Farm to School Act of 2021

Farm to School Act of 2021

This bill modifies and expands the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Farm to School Program. The program currently provides grants and technical assistance to schools, state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers, and nonprofit entities to improve access to local foods in schools.

Among other things, the bill

• reauthorizes the program through FY2027;
• permits USDA to provide land-grant colleges and universities with grants, research, evaluation, and technical assistance under the program;
• expands the purposes for grants awarded under the program to include implementing educational activities relating to agriculture, nutrition, or food;
• requires USDA to provide technical assistance, research, and information to increase awareness of and participation in farm to school programs among agricultural producers, including beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers;
• directs USDA to seek to improve local food procurement and distribution options for agricultural producers and eligible institutions;
• authorizes USDA to fund projects that include innovative approaches to aggregation, processing, transportation, and distribution;
• establishes new limitations on the amount and duration of grants; and
• limits funds that may be used for administrative costs.

The Farm to School Act of 2021, also known as Bill 117 hr 1768, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress with the aim of supporting and expanding farm to school programs across the country. The bill seeks to increase access to local foods in schools, improve nutrition education for students, and support local farmers and food producers.

Key provisions of the Farm to School Act of 2021 include:

1. Providing grants to schools to support the purchase of local foods for school meals. 2. Increasing funding for farm to school programs to help schools establish gardens, conduct taste tests, and provide nutrition education. 3. Encouraging partnerships between schools and local farmers to increase the availability of fresh, local foods in school cafeterias. 4. Supporting research on the impact of farm to school programs on student health and academic performance. Overall, the Farm to School Act of 2021 aims to promote healthy eating habits among students, support local agriculture, and strengthen the connection between schools and their communities. The bill has received bipartisan support in Congress and is seen as a positive step towards improving the health and well-being of children across the country.