Tropical Plant Health Initiative Act

Tropical Plant Health Initiative Act

This bill establishes a Tropical Plant Health Initiative as a Department of Agriculture (USDA) high-priority research and extension area and reauthorizes other USDA research and extension initiatives. Under the bill, tropical plants include coffee plants, macadamia trees, cacao trees, plantains and bananas, mangos, floriculture and nursery crops, and vanilla plants.

Specifically, the bill allows research and extension grants for 

• developing and disseminating science-based tools and treatments to combat plant pests and noxious weeds that impact tropical plants;
• establishing an integrated pest management program in areas where tropical plants are affected by plant pests or noxious weeds; and
• conducting related data collection, research, and investigations regarding the production, health, immune systems, biology, ecology, and genomics of the tropical plants. 

Further, the bill reauthorizes USDA grants to support competitive specialized research and extension activities, including high-priority areas, through FY2030.