NSF Plant Biology Act

H.R. 7949, the NSF Plant Biology Act, would amend the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 to expand federal support for plant and microbial biology research. If enacted, the bill would authorize $150 million per fiscal year from 2026 through 2031 specifically for grants supporting research with relevance to agriculture, food, and biotechnology sectors.

The legislation would allow the NSF to award competitive grants to academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private companies conducting plant biology research. The bill also modifies the definition of nonprofit organizations eligible for these grants to include those recognized as tax-exempt under federal tax law. This funding would supplement the approximately $70 million the NSF currently allocates annually to plant biology research.

The bill is currently under consideration by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and has not yet been voted on by the full chamber. If passed and signed into law, it could accelerate research into plant genetics, crop improvement, and biotechnology applications that may benefit agricultural productivity and food security.