North Indy News

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), both members of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), have introduced a bipartisan package of bills aimed at strengthening food security and agriculture supply chains in the United States.

Senator Young has put forward the Synthetic Biology Advancement Act, which proposes the creation of a National Synthetic Biology Center to promote innovation in food and agriculture. He also introduced the National Biotechnology Safety Act, which would give the National Science Foundation authority to research biotechnology organism safety and establish clearer approval processes. Additionally, Young led the Biobased Market Expansion Act, intended to reauthorize and enhance the USDA BioPreferred Program to support domestic biomanufacturing.

Senator Padilla introduced the Agriculture and National Security Act, designed to identify and address threats to food and agriculture by creating an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for National Security within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). He also presented the Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act, which would set up a USDA Office of Biotechnology Policy to coordinate department policies on biotechnology and prevent overlapping federal efforts. The Foundation for Enabling Biotechnology Innovation Act, also led by Padilla, seeks to speed up U.S. biotechnology commercialization through an independent foundation that would ease regulatory burdens, foster public-private partnerships, expand market access and international cooperation, and assist federal agencies.

The senators plan to include these six bills in the upcoming Farm Bill. All have received endorsement from NSCEB.

“Biotechnology offers tremendous opportunities to strengthen America’s food security and spur innovation in agriculture, both of which are critical to our national security,” said Senator Young. “Our bills will help the United States maintain global leadership in emerging biotechnology and ensure the benefits reach more Americans.”

“The security of our food systems is essential to our national security. We must prioritize American agricultural and emerging biotech innovation to strengthen our food supply chain as a critical infrastructure sector, while protecting our national security interests against rising global competition,” said Senator Padilla. “Streamlining research and regulations on emerging biotechnology products is necessary to keep the United States at the forefront of safe, market-ready biotech development. Our bipartisan package will facilitate close interagency coordination to secure our agricultural sector and spur innovation.”

NSCEB Vice Chair Michelle Rozo added: “Farmers are the backbone of America, and we have a responsibility to make sure that future is secure. The NSCEB found that farming is already being shaped by innovations in biotechnology but more needs to be done so these advances further support food security and national security. The Commission is grateful to Commissioners Young and Padilla for their leadership to ensure the American people benefit from a strong, safe, and abundant agriculture industry for generations to come.”

The NSCEB was created under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 with a mandate to examine how emerging biotechnology intersects with national security concerns. Earlier this year, it delivered its comprehensive report and action plan to Congress.