H.R. 3358: Harvest to Hue Act

The bill titled "Harvest to Hue Act" aims to enhance the ability of U.S. farmers to produce natural color additives for food. Here is a breakdown of what the bill encompasses:

Objectives of the Bill

The primary goal of the bill is to strengthen the role of U.S. agriculture in supplying natural food color additives, which are increasingly preferred by consumers seeking healthier and more transparent food options. The following points summarize the main objectives:

• To enable U.S. farmers to grow, produce, and harvest crops specifically for use as natural color additives.
• To improve collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, various federal agencies, agricultural producers, and food industry partners in the production of these additives.
• To prioritize research initiatives that support the development and production of natural color additives within existing agricultural research frameworks.

Findings

The bill outlines several findings that underscore the importance of this initiative:

• U.S. farmers are key contributors to the nation's food supply and have the potential to expand their market presence by supplying natural color additives.
• A robust foundation of science and risk evaluation ensures consumer safety and builds trust in food products.
• There is an increasing consumer demand for safer, affordable, and natural food options, which necessitates greater access to natural color additives.
• Ensuring a reliable supply of natural color additives can enhance food integrity within the United States.

Implementation by the Secretary of Agriculture

The bill specifies that the Secretary of Agriculture is tasked with several actions to facilitate these objectives:

• Enhancing the capacity of farmers to produce crops that can be processed into natural color additives.
• Encouraging cooperation among different agricultural and food industry stakeholders to promote the production of these additives.
• Focusing research efforts on improving the agricultural processes that contribute to natural color additives.

Expected Benefits

The anticipated benefits of the bill include:

• Increased market opportunities for U.S. farmers.
• Enhanced food safety and transparency for consumers.
• A contribution to meeting public health demands through the availability of natural food colorings.

Relevant Companies

• UNVR (Univar Solutions Inc.): As a distributor of chemical ingredients, they may find new business opportunities in supplying natural color additives to food manufacturers.
• DOW (Dow Inc.): They produce a variety of agricultural products, and an increased focus on natural color additives may open up avenues for collaboration.
• MONS (Bayer AG via its subsidiary Monsanto): They are involved in agriculture biotechnology, which could tie into producing crops intended for natural color additives.