Data and Analysis Committee

Data and Analysis Committee

Purpose and Scope

The Data and Analysis Committee is the Hawaiʻi Island Agriculture Partnership’s (HIAP) central forum for organizing, sharing, and interpreting the information that shapes Hawaiʻi Island’s agriculture and food system. Its key mission is to help both public and private stakeholders see the “bigger picture” by gathering data from diverse sources—such as USDA reports, on-farm surveys, and market studies—and making it accessible to everyone from farmers to policymakers.

Activities and Methods

The Committee plans to create a core “Agriculture Dashboard” that displays relevant indicators: production volumes, price trends, pest outbreaks, workforce needs, and other metrics crucial for decision-making. Through workshops and monthly online sessions, members will collaboratively review fresh data sets, highlight any anomalies (like a sudden shortage in feed, or unseasonably low yields), and shape next steps. By facilitating joint data reviews, the Committee encourages service providers, extension agents, and producers to co-analyze the facts on the ground rather than relying on fragmented or outdated information.

Collaboration and Tools

Although open to all HIAP members, the Committee focuses on bringing together the technical minds—such as researchers, industry analysts, and tech-savvy farmers—and providing them with user-friendly collaboration platforms. Plans include establishing a dedicated library (on the HIAP website) where shared studies and data sets can be downloaded and updated over time. Additionally, the Committee will coordinate with extension offices and universities to co-host events, offering practical data-interpretation training or scenario planning sessions.

Value to the System

All of these efforts are designed to foster a data-rich environment where agricultural decisions are backed by evidence. Whether tackling local orchard expansions or strategizing for potential new export crops, producers and support agencies can rely on the Committee’s curated intel. Over time, the Data and Analysis Committee will deepen community trust, ensure greater transparency in the sector, and enable faster, smarter responses to evolving market conditions on Hawaiʻi Island.