HB3277

SECTION 1. Organic farming practices are beneficial to human health and towards the preservation of environmental quality because these practices emphasize sustainability, enhance soil health, and promote the practice of growing agricultural products without the use of toxic substances, such as pesticides and fertilizers. While organic farming is an important building block for maintaining and preserving the State's scenic and environmental resources, it is also an essential element in creating economic viability and preserving the quality of life in rural and agricultural communities.

According to a national study, approximately two per cent of the United States food supply is grown using organic methods and the nationwide retail sales of organic food and beverages in 2005 totaled approximately $12,800,000,000. There are over ninety organic farms in Hawaii, which produce organic products such as coffee, macadamia nuts, bananas, pineapples, ginger, mangoes, citrus fruits, avocados, tomatoes, and salad greens. The Hawaii Organic Farmers Association, an accredited third party certification agency for the United States Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program, estimates that organic farming in Hawaii is a $5,000,000 to $10,000,000 per year industry.

There is currently a high and increasing demand for organic produce that exceeds the State's local organic food supply, and to meet this demand, local produce markets and large mainland chain stores must import organic produce from the mainland and other countries. The importation of organic produce can result in a higher number of invasive species that are inadvertently brought into the State upon arrival, and can impact the State's agriculture sector, economy, and sustainable food supply.

The purpose of this Act is to establish an organic agriculture task force under the direction of the department of business, economic development, and tourism to focus on the promotion of organic agriculture as a key industry for the State, and to appropriate funds to the task force to carry out its purposes.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the department of business, economic development, and tourism an organic agriculture task force to focus on the promotion of organic agriculture as a key industry for the State.

(b) The organic agriculture task force shall consist of the following members:

(1) The director of business, economic development, and tourism or the director's designee;

(2) The chairperson of the board of agriculture or the chairperson's designee;

(3) Two members from the senate appointed by the senate president;

(4) Two members from the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(5) The dean of the college of tropical agriculture and human resources at the University of Hawaii or the dean's designee;

(6) The executive director of the agribusiness development corporation or the executive director's designee;

(7) The president of the Hawaii Organic Farmers Association or the president's designee;

(8) The president of the Hawaii Cooperative of Organic Farmers or the president's designee;

(9) The director of the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center or the director's designee; and

(10) The executive director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.

(1) Examine the current status, activities, policies, directives, and programs relating to the promotion and development of organic agriculture in the State;

(2) Identify impediments to developing and promoting organic agriculture in the State;

(3) Review other jurisdictions' activities, policies, directives, and programs related to the promotion and development of organic agriculture as a key industry;

(4) Explore any other options available to the task force to promote and develop organic agriculture as a key economic industry for the State; and

(5) Establish findings and recommendations on how the State may best develop and promote organic agriculture as a key industry.

(d) The members of the organic agriculture task force shall select the chairperson of the task force and shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

(e) The organic agriculture task force shall submit its findings and recommendations to the legislature, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2009 regular session.

(f) The department of business, economic development, and tourism shall provide support services necessary to assist the task force in achieving its purposes as required under this Act.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the organic agriculture task force to carry out its purposes, including research and support services and reimbursement of expenses for task force members.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	3277
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII