REPORT TITLE:
Agriculture Research Center


DESCRIPTION:
Appropriates $1,000,000 from the general revenues for fiscal year
2000-2001 for agricultural research and development to be
performed by the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                             
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           2002
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                     
STATE OF HAWAII                                                 
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND
   DEVELOPMENT.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that agriculture is one of
 
 2 the State's growth industries and a vital component of the
 
 3 State's economic base.  It provides an economically viable use of
 
 4 the land providing the open space cherished by its citizenry and
 
 5 sought by its visitors.  The legislature also finds that Hawaii's
 
 6 agriculture industry has become increasingly diverse with new
 
 7 economic opportunities as prime agriculture land becomes
 
 8 available and quarantine restrictions are overcome.  It is
 
 9 encouraging that all sectors of agriculture, sugar, pineapple,
 
10 macadamia nuts, coffee, papaya, flowers, exotic tropical fruits,
 
11 etc., are working together to accelerate the expansion of the
 
12 agriculture industry.  To maximize the opportunities for
 
13 maintaining and expanding the agriculture industry and to take
 
14 the most advantage of the thousands of acres of prime farmland,
 
15 production-driven research is of paramount importance.
 
16      The legislature finds that the commitment of the private
 
17 sector is critical to the success of any industry and that the
 
18 Hawaii Agriculture Research Center (formerly, Hawaiian Sugar
 
19 Planters' Association) exemplifies such commitment.  The
 

 
Page 2                                                     
                                     S.B. NO.           2002
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 legislature also finds that the Hawaii Agriculture Research
 
 2 Center serves as a model of private-public partnerships for
 
 3 agricultural research.  The Hawaii Agriculture Research Center
 
 4 effectively partners with public institutions, such as the USDA-
 
 5 ARS and the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture
 
 6 and Human Resources, in facilitating agricultural technology
 
 7 transfer and in maximizing the use of limited community
 
 8 resources.  Most of the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center's
 
 9 funding comes from the private sector, which provides the
 
10 accountability demanded by its stakeholders and increases the
 
11 returns on the State's funding, which benefits farm production
 
12 and the local economy.
 
13      The legislature also finds that the Hawaii Agriculture
 
14 Research Center has been directing its research primarily to
 
15 crops that have received direct financial support, such as
 
16 coffee, papaya, macadamia nuts, sugarcane, and forestry.  The
 
17 Hawaii Agriculture Research Center seeks to help increase
 
18 commercial production through crop improvement programs focusing
 
19 on improving cultural practices and producing superior planting
 
20 material through plant breeding and selection.  Agricultural
 
21 research at the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center will continue
 
22 to be a key resource in the State's efforts to strengthen and
 
23 improve the agriculture industry, revitalize the economy, and
 

 
Page 3                                                     
                                     S.B. NO.           2002
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 maintain and create employment opportunities for residents,
 
 2 especially in rural areas.
 
 3      The purpose of this Act is to provide the necessary funds to
 
 4 assist in maintaining current minimum levels of agricultural
 
 5 research at the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.
 
 6      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
 7 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000, or so much
 
 8 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2000-2001, for
 
 9 agricultural research and development to be performed by the
 
10 Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.
 
11      SECTION 3.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
12 department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
 
13      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2000.
 
14 
 
15                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________