On 28th July 2023, US Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., ranking member on the House Rules Committee and a member of the House Agriculture Committee, introduced the “Peas, Legumes, and Nuts Today Act” (PLANT Act), a bill aimed to support the production of plant-based food. In particular, the PLANT Act would provide support for US farmers who grow the ingredients used in plant-based foods and ensure that food companies that turn those ingredients into plant-based foods are eligible for USDA producer programs. It will also make targeted research and development investments at USDA to foster American innovation.
McGovern said, “The PLANT Act will help us win the future of food. Plant-based foods are already creating new opportunities for farmers across the country and exciting new options for consumers, and this legislation will be a game-changer. By putting farmers and their communities front and centre as we grow the greatest plant-based sector in the world, we can create countless good jobs while showing the world what makes American agriculture so strong. Now is the time to embrace the enormous potential that plant-based foods have to strengthen our economy and our food system.
Scott Faber, Environmental Working Group’s Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, said, “Congress should do more to support farmers and food companies making plant-based foods when Congress renews the farm bill. Right now, America is the world’s plant-based foods leader, but other countries are making big investments in their plant-food sectors… USDA has always supported our meat and dairy farmers, investing more than $50 billion since 1995. Now, to maintain our global leadership role, it’s time for USDA to also support the farmers growing for the plant-based industry.”
Neal Barnard, MD, President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, commented the following about this bill: “Helping farmers to provide Americans more protein from beans and other plant sources instead of animal products could save countless lives from heart disease and other diet-related conditions. I applaud Rep. Jim McGovern for introducing the PLANT Act and encourage any legislator who wants to help save lives and improve the livelihood of farmers to co-sponsor this bill.”
