STAND. COM. REP. NO. 366

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 484

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 484 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD SECURITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii West Oahu to expand its existing programs and develop new means to increase food security and self-sufficiency.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Department of Agriculture, Life of the Land, Aina Ho‘okupu O Kilauea, Waipa Foundation, Hawai‘i Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development, HFUU Haleakala, Lokoea Farms, and twenty-five individuals.

Your Committees find that Hawaii does not have an adequate-sized farming workforce for expansion of cultivated agricultural lands and food production. 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. This can be achieved through the development of higher education systems in Hawaii to promote understanding of sustainable food production and train a new generation of students for jobs in the sustainable food and agriculture sector.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 484 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair