THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	593
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to agriculture.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State of Hawaii imports approximately 90 per cent of its food and is vulnerable to potential shipping and other disruptions.  The people of Hawaii have repeatedly shown over the years that sustainable agriculture and local production are priorities that they support and value.

     The legislature also finds that the agribusiness development corporation manages over 20,000 acres of public agricultural lands and has the significant potential of shaping the State's agricultural public policy toward the goal of supporting sustainable agriculture and food self-sufficiency.  The lack of affordable agricultural land with long-term leases is often cited as a key inhibitor of the growth and expansion of local agriculture.  Therefore it is in the public's best interest, and vital to achieving an increased level of food security, that the agribusiness development corporation make the support of sustainable agriculture and food security its top priority and immediately develop and implement a plan to accomplish this goal.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The agribusiness development corporation shall establish as its primary mission supporting and increasing sustainable agriculture and local food production in a manner that contributes to the health of Hawaii residents, protects the natural environment, enhances soil and water quality, and preserves and protects existing agricultural lands.  "Local food production" means crops, livestock, poultry, and other foods that are grown and raised on in Hawaii primarily for consumption by Hawaii residents and visitors.

     (b)  The agribusiness development corporation shall establish a sustainable agriculture and local food production plan and begin implementing the plan within twelve months from the effective date of this Act.  The development plan shall include consultation with stakeholders experienced in sustainable agricultural practices and shall also include provisions that encourage partnerships with county governments.  The plan shall give preference to locally owned and operated agricultural operations.

     (c)  The agribusiness development corporation shall submit the sustainable agriculture and local food production plan to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2016.  The agribusiness development corporation shall submit an annual report to the legislature on the progress of the sustainable agriculture and local food production plan, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session.  The annual report shall include:

     (1)  A summary of all lands managed by the agribusiness development corporation; and

     (2)  A breakdown showing the various categories of agricultural use.

     (d)  The agribusiness development corporation, by December 31, 2025, shall lease a minimum of 50 per cent of lands controlled by the agribusiness development corporation to operations that support the sustainable agriculture and local food production plan and whose primary business is the production of food for local consumption in Hawaii.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Agribusiness Development Corporation; Sustainable Agriculture and Local Food Production Plan

 

Description:

Requires the agribusiness development corporation to make increasing agriculture and local food production its primary mission, establish a sustainable agriculture and local food production plan, submit annual reports to the legislature, and lease 50 percent of its land to operations that support increasing agriculture and local food production within the next ten years.

 

 

 

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