Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Business and Economic Development, to which was referred S.R. No. 115 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support and encourage Hawaii's agricultural community's efforts toward successful co-existence in a diversified agriculture industry.

The Department of Agriculture, the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the University of Hawaii College of Tropic Agriculture and Human Resources, the Big Island Farm Bureau, Clegg Farms, Crop Care Hawaii, LLC, Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, the Hawaii Alliance for Responsible Technology and Science, the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, Life of the Land, Maui County Farm Bureau, Monsanto Seed Supply, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Tropical Hawaiian Products, Hawaiian Research, Monsanto Research, and twelve individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.

The Ho'okipa Network-Kauai, Kalo Pa'a Hawaii, Kipahulu Ecological Integrity, Ola Honua Reforestation Project, Respiratory and Environmental Disabilities Association of Hawaii, and twenty-nine individuals submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

Today, Hawaii's agriculture industry continues to evolve and expand, occupying vacant agricultural lands and providing employment in rural Hawaii. The long-term prosperity of Hawaii's agricultural community depends significantly on diversity and research, production, and farming practices.

A diverse agricultural industry, which includes organic, conventional and biotech farming, and agricultural research, generates significant opportunities for economic growth in both export and import markets. Successful diversification mandates that farmers have the opportunity to choose which farming practices will best ensure the most productive use of their resources. Accordingly, this measure supports the agricultural community's efforts to:

This measure also requests the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation to bring stakeholders together in a meaningful process toward co-existence and report its findings to the Department of Agriculture. Your Committees have amended this measure by providing that after the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation reports its findings and recommendations, the Department of Agriculture is requested to hold a public meeting to allow the public an opportunity to receive the findings and recommendations.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Business and Economic Development that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 115, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 115, S.D. 1.