STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1724

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 51

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment, Education, and Higher Education, to which was referred S.R. No. 51 entitled:

"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,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that the Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, and University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources create a strategy for students to learn about modern farming.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System.

Your Committees find that the 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 to modernize farming techniques and technology, which has resulted in insufficient interest in pursuing the fields of agriculture and natural resource management among youth. Your Committees further find that 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 be relevant and interesting to youth. Your Committees therefore find that this measure requests that the Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, and University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources create a strategy for students to learn about modern farming and 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.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Designating the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to serve as the lead agency in creating a strategy for students to learn about modern farming;

(2) Requesting the agencies to also consider greenhouse technology in forming a strategy for students to learn about modern farming;

(3) Requesting that the strategy include a plan for new curriculum for students in grades six through twelve;

(4) Requesting that the strategy include proposals to address land tenure issues for farmers, including long-term land leases and infrastructure concerns;

(5) Requesting that the strategy include information gathered from other countries that have adopted modern agricultural practices that have resulted in higher yields, greater productivity, lower input costs, and increased profitability for farmers;

(6) Making the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources the lead agency in submitting the report to the Legislature;

(7) Amending the title; and

(8) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment, Education, and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 51, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 51, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair	________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair
	________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair