The House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.) released the text of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, marking a significant step in U.S. agricultural policy. This five-year legislative proposal aims to modernize federal programs across all 12 titles of the farm bill, addressing issues ranging from forest management and wildfire prevention to rural broadband and commodity support. Crucially for the biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More industry, the bill seeks to establish new forestry programs specifically focused on biochar, reflecting a growing bipartisan interest in the material as a tool for both environmental stewardship and economic resilience.

The primary challenge addressed by this legislation is the need to bridge critical knowledge gaps that currently hinder the large-scale deployment of biochar in American agriculture. While biochar shows immense promise for improving soil health, sequestering carbon, and managing forest waste, many farmers and foresters remain hesitant to adopt it without more robust, site-specific data. Additionally, the industry has historically lacked the coordinated federal research framework and targeted financial incentives necessary to scale production and prove long-term efficacy across varying climates and soil types.

To resolve these barriers, the Republican-led proposal incorporates elements of the bipartisan Biochar Research Network Act, which directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a National Biochar Research Network. This network is designed to conduct comprehensive testing of biochar’s impact on crop productivity, nutrient retention, and carbon sequestration. Furthermore, the bill emphasizes precision agriculture and expands conservation programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), to potentially prioritize practices that increase carbon stocks, providing producers with the risk-management tools they need to innovate.

The anticipated outcomes of these actions include the creation of new market opportunities for farmers and foresters while significantly contributing to national climate mitigation efforts. By standardizing research and integrating biochar into established conservation cost-share programs, the legislation aims to lower input costs for producers and enhance the resilience of working lands. Ultimately, this policy shift positions biochar as a cornerstone of the American agricultural bioeconomy, fostering a more sustainable and vibrant sector for future generations.