# The SARE Modernization Act: What It Does

This bill updates and expands a federal program that funds research and education about sustainable farming practices. The program, called SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education), helps farmers learn and test methods that are better for the environment, more resilient to climate challenges, and often more profitable in the long run.

Right now, the bill adds climate change as an official goal of the program. This means the research and education funded through SARE will specifically focus on helping farmers adapt to changing weather patterns and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their operations. The bill also expands who can receive funding—it now explicitly includes historically Black colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, and tribal organizations alongside traditional universities and agricultural extension services. This opens the door for more diverse voices and perspectives in agricultural research.

The bill provides $100 million per year for six years (2023-2028) to support these research and education projects. It also changes how the program operates by allowing universities and organizations to serve as regional hubs that manage projects in their areas for 10-year periods, rather than constantly changing leadership. Individual research grants through these hubs can last up to five years. Additionally, the bill phases out an older matching grant program by September 2023 and updates the types of farming practices that get studied—adding things like cover crops, integrated crop and livestock systems, and organic farming methods.

For farmers, this means more resources available to learn about sustainable practices that can help them weather extreme weather, reduce input costs, and potentially access new markets. For researchers and educators, it means more funding opportunities and clearer priorities around climate resilience. For taxpayers, it represents a significant investment in agricultural innovation focused on long-term sustainability rather than just short-term production.

SARE Modernization Act

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Modernization Act or the SARE Modernization Act This bill reauthorizes the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and expands the program to include research on agricultural production systems that increase resilience and climate mitigation in the context of a changing climate. The bill also expands SARE's regional councils to include representatives from 1890 land grant institutions, 1994 land grant institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native serving institutions, or Native Hawaiian serving institutions.