7 U.S.C. § 5925g — Urban, indoor, and other emerging agri-

Page 1810 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 5925g Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of this title. § 5925g. Urban, indoor, and other emerging agri- cultural production research, education, and extension initiative (a) Competitive research and extension grants authorized In consultation with the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory Committee established under section 6923(b) of this title, the Secretary may make competitive grants to support research, education, and extension ac- tivities for the purposes of facilitating the de- velopment of urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production, harvesting, transpor- tation, aggregation, packaging, distribution, and markets, including by— (1) assessing and developing strategies to re- mediate contaminated sites; (2) determining and developing the best pro- duction management and integrated pest man- agement practices; (3) identifying and promoting the horti- cultural, social, and economic factors that contribute to successful urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production; (4) analyzing the means by which new agri- cultural sites are determined, including an evaluation of soil quality, condition of a build- ing, or local community needs; (5) exploring new technologies that minimize energy, lighting systems, water, and other in- puts for increased food production; (6) examining building material efficiencies and structural upgrades for the purpose of op- timizing growth of agricultural products; (7) developing new crop varieties and agri- cultural products to connect to new markets; or (8) examining the impacts of crop exposure to urban elements on environmental quality and food safety. (b) Grant types and process Subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (4), paragraph (7), and paragraph (11)(B) of sub- section (b) of section 3157 of this title shall apply with respect to the making of grants under this section. (c) Priority The Secretary may give priority to grant pro- posals that involve— (1) the cooperation of multiple entities; or (2) States or regions with a high concentra- tion of or significant interest in urban farms, rooftop farms, and indoor production facili- ties. (d) Funding (1) Mandatory funding Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Cor- poration, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section— (A) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, to re- main available until expended; and (B) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, to remain available until expended. (2) Authorization of appropriations In addition to amounts made available under paragraph (1), there is authorized to be appro- priated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023. (Pub. L. 101–624, title XVI, § 1672E, as added Pub. L. 115–334, title VII, § 7212(a), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4812; amended Pub. L. 118–22, div. B, title I, § 102(d)(5)(B), Nov. 17, 2023, 137 Stat. 117.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2023—Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 118–22 inserted dash after ‘‘section’’, designated remainder of existing provisions as subpar. (A), and added subpar. (B). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2023 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 118–22 to be applied and ad- ministered as if enacted on Sept. 30, 2023, see section 102(g) of Pub. L. 118–22, set out in an Extension of Agri- cultural Programs note under section 9001 of this title. § 5926. Centers of excellence (a) Funding priorities The Secretary shall prioritize centers of excel- lence established for purposes of carrying out re- search, extension, and education activities re- lating to the food and agricultural sciences (as defined in section 3103 of this title) for the re- ceipt of funding for any competitive research or extension program administered by the Sec- retary. (b) Composition A center of excellence is composed of 1 or more of the eligible entities specified in sub- section (b)(7) of section 3157 of this title that provide financial or in-kind support to the cen- ter of excellence. (c) Criteria for centers of excellence (1) Required efforts The criteria for recognition as a center of excellence shall include efforts— (A) to ensure coordination and cost effec- tiveness by reducing unnecessarily duplica- tive efforts regarding research, teaching, and extension; (B) to leverage available resources by using public-private partnerships among ag- ricultural industry groups, institutions of higher education, and the Federal Govern- ment; (C) to implement teaching initiatives to increase awareness and effectively dissemi- nate solutions to target audiences through extension activities; and (D) to increase the economic returns to rural communities by identifying, attract- ing, and directing funds to high-priority ag- ricultural issues. (2) Additional efforts Where practicable, the criteria for recogni- tion as a center of excellence shall include ef- forts to improve teaching capacity and infra- structure at colleges and universities (includ- ing land-grant colleges and universities, co- operating forestry schools, NLGCA Institu- tions (as those terms are defined in section 3103 of this title), and schools of veterinary medicine).