Senator Adam Schiff has introduced the PROTEIN Act in the US Senate, a bill aimed at directing federal funding towards research, manufacturing, and workforce development in the protein innovation sector. With global demand for meat projected to double by 2050, the bill seeks to address the sustainability challenges facing current food systems, including limited infrastructure and workforce gaps. The proposed legislation includes provisions for establishing research centers, funding USDA-led research programs, and offering grants for biomanufacturing and bioworkforce development.

The PROTEIN Act would authorize annual appropriations through fiscal year 2030, with a focus on scaling up domestic production capabilities for alternative protein sources. A coordinated national strategy on protein security would involve multiple federal agencies and aim to reduce reliance on foreign agricultural inputs and strengthen the US bioeconomy. Industry groups and academic institutions have voiced support for the bill, noting the potential for positioning America as a global leader in food biomanufacturing and reducing risks for companies seeking to scale production in the protein sector. If enacted, the bill would amend existing frameworks for funding and regulation in the growing protein innovation sector.