Research for Healthy Soils Act

This bill makes research on microplastics and “forever chemicals” (PFAS) on farmland a high priority for federal farm research grants. It allows grants to survey how much of these substances are in biosolids and compost spread on fields, study how they affect soil, crops, and livestock, and develop ways to filter, break down, or clean them up in water, soil, and composting systems. It also supports research on how these substances move and how long they stay in farm environments, including the effects of wastewater treatment steps. The bill also extends existing high-priority research and extension programs under current farm law.

Key points

• Who is affected: Farmers, rural communities, wastewater and compost facilities, and consumers who rely on safe food and water.
• What changes: Federal research and extension grants can focus on measuring microplastics and PFAS on farms, testing impacts on crops and soil, improving filtering/biodegrading methods, understanding movement through the environment, and finding ways to clean contaminated soil and water.
• When: Takes effect upon enactment; it updates and reauthorizes high-priority research efforts already in farm law.