42 U.S.C. § 19068 — Advancing IoT for Precision Agriculture Capabilities Act

(a) Short title. This section is called the "Advancing IoT for Precision Agriculture Act of 2021." (b) Purpose. The goal is to promote research and development for connected technologies that improve precision agriculture. (c) Foundation directive on agricultural sensor research. When making awards under its sensor systems and networked systems programs, the Director must weigh, as part of keeping a balanced portfolio, research and development on sensor connectivity in places where internet and computing access come and go. This work must aim to make advanced sensing systems work reliably in rural and farming areas, and must consider: direct access to locally stored data through a gateway device; how much a signal weakens as it travels; how a signal can be lost entirely; and how well wireless power performs at large scale. (d) [This subsection was omitted from the law as printed.] (e) GAO review. Within 18 months of August 9, 2022, the Comptroller General of the United States must deliver a technology assessment of precision agriculture technologies currently in use. This includes: sensors, scanners, and radio-frequency identification tools that monitor soil, irrigation, and plant health; similar tools that monitor livestock activity and health; network connectivity and wireless communications that securely support digital agriculture in rural and remote areas; aerial images from satellites or drones; ground-based robots; control systems such as smart irrigation systems; GPS-based applications; and data management software and analytics that help farmers make decisions and improve outcomes. The Comptroller General must also review federal programs that, as of August 9, 2022, support precision agriculture research, development, adoption, education, or training.