Bill > S1907

This bill amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to provide a comprehensive definition for plant biostimulants, creating clear legal distinctions for these agricultural products. The bill defines a plant biostimulant as a substance or microorganism that supports a plant's natural processes independently of its nutrient content, with the goal of improving nutrient availability, stress tolerance, and overall plant growth and yield. It excludes certain substances like plant nutrients and soil amendments from being classified as plant regulators, and specifically carves out a new category for plant biostimulants that can be of biological origin or synthetically derived but structurally similar to biological substances. Additionally, the bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to update its regulations within 120 days of enactment to reflect these new definitions. The legislation also mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive two-year study on plant biostimulants, examining their potential benefits for soil health, including increasing organic matter, reducing atmospheric volatilization, promoting nutrient management, limiting nutrient runoff, restoring soil bioactivity, supporting carbon sequestration, and advancing agricultural sustainability. The study results will be reported to congressional agricultural committees and made publicly available.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1907/all-info