Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2184 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for agricultural research and development and the development of agribusiness incubators.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the University of Hawaii, Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, the Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association, Kilauea Agronomics, LLC, Hawaii Forest Industry Association, Aloun Farms, Hawaiian Host, Maui County Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.

Your Committee finds that this measure provides the groundwork towards moving the State to an expanded economic base better able to withstand the turmoils of national and international downturns. Additionally, the creation of agribusiness incubators would continue efforts to increase value-added products to the base of agricultural commodities.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2184 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.