STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1992-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

RE:   S.C.R. No. 164

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 164, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE TO SUBMIT A RECOMMENDED DEFINITION OF "AGRICULTURAL HUB" OR "FOOD HUB" AND, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, IDENTIFY AREAS IN THE STATE THAT ARE POTENTIALLY SUITABLE TO BECOME AGRICULTURAL HUBS OR FOOD HUBS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the definitional impediment to the statewide expansion of the agricultural hub model of the Whitmore Project, the development by the Agribusiness Development Corporation of 1,700 acres of Galbraith Estate and Whitmore Annex lands in Central Oahu acquired by the State in 2012, that envisions a processing and packaging tech park to facilitate the aggregation, storage, processing, distribution, and marketing of locally produced food products, by requesting the Board of Agriculture (BOA) to:

(1)  Submit a recommended definition of "agricultural hub", or "food hub", to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2019;

(2)  Include in its recommended definition, language that reflects that the hub is a centrally located facility with a business management structure facilitating the processing to marketing phases of the hub concept; and

(3)  In conjunction with the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC), identify areas in the State that are potentially suitable for agricultural hubs or food hubs.

The Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, North Shore EVP, Pueo Farm, Hawaii Farmers Union United, and many concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Agriculture and a concerned individual commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its title to read:

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE TO SUBMIT A RECOMMENDED DEFINITION OF "AGRICULTURAL HUB" OR "FOOD HUB" AND, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES, AND OTHER ENTITIES DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, IDENTIFY AREAS IN THE STATE THAT ARE POTENTIALLY SUITABLE TO BECOME AGRICULTURAL HUBS OR FOOD HUBS;

     (2)  Requesting the BOA to collaborate with the University of Hawaii at Hilo, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, and other entities deemed appropriate by the BOA, in addition to ADC, to identify areas in the State potentially suitable for agricultural hubs or food hubs;

     (3)  Also, transmitting a certified copy of this measure to the Chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Dean of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 164, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 164, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair