This bill amends existing law to significantly boost publicly funded research into plant cultivars and animal breeds. It defines "public cultivars" and "public animal breeds" as those developed through conventional breeding, with intellectual property rights limited to patents or variety protection, specifically excluding utility patents. A key provision mandates a $75,000,000 annual set-aside from various competitive research grants specifically for the development of these public cultivars and animal breeds. These grants prioritize projects that lead to the release of public cultivars and animal breeds adapted for regional conditions, environmental resilience, and improved nutritional outcomes, including those important to Indigenous populations. The bill also requires that any exclusive rights granted for these publicly funded cultivars or breeds necessitate substantial domestic production in the United States. Furthermore, it mandates annual reporting to Congress on the progress and commercialization of these breeding efforts. To enhance coordination, the bill establishes a Public Cultivar and Animal Breed Research Activities Coordinator within the Department of Agriculture. This coordinator will oversee research, track federal funding, develop a strategic plan for investments, and foster collaboration among various stakeholders, including land-grant institutions and private breeders. Additionally, the legislation requires the implementation of an existing National Strategic Germplasm and Cultivar Collection Assessment and Utilization Plan for plants and the development of a new, similar plan for animal germplasm , addressing conservation backlogs and prioritizing traits relevant to diverse agricultural systems.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Agriculture and Food
Seeds and Breeds for the Future Act
USA119th CongressS-5126| Senate
| Updated: 7/23/2026
This bill amends existing law to significantly boost publicly funded research into plant cultivars and animal breeds. It defines "public cultivars" and "public animal breeds" as those developed through conventional breeding, with intellectual property rights limited to patents or variety protection, specifically excluding utility patents. A key provision mandates a $75,000,000 annual set-aside from various competitive research grants specifically for the development of these public cultivars and animal breeds. These grants prioritize projects that lead to the release of public cultivars and animal breeds adapted for regional conditions, environmental resilience, and improved nutritional outcomes, including those important to Indigenous populations. The bill also requires that any exclusive rights granted for these publicly funded cultivars or breeds necessitate substantial domestic production in the United States. Furthermore, it mandates annual reporting to Congress on the progress and commercialization of these breeding efforts. To enhance coordination, the bill establishes a Public Cultivar and Animal Breed Research Activities Coordinator within the Department of Agriculture. This coordinator will oversee research, track federal funding, develop a strategic plan for investments, and foster collaboration among various stakeholders, including land-grant institutions and private breeders. Additionally, the legislation requires the implementation of an existing National Strategic Germplasm and Cultivar Collection Assessment and Utilization Plan for plants and the development of a new, similar plan for animal germplasm , addressing conservation backlogs and prioritizing traits relevant to diverse agricultural systems.