SCR35.DOC

WHEREAS, nationwide, school-children suffer from the effects of being overweight and obese at unparalleled rates; and

WHEREAS, the National Survey of Children's Health reports that 28.5 per cent of Hawaii's public school children are overweight or obese; and

WHEREAS, diets of processed food have not only affected children's physical well-being, but their knowledge and awareness of fresh food; and

WHEREAS, keeping children engaged and connected to the natural world is an important step toward a more sustainable future; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Agriculture is requested to convene a working group to explore ways to encourage the interest of young people in farming and agriculture; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group include:

(1) The Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, or the Chairperson's designated representative;

(2) The Chairperson of the Board of Education, or the Chairperson's designated representative;

(3) The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, or the Chairperson's designated representative;

(4) The Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, or the Chairperson's designated representative;

(5) The Dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, or the Dean's designated representative;

(6) The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Agricultural Research Center, or the Chairperson's designated representative;

(7) The Chairperson of the Board of the Agribusiness Development Corporation, or the Chairperson's designated representative; and

(8) Working agriculturalists, including agriculturalists from the fields of the seed and high technology sector, cattle and dairy industry, fresh produce and tropical fruit industry, poultry industry, and aquaculture and mariculture industry; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to explore ways to establish partnerships between the public and private sectors to develop programs that:

(1) Engage elementary school students through means such as field trips to farms and cultivating garden plots;

(2) Maintain interest as students progress through high school, using means such as stipends for students who work in agricultural business; and

(3) Continue interest as students progress through college, using means such as scholarships for students who are in agriculture-related degree programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature requests that the programs explored by the working group focus on teaching technology, science, and business methods to establish a global view of food production; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is requested to submit a report of the working group's findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture; the Chairperson of the Board of Education; the Superintendent of Education; the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; the Dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa; the Chairperson of the Board of Agribusiness Development Corporation; and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Agricultural Research Center.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Agriculture; Student Interest; Working Group

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	35
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII