Bill > HR1645

This bill amends the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a national biochar research network. The network will consist of up to 20 research sites or facilities to test various biochar types, application methods, and regional conditions to assess the soil carbon sequestration potential of biochar and how it can contribute to climate mitigation, crop production, soil and ecosystem health, and farm profitability. The research will include cross-site experiments, techno-economic analysis of biochar production processes, and site-specific assessments of biochar use in agriculture and forestry. The network will be administered by the Agricultural Research Service in partnership with other federal agencies, and the bill authorizes $50 million in annual funding for the program from 2023 to 2028.