This bill would add a new section to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, to create a program to fund 5 Regional Agriculture Cybersecurity Centers. Grants or cooperative agreements would be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible colleges or universities. The bill also requires a national network of the regional centers and designates one college or university to coordinate that network.
The bill lists duties for each Regional Agriculture Cybersecurity Center. Centers would: conduct research on cybersecurity systems for the agriculture sector; develop a security operations center to analyze threats and recommend mitigation; create cybersecurity technologies and tools like intrusion detection, intrusion prevention, role-based access controls, device authentication, and secure network designs; build live testbeds to test tools; run attack/defense exercises; provide education and training for agricultural stakeholders; use testbeds for training; and build regional research and development collaboration networks.
The bill defines an "eligible entity" as a college or university with programs in food and agriculture sciences and cybersecurity that coordinates regional industry partners, cooperatives, government authorities, and other stakeholders to strengthen security, privacy, and resilience and develop a skilled workforce.
If enacted, the bill would create 5 regional centers focused on cybersecurity for seed agriculture, horticulture, animal agriculture, and the agricultural supply chain. Colleges and universities that meet the eligibility description could apply for grants or cooperative agreements on a competitive basis. The centers would carry out research, develop tools, run testbeds and exercises, and offer training for agricultural stakeholders. No publicly available information on exact timelines, selection criteria beyond "competitive basis," or when work would begin.
The bill authorizes $25,000,000 to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the new section. No publicly available information on detailed budget breakdowns, total expected costs beyond these authorizations, or required matching funds.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.