Soybean Value Chain pilot
Pilot project to explore the viability of increasing local soybean production to open new opportunities for farmers growing soybeans. Soybeans are being processed and sold to supermarkets and catering services.
Under the same initiative, the Soybean Value Chain Pilot is actively exploring the potential to establish locally grown soybeans as a commercially viable and profitable crop, offering a new source of income and market diversification for Hawaiʻi Island producers. This pilot collaboration brings together Kamehameha Schools, Honda Food Processors, and a selected group of island farmers to systematically test and analyze soybean production, assessing costs, yields, and processing opportunities. By establishing clear vertical links between growers, local processors, supermarkets, and catering services, the pilot intends to verify if locally grown soybeans can compete economically with imports.
Early successes from this collaboration could open promising new market opportunities, create additional value-added processing capabilities, and significantly reduce dependency on imported soybeans. The project represents a compelling example of strategic supply chain development, connecting local production directly to reliable market demand, and potentially fostering substantial long-term benefits for agricultural communities and local food systems across Hawaiʻi Island.