Section 7603. Foundation for food and agriculture research
Section 7601 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 5939) is amended—
(1) in subsection (d)(1)—
(A) in subparagraph (B)—
(i) in clause (ii), by striking “conflicts;” and inserting “conflicts, specifically at the Department of Agriculture; and”; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following new clause:
(iii) document the consultation process and include a summary of the results in the annual report required in subsection (f)(3)(B); and
(B) in subparagraph (D), by inserting “and agriculture stakeholders” after “community”;
(2) in subsection (e)—
(A) in paragraph (2)(C)(ii)(I), by inserting “agriculture or” before “agricultural research”; and
(B) in paragraph (4)(A)—
(i) in clause (iii), by striking “and” at the end;
(ii) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v); and
(iii) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
(iv) actively solicit and accept funds, gifts, grants, devises, or bequests of real or personal property made to the Foundation, including from private entities; and;
(3) in subsection (f)—
(A) in paragraph (2)(A)(iii), by striking “any”; and
(B) in paragraph (3)(B)—
(i) in clause (i)(I)—
(I) in the matter preceding item (aa), by inserting “and post online” before “a report”;
(II) in item (aa), by striking “accomplishments; and” and inserting “accomplishments and how those activities align to the challenges identified in the strategic plan under clause (iv);”;
(III) in item (bb), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
(IV) by adding at the end the following:
(cc) a description of available agricultural research programs and priorities for the upcoming fiscal year; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
(iii) Stakeholder Notice
The Foundation shall publish an annual notice with a description of agricultural research priorities under this section for the upcoming fiscal year, including—
(I) a schedule for funding competitions;
(II) a discussion of how applications for funding will be evaluated; and
(III) how the Foundation will communicate information about funded awards to the public to ensure that grantees and partners understand the objectives of the Foundation.
(iv) Strategic Plan
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, the Foundation shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a strategic plan describing a path for the Foundation to become self-sustaining, including—
(I) a forecast of major agricultural challenge opportunities identified by the scientific advisory councils of the Foundation and approved by the Board, including short- and long-term objectives;
(II) an overview of the efforts that the Foundation will take to be transparent in each of the processes of the Foundation, including—
(aa) processes relating to grant awards, including the selection, review, and notification processes;
(bb) communication of past, current, and future research priorities; and
(cc) plans to solicit and respond to public input on the opportunities identified in the strategic plan;
(III) a description of financial goals and benchmarks for the next 10 years, including a detailed plan for—
(aa) raising funds in amounts greater than the amounts required under subsection (g)(1)(B);
(bb) soliciting additional resources pursuant to subsections (e)(4)(A)(iv) and (f)(2)(A)(iii); and
(cc) managing and leveraging such resources pursuant to subsection (f)(2)(A)(vii); and
(IV) other related issues, as determined by the Board.; and
(4) in subsection (g)(1)—
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking “Mandatory funding” and inserting “Funding”;
(B) in subparagraph (A)—
(i) by striking “On the date” and inserting the following:
(i) Establishment funding
On the date; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
(ii) Enhanced funding
On the date on which the strategic plan described in subsection (f)(3)(B)(iv) is submitted, of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall transfer to the Foundation to carry out this section $185,000,000, to remain available until expended; and
(C) in subparagraph (B)—
(i) by striking “The Foundation” and inserting the following:
(i) In general
The Foundation;
(ii) in clause (i) (as so designated)—
(I) by striking “purposes” and inserting “purposes, duties, and powers”; and
(II) by striking “non-Federal matching funds for each expenditure” and inserting “matching funds from a non-Federal source, including an agricultural commodity promotion, research, and information program”; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
(ii) Effect
Nothing in this section requires the Foundation to require a matching contribution from an individual grantee as a condition of receiving a grant under this section.
Pub. L. 115-334, title VII, Sec. 7603, Dec. 12, 2018, 132 Stat. 4826.
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and not as part of subtitle H of title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 which comprises this subchapter.