Bill Overview
Title: SECURE Food Act
Description: This bill requires the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to report to Congress on the effects of increased production and consumption of alternative proteins (e.g., proteins produced from plants or fungi) on the long-term national security interests of the United States.
Sponsors: Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Target Audience
Population: Global population affected by food supply chain changes due to alternative proteins
Estimated Size: 331000000
- The bill involves alternative proteins which are connected to food production and consumption.
- Alternative proteins are part of global dietary shifts and can affect agriculture, environment, and health sectors.
- The global population is impacted by food supply and security issues, influencing nutrition and economic stability.
- Alternative protein market is a rapidly growing industry expected to have a wide-reaching impact on global food supply chains.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects those engaged in the production and consumption of alternative proteins including producers, consumers, and indirectly, the wider population through effects on food security and national security.
- Budget constraints limit the scope of direct impacts, however, long-term effects on economic and food security could indirectly benefit or pose challenges to the wider U.S. population.
- Given the limited budget in the first year, the primary impact in early stages will likely be on research and reports which could affect policy or industry regulations down the line if major insights are gleaned.
- It is essential to include perspectives from various demographics including younger individuals who are more likely to adopt alternative proteins, older demographics less likely to change dietary habits, and economically varied backgrounds who might experience different levels of impact due to changes in food pricing and availability.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think increasing alternative protein consumption is critical for both health and environmental reasons.
- This policy could help accelerate a necessary shift towards more sustainable food resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Farmer (Des Moines, IA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry that a major shift towards alternative proteins could damage traditional farming industries.
- It's important that policies support traditional farmers during this transition.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
Food Science Researcher (Austin, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could validate and guide research efforts in the alternative protein industry.
- Having government insights could lead to more funding and development in this field.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Financial Analyst (Boston, MA)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Understanding the financial implications of this shift is crucial.
- This policy seems more about long-term effects than immediate change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Climate Activist (New York, NY)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Alternative proteins play a huge role in reducing greenhouse gases.
- I believe this policy can support environmental goals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Restaurant Owner (Chicago, IL)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A shift in consumer preferences could impact restaurants like mine.
- Not sure government intervention is necessary.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 4 |
College Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Young people are likely to embrace alternative proteins.
- This kind of policy showcases government acknowledgment of important issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Nutritionist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A shift to alternative proteins should be balanced and mindful of nutritional needs.
- Interested to see how this policy might guide consumer habits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Software Developer (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see this affecting my personal choice much.
- Not sure how this translates to national security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Health Inspector (Miami, FL)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The rise of plant-based options is undeniable in our food inspections.
- Government reports could lead to better standardized guidelines.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The policy involves significant inter-agency cooperation, particularly in intelligence, agriculture, and food sectors.
- Assessment of national security impacts due to dietary shifts can involve a broad range of variables, increasing complexity and potential cost.
- Potential for future policies and regulations based on report findings could alter the economic landscape.