Sponsors (2)
The bill directs targeted federal research and program support to test and promote biochar—potentially boosting farm productivity, soil resilience, rural business opportunities, and carbon storage—while increasing federal spending and risking public investment in technologies that may be ineffective or shift conservation priorities and local market dynamics.
Researchers and land managers receive a sustained federal investment ($50M/year, FY2025–2030) to expand agricultural and forestry research capacity and technology development related to biochar.
Farmers, foresters, ranchers, and other land managers will get region-specific, science-based guidance on biochar use that could increase crop yields and farm profitability.
The bill funds research to quantify biochar soil carbon sequestration and lifecycle greenhouse gas impacts, supporting potential climate mitigation strategies.
If biochar proves ineffective or harmful, federal funds could back technologies that fail to deliver the promised greenhouse gas reductions or farm benefits, wasting public money and possibly causing environmental harm.
The $50M/year appropriation increases federal spending and may add to the deficit or require budget offsets (cuts or new revenues), affecting taxpayers and other program funding.
Expanding NRCS practice standards and program support for biochar could shift conservation funding and priorities away from other established practices, creating opportunity costs for landowners and local governments.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced July 24, 2025 by Charles Ernest Grassley · Last progress July 24, 2025
Creates a federal National Biochar Research Network that will fund and coordinate up to 20 research sites to test different kinds of biochar across soils, climates, and land uses to measure carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas effects, productivity, and economics. The network will produce practical, region-specific guidance for farmers, foresters, ranchers, land managers, and related businesses and may inform new conservation practice standards. The bill assigns administration to USDA research agencies in partnership with other federal science agencies, authorizes $50 million per year to run the program for FY2025–FY2030, and directs coordination with conservation programs and practice standards development through NRCS.