Sponsors (2)
Want to know what is actually in this bill?
This is not an official government website.
Copyright © 2026 PLEJ LC. All rights reserved.
Creates a National Biochar Research Network to establish up to 20 research sites that will study biochar across different soils, climates, production methods, and uses. The network will evaluate carbon sequestration potential, crop and ecosystem effects, and production processes; provide region-specific guidance to land managers; and coordinate with conservation programs. The Secretary and multiple federal research agencies will run and partner in the network, and Congress is authorized to appropriate $50,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2025–2030 to carry out the program.
Title IV of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 is amended by inserting before section 404 a new Section 403 establishing the National Biochar Research Network.
The Secretary shall establish a national biochar research network of not more than 20 research sites or facilities described in subsection (c) to test the full range of biochar types across soil types, soil health and soil management conditions, application methods, and climatic and agronomic regions.
The research network shall assess the soil carbon sequestration potential of various biochars and management systems integrating biochar use.
The research network shall understand how to use biochar productively to contribute to climate mitigation, crop production, resilience to extreme weather events, ecosystem and soil health, natural resource conservation, and farm profitability.
The research network shall deliver science-based, region-specific, cost-effective, and practical information to farmers, ranchers, foresters, land reclamation managers, urban land managers, and other land and natural resource managers and businesses on sustainable biochar production and application.
Who is affected and how:
Farmers, growers, and agricultural producers: May receive region-specific guidance from research findings that could change recommendations for soil amendments, crop management, and potential adoption of biochar applications. Research results could affect decisions about purchasing or producing biochar and altering field practices.
Scientific research sector and institutions of higher education: Universities, federal labs, and research centers are likely hosts and partners for the up to 20 research sites and will receive funding opportunities to conduct experiments, monitoring, and analysis.
Land managers and conservation program participants: Federal, state, Tribal, and private land managers will gain research-based guidance to integrate biochar into conservation practices where appropriate; coordination is required between the network and existing conservation programs.
Biochar producers, biomass suppliers, and producers of related technologies: Will be affected by results that identify effective feedstocks and production methods; positive results could increase demand while negative or mixed findings could limit market growth.
Federal agencies and program administrators: The Secretary and partner federal research agencies will incur responsibilities to design, run, coordinate, and report on the network. Agencies that fund or run conservation programs may need to incorporate findings into program guidance or technical assistance.
Broader environmental and rural communities: Research could inform carbon sequestration estimates, climate mitigation strategies, and soil-health interventions with downstream environmental and economic effects in different regions.
Budgetary and operational impacts:
Uncertainties and limitations:
Expand sections to see detailed analysis
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced July 24, 2025 by Charles Ernest Grassley · Last progress July 24, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced in Senate