Bill > S4470

This bill, the Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act of 2026, aims to strengthen the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production within the Department of Agriculture by expanding its responsibilities and funding. It clarifies that the office will support "production" in emerging agricultural fields, specifically including "controlled-environment agriculture," which encompasses methods like hydroponics (growing plants in water without soil), aquaponics (using fish waste to fertilize plants grown in water), and aeroponics (growing plants in the air with mist). The bill also tasks the office with providing technical assistance to urban farmers on business matters like incorporation and zoning, promoting conservation techniques suited for urban environments, and helping producers navigate complex regulations. Furthermore, it authorizes competitive grants and cooperative agreements for urban and innovative agricultural projects, prioritizing those that improve access to fresh food in underserved areas, and extends the program's authorization through fiscal year 2030 with increased mandatory and authorized funding. The bill also amends the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative to explicitly include hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics, and other controlled-environment agriculture technologies in its research scope, and updates data collection requirements for agricultural censuses to include urban and innovative farming more comprehensively.