S. 2695 — Synthetic Biology Advancement Act of 2025

This section states congressional findings on the importance of synthetic biology to accelerate innovation in U.S. food and agriculture for national security, economic competitiveness, resiliency against terrorism and high-consequence events, and global food and fuel supply.

This section establishes the National Synthetic Biology Center under the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with other relevant federal agencies, to award competitive grants to eligible institutions—1862 Institutions, 1890 Institutions, and 1994 Institutions (i.e., land-grant universities)—for synthetic biology projects conducted in partnership with at least one other entity such as a National Laboratory, nonprofit organization, or state entity. The Center's purpose is to serve as a hub for U.S. researchers and industry partners to develop synthetic biology solutions that improve agricultural performance, minimize environmental impact, and enhance food system resiliency. Grant applications must describe how projects will promote innovative technologies, educational resources, sustainable food production, and real-world impact evaluation; funded research prioritizes cellular biology, genomes to phenomes, microbiomes, gene editing, digital agriculture, fermentation, and controlled environment agriculture, with uses including new protein sources, climate-resilient crops, livestock health innovations, and AI-driven biotech modeling. The Center must begin awarding grants not later than one year after enactment of this Act; coordinate with technology transfer offices for commercialization; maintain a public website for findings and collaboration; and submit biennial reports to congressional committees beginning two years after enactment, covering research findings, innovation progress, grant goals, and impact assessments.