Bill Overview
Title: SARE Modernization Act
Description: This bill reauthorizes the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and expands the program to include research on agricultural production systems that increase resilience and climate mitigation in the context of a changing climate. The bill also expands SARE's regional councils to include representatives from 1890 land grant institutions, 1994 land grant institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native serving institutions, or Native Hawaiian serving institutions.
Sponsors: Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]
Target Audience
Population: People involved in or benefiting from sustainable agriculture research and education
Estimated Size: 3000000
- The bill seeks to reauthorize and expand the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which means it will primarily impact individuals involved in agriculture, specifically those focused on sustainable agriculture practices.
- By including research on agricultural production systems that enhance resilience and climate mitigation, the bill will also impact researchers and scientists working towards climate-related agricultural solutions.
- The expansion of the SARE regional councils to include representatives from diverse institutions such as land grant universities and indigenous-serving institutions suggests that educators, administrators, and students from these institutions will be involved.
- The indirect beneficiaries or impacted group will include consumers as sustainable farming methods could enhance food security and environmental health.
Reasoning
- The bill will most directly impact those involved in agriculture and academic research on sustainable practices, which forms a significant but niche portion of the U.S. population.
- A large part of the budget will likely be allocated towards research and educational improvements, which may show gradual impacts on quality of education and research output over time.
- Given the policy targets diverse institutions with a history of underfunding, impact will initially be higher there, potentially even showing immediate improvements in terms of resources and opportunities.
- The policy's long-term goal is to benefit agricultural production and climate resilience, so the anticipated impact on broader societal wellbeing may not be immediate but is likely to increase over time.
Simulated Interviews
Corn Farmer (Iowa)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's great that there’s more focus on sustainable practices.
- If they can help us deal better with climate changes, it’ll definitely be a huge support.
- Looking forward to seeing the new research come out of this.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Agricultural Scientist (California)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This would provide much-needed funding and focus for our research.
- It’s a relief to have institutional backing in these difficult environmental times with this Act.
- I anticipate more collaboration opportunities across different states.
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 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Student (New Mexico)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to better resources and opportunities to learn from leading experts is exciting.
- This Act could open doors for new research projects in sustainable agriculture.
- It could mean more practical, hands-on opportunities for students like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Rancher (Montana)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Support for sustainable practices is critical for our future.
- I’ve been trying to implement changes on my own with limited success.
- Research showing practical, cost-effective methods would be very beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Agri-business Sales Manager (Illinois)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The expanded research could generate interest in new sustainable products.
- I hope this will translate into business growth opportunities.
- Our company is always looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Food Security Researcher (New York)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is aligned with the kind of research we need more of.
- Including diverse institutions means a wider range of projects and perspectives.
- I look forward to collaborating with colleagues across different areas.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Administrator at a 1994 Land Grant Institution (Nebraska)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This Act could facilitate more resources for student projects.
- Funding is always tight, so any additional support is welcome.
- While the impact might be small initially, it could grow over time.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Small-scale Organic Farmer (Georgia)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's encouraging to see more support for sustainable agricultural systems.
- Hoping the research will offer new methods that are economically feasible for small farmers like me.
- Interested in any grants or support for transitions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Economist specializing in Agricultural Policy (Texas)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The broadened scope and inclusivity might result in better, more innovative agricultural policies.
- My work could benefit from the diverse perspectives brought into the councils.
- Overall, could drive policy shifts towards more sustainable practices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Environmental NGO Analyst (Colorado)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The inclusion of climate mitigation research in agriculture is vital.
- This policy could help us tailor our approaches to local communities better.
- Sceptical about how the implementation will pan out across different states.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $25500000 (Low: $20500000, High: $30500000)
Year 3: $26000000 (Low: $21000000, High: $31000000)
Year 5: $27000000 (Low: $22000000, High: $32000000)
Year 10: $29000000 (Low: $24000000, High: $34000000)
Year 100: $40000000 (Low: $34000000, High: $46000000)
Key Considerations
- The ability to achieve climate resilience and mitigation in agriculture depends heavily on the quality and relevance of research outcomes.
- Support from a broad range of agricultural stakeholders, including minority-serving institutions, will be critical for the success of this initiative.
- External factors, such as climate change progression and market conditions, can influence the actual costs and benefits realized.