THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	51
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

requesting the department of agriculture, department of education, and university of hawaii at manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resources to create a strategy for students to learn about modern farming.

WHEREAS, local agriculture is critical to self-sufficiency and food security for the State; and

WHEREAS, about eighty-five to ninety percent of Hawaii's food is imported, which makes Hawaii particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and global events that disrupt shipping and other modes of transporting food; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii does not have an adequate-sized farming workforce for expansion of cultivated agricultural lands and food production; and

WHEREAS, a primary cause of the shortage of new farmers in Hawaii during the past several decades is the decline of support for agriculture education from state government, resulting in an insufficient interest in pursuing the fields of agriculture and natural resource management among youth; and

WHEREAS, in order to meet the State's aspirations for increased food security and self-sufficiency, the number of local farms and farmers and the amount of food produced for local markets will need to increase significantly; and

WHEREAS, agriculture education and interest are key to the development of future farmers and to a society that values and understands the vital role of agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resource systems in advancing personal, local, and global well-being; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, that the Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, and University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources are requested to create a strategy for students to learn about modern farming; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, and University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources are requested to consider modern farming technologies, including methods and techniques of modern farming related to aquaponics, hydroponics, machinery, soil and water sensors, weather tracking, satellite imaging, pervasive automation, minichromosomal technology, radio-frequency identification technology, and vertical farming; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2020; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, and Dean of the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Agriculture; Modern Farming; Students; Department of Education; Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaii