Synthetic Biology Advancement Act of 2025
Latest action (3 Sep 2025): Introduced
What this bill does
S. 2695, the Synthetic Biology Advancement Act of 2025, would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a National Synthetic Biology Center to award competitive grants supporting research at the intersection of biotechnology and agriculture. Priority research areas include cellular biology, genomics, microbiomes, gene editing, digital agriculture, fermentation, and controlled environment agriculture, with funds usable for projects such as new protein sources, climate-resilient crops, animal health innovations, and advanced manufacturing using microorganisms.
The bill affects land-grant universities and related institutions—specifically 1862, 1890, and 1994 Institutions—which would be eligible to apply for grants, provided they partner with at least one other entity such as a nonprofit, state agency, National Laboratory, or another eligible institution. The Center would also coordinate with technology transfer offices to help move research toward commercialization and would maintain a public website to share findings and connect researchers. Grants must begin within one year of enactment, and the Center would report to Congress every two years on research progress and outcomes. The bill authorizes $5 million annually (2026–2030) for grants and $1 million annually for the Center's operations.
The bill was introduced on September 3, 2025, by Senator Todd Young with Senator Padilla as a cosponsor, and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. It has not yet been considered by the committee or brought to a floor vote, and would need to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed by the President before becoming law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Synthetic Biology Advancement Act of 2025
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to establish the National Synthetic Biology Center. The purpose of the center is to provide a hub for researchers and U.S. industry partners to discover and develop science-based solutions based on synthetic biology to improve agricultural performance while (1) minimizing environmental impact, and (2) improving the overall resiliency of the food system.
The center must provide grants to certain land-grant universities to carry out projects in partnership with nonprofit organizations, state entities, national laboratories, or other land-grant universities. In awarding grants, the center must prioritize certain areas of research, including microbiomes or microbes, gene editing, digital agriculture, and controlled environment agriculture.
In addition, the center must establish and maintain a website with a user-friendly portal in order to disseminate synthetic biology findings and connect researchers and innovators.
Common questions
- What does S. 2695 do?
- S. 2695, the Synthetic Biology Advancement Act of 2025, would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a National Synthetic Biology Center to award competitive grants supporting research at the intersection of biotechnology and agriculture. Priority research areas include cellular biology, genomics, microbiomes, gene editing, digital agriculture, fermentation, and controlled environment agriculture, with funds usable for projects such as new protein sources, climate-resilient crops, animal health innovations, and advanced manufacturing using microorganisms. The bill affects land-grant universities and related institutions—specifically 1862, 1890, and 1994 Institutions—which would be eligible to apply for grants, provided they partner with at least one other entity such as a nonprofit, state agency, National Laboratory, or another eligible institution. The Center would also coordinate with technology transfer offices to help move research toward commercialization and would maintain a public website to share findings and connect researchers. Grants must begin within one year of enactment, and the Center would report to Congress every two years on research progress and outcomes. The bill authorizes $5 million annually (2026–2030) for grants and $1 million annually for the Center's operations. The bill was introduced on September 3, 2025, by Senator Todd Young with Senator Padilla as a cosponsor, and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. It has not yet been considered by the committee or brought to a floor vote, and would need to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed by the President before becoming law.
- Has S. 2695 become law?
- Not yet. As of 3 Sep 2025, S. 2695 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 2695?
- S. 2695 was sponsored by Sen. Todd Young [R-IN] (Republican-IN), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 2695?
- Introduced (3 Sep 2025).
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