, large-scale deployment of biochar benefits for farmers seeking immediate solutions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a USDA National Biochar Research Network with up to 20 sites and authorizes $50M/year for FY2025–2030 to study biochar impacts and produce region-specific guidance.
Official title: Amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a national biochar research network, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 24, 2025 by Charles Ernest Grassley · Last progress July 24, 2025
Creates a federally coordinated National Biochar Research Network run by USDA to study biochar effects across soils, climates, feedstocks, production systems, and uses, and to deliver region-specific guidance to land managers. The network will include up to 20 research sites, involve federal and state research partners, require coordination with NRCS for practice standards, and is funded at $50 million per year for fiscal years 2025–2030.