SCR 141: Urging the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with the Agribusiness Development Corporation REGARDING Grant Funding Opportunities WITH THE United States Department of Agriculture.

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

Urging the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with the Agribusiness Development Corporation REGARDING Grant Funding Opportunities WITH THE United States Department of Agriculture.

     WHEREAS, the Agribusiness Development Corporation's mission is to work with local farmers, ranchers, and aquaculture groups to acquire land and infrastructure to facilitate the development of a multi-crop agricultural industry in the State; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture aims to sponsor and develop programs that promote the growth, sustainability, and protection of Hawaii's agriculture industry; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan identifies and outlines the goals and initiatives for achieving sustainability milestones through the 2020-2030 decade of action; and

     WHEREAS, the increase of local food production for local consumption by 2030 is identified as a goal of the plan through the Aloha+ Challenge; and

     WHEREAS, the increase of food production may require that more land be available for agricultural projects, and more labor be available to support the production and distribution of products; and

     WHEREAS, the United States Department of Agriculture provides a multitude of grant program opportunities to improve the development and performance of agricultural organizations across the United States; and

     WHEREAS, these United States Department of Agriculture grants have the opportunity to provide funding and aid to local farmers and ranchers to promote their continued growth and performance in the State; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Agriculture is urged to collaborate with the Agribusiness Development Corporation regarding grant funding opportunities with the United States Department of Agriculture to provide more support for local agricultural organizations or entities and encourage the development of a sustainable agricultural industry in the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

Report Title:

DOA; ADC; USDA; Grant Funding; Opportunities; Collaboration; Agricultural Industry

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

Urging the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with the Agribusiness Development Corporation REGARDING Grant Funding Opportunities WITH THE United States Department of Agriculture.

     WHEREAS, the Agribusiness Development Corporation's mission is to work with local farmers, ranchers, and aquaculture groups to acquire land and infrastructure to facilitate the development of a multi-crop agricultural industry in Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture aims to sponsor and develop programs that promote the growth, sustainability, and protection of Hawai'i's agriculture industry; and

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan identifies and outlines the goals and initiatives for achieving sustainability milestones through the 2020-2030 decade of action; and

     WHEREAS, the increase of local food production for local consumption by 2030 is identified as a goal of the plan through the Aloha challenge; and

     WHEREAS, the increase of food production may require that more land be available for agricultural projects, and more labor be available to support the production and distribution of products; and

     WHEREAS, the United States Department of Agriculture provides a multitude of grant program opportunities to improve the development and performance of agricultural organizations across the United States; and

     WHEREAS, these United States Department of Agriculture grants have the opportunity to provide funding and aid to local farmers and ranchers to promote their continued growth and performance in Hawaii; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Agriculture is urged to collaborate with the Agribusiness Development Corporation regarding grant funding opportunities with the United States Department of Agriculture to provide more support for local agricultural organizations or entities and encourage the development of a sustainable agricultural industry in Hawaii; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

Report Title:

HDOA; ADC; USDA; Grant Funding; Opportunities; Collaboration; Agricultural Industry

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  2094

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   S.C.R. No. 141

      S.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 141, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REGARDING GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure urges the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with the Agribusiness Development Corporation regarding grant funding opportunities with the United States Department of Agriculture to provide more support for local agricultural organizations or entities and encourage the development of a sustainable agricultural industry in the State.   

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Department of Agriculture, and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau. 

     Your Committee finds that the Aloha+ Challenge goal of increasing local food production may require more available land for agricultural projects, and more available labor to support the production and distribution of products.   Your Committee further finds that the United States Department of Agriculture provides grant opportunities to improve the development and performance of agricultural organizations and to provide funding and aid to local farmers and ranchers to promote their continued growth and performance.  This measure urges the Department of Agriculture and the Agribusiness Development Corporation to collaborate for grant funding opportunities with the United States Department of Agriculture. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 141, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1579

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 141

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Economic Development and Tourism, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 141 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REGARDING GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with the Agribusiness Development Corporation regarding grant funding opportunities with the United States Department of Agriculture to provide more support for local agricultural organizations or entities and encourage the development of a sustainable agricultural industry in the State.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness Development Corporation, and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.

     Your Committees find that access to United States Department of Agriculture grants can result in increased capacity, new business opportunities, and increased employment for Hawaii's agricultural producers, while helping to address state goals of increased self-sufficiency and sustainability.  According to testimony received by your Committees, this measure enhances the current collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and the Agribusiness Development Corporation regarding grant funding opportunities with the United States Department of Agriculture.  This measure supports increasing Hawaii's food production, and therefore food security, by requesting assistance for local farmers, ranchers, growers, exporters, and value-added producers, as well as commodity groups and agriculture associations statewide, in obtaining federal funding.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by 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 and Economic Development and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 141, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 141, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Economic Development and Tourism,