Hawai’i Island Agriculture Partnership Action Plan, Executive Committee, and Convening Team
Overview
On April 26, 2019, agricultural business leaders, representing a cross-section of the industry from Hawai’i Island, came together to identify opportunities and actions needed to promote the growth of their sector. In addition, community partners from workforce development, education, and economic development attended as observers. This partnership is modeled after similar partnerships across the country that are achieving real results for businesses, job seekers, regional economies, and businesses. To learn more visit: www.nextgensectorpartnerships.com.
Agricultural business leaders chose shared priorities, volunteered to be champions of specific actions to advance those priorities in the next 60 days, and reconvened on July 25, November 4 and February 18 to review progress and commit to new 60-day actions.
Opportunities to Grow the Agricultural Sector on Hawai’i Island
Industry participants first discussed the potential for agriculture on Hawai’i Island, identifying top opportunities or drivers of growth for the future. They identified the following:
• Growing markets, including growth of opportunities to feed local consumers locally-produced food, expand global markets for “Hawai’i Island brand” products, increase markets for value-added products, open up markets for new crops made possible by the year-round growing season, and add ag-tourism as a revenue stream.
• Wider application of new technologies and approaches, including greater use of computer technologies and robotics, and new economies of scale and professional capacities around food safety, processing, and aggregation.
• Distinctive local assets, including a good climate to grow a wide variety of crops and a great location for expanding ag-tourism.
Overall, industry participants identified a set of market and technology forces, and local assets, that could drive growth and competitiveness of the industry in the future—under the right conditions.
Shared Priorities, Success Measures, and Actions to Drive Growth Opportunities
Industry champions have identified the most important requirements to capitalize on these opportunities. Their priorities grouped into four major areas, for which industry participants identified specific measures of success and personally committed to 60-day actions. For each area, two industry champions also volunteered to be Action Team co-captains.
Value-Added Processing Action Team
Co-Captains: Leanne, Young
Team Members: Axel, Dana, David, Eva, Jason, Jason U, Michelle, Mike, Olelo, Ollie, Sarah, Tim
Shared Priority
• Improve the agricultural processing infrastructure on the Island, including facilities, equipment, and certification, enabling greater volume and diversity of value-added production.
• Expand ag-tourism as a value-added strategy for producers, including stronger connections with tourism, arts, culture, and other sectors.
Success Measures
• Stop the loss of farms and increase farm acreage by 1,000 acres within 5 years
• Continuously increase the productivity of agricultural acreage
• Increase the volume of locally-produced agricultural products by 50% in 5 years
• Replace imported food with locally-produced food in specific categories by 5-20%
• Experience a 100% increase in value-added products within the next 10 years
• Increase exports of local value-added products by 10% per year for the next 10 years
• Specifically, increase tea production by 50% in 5 years and become a tea processing capital within 3 years
• Measurably increase value-added capacity (e.g., additional infrastructure for processing and packaging, licensed and at full capacity such as a Alae Post Harvest Facility; a food innovation center at HCC; new technological capacity in specific processing methods such as 10F freeze, passive solar drying, etc.; increased public funding)
Actions Completed
ü Submitted Food Establishment Application and in discussion with Dept. of Health. Met with Hawaii Ulu Producers Coop and Kohala Center to gather knowledge and information about food safety and operating commercial kitchens. Started draft operations manual for shared use kitchen facilities. Submitted additional information requested by Department of Health. Working with Ulu Coop to submit revised permit application. Approval received January 2020.
ü Identified a first draft of improvements to the existing certification/permitting process for value-added agriculture processing. To be shared with County officials. Three kinds of improvements were identified: clarity/transparency (e.g., develop a clear, online, step-by-step process roadmap for certification/permitting); time/cost burden (e.g., for getting a permit, inspections, and the need to fund consultants to assist with architectural, engineering, mechanical, and electrical elements); regulatory approach/scope/content (e.g., taking a holistic approach of weighing benefits and risks, taking a proactive approach to innovative projects, inclusion of unconventional but viable options, lack of cottage industry options).
ü Hosted Hawaii Island Food Alliance meeting and provided tour of the processing facility. Explored ways to leverage resources to support others value-added development; i.e., sharing of research and knowledge with organization like Kamehameha Schools who are working to open a processing facility.
ü Reached out to Susan Miyasaka (Interim CTAHR HI County Administrator) regarding developing a program for tea processing for development of Hawaii tea industry beyond the preliminary workshops CTAHR occasionally offers.
ü Took steps to develop a food innovation center at Hawaii Community College and help build support in the community for the program. In discussion with HCC regarding an accelerator program; met with Kamehameha Schools and County Council members to support effort. Looking to secure resources for a shared commercial kitchen/manufacturing space. Developed outline of curriculum for accelerator program and shared with Partnership members for comment. Identified highly-qualified manager for the program. Proposals were submitted for funding feasibility study and carrying out value chain analysis of key commodities that can be processed at the center. No firm decision has been reached yet and discussions are ongoing.
Next Actions To Be Completed by April 2020
· Certification/Permitting Process – Hold county work session to explore options for streamlining certification and permitting processes for value-added agriculture processing, including micro-dairies. Broader advocacy opportunities will be explored with the other action teams prior to meeting with the County. (Axel)
· Accelerator Program – HCC to finalize decision on program. (Rachel, Jason).
· Food Innovation Center – Follow up and seek approvals for funding proposals. (Jason, Leanne)
· Facilitate agreements for better collaboration between researchers and extension agents. (Eva)
Talent Pipeline/Agricultural Entrepreneurship Action Team
Co-Captains: (to be determined)
Team Members: David, Nathan, Leslie, Young, Angela, Dana, Eric, Eva, Leanne, Ross, Axel, Emily, Tara
Shared Priority
· Increase youth interest and engagement in agricultural careers, attracting those who want to be part of an exciting and sustainable future for agriculture
· Increase pool of skilled talent, especially those with applied skills in agricultural production and processing, marketing, accounting, etc.
· Train and mentor the next generation of farmers/producers, building their professional capacity to be profitable through innovation
Success Measures
· Grow and diversify the agricultural workforce (new faces), starting with a 10% increase in the number of high school graduates and university agricultural students who join the sector full-time
· Develop or attract and retain more supervisory and management talent for production and sales/operations
· Build a partnership between the industry and education to design and implement a continuum of high school, community college, and university programs that include job-specific skills training, internships, and post-graduate placement
· A new generation of farmers/producers causes the average age of farmers/producers on Hawai’i Island to drop to 35 years of age
· A growing number of participants in farmer/producer mentee programs enter the field of agriculture on Hawai’i Island
Actions Completed
ü Hosting College interns this summer through Kapili ʻOihana program with KS. Proposed exploring partnership with targeted educational institutions for internship tracks and plan learning opportunities focused on agriculture including KS, community colleges ag/culinary/technical departments, UH, Kupu ad high school ag/shop/culinary programs. Reached out to Kupu and they didn’t have funding for this but were interested in possibly applying for some in partnership – need to follow-up. Invited Hawaii Ag Labor Solutions to the July 25 Partnership meeting to brief us on opportunities and options available for current and future recruiting (U.S. mainland, Alaska, Hawaii) of legal permanent residents or U.S. citizens from other states to fill agricultural jobs.
ü Identified initial resources to expand youth agricultural mentorship to adults and families. Specifically, grant application submitted to assist 10 families.
ü Launched agriculture business plan contest (August 1) and encouraged agricultural applications to the Hawaiian Business Plan contest. Three finalists selected, completed business plan workshop and submitted final business plans in December.
ü Working with HMNA (macadamia nut association) to host macadamia grafting workshop. USDA Community Food Project (first and second cohorts).
ü Promotion for Mahi’ai a Ola program completed. Mahiʻai 4-year scholarship application window closed 2/7/20 but applications are still open for GoFarm and the Kohala Center’s Ōhāhā Highs School program that runs during spring break. Visit website for more information https://www.ksbe.edu/mahiai/mahiai_a_ao/
Next Actions to be Completed by April 2020
· Combine Talent Pipeline team with Agricultural Entrepreneurship team and manage the activities under one team, but with two main work streams – Agricultural Talent Development and the Pipeline of new Agricultural Entrepreneurs. Review and revise who should be co-captains and champions. (Executive Committee)
· Plan session for next meeting to further review and identify development priorities for these two work streams and revise action lists. (Conveners)
· Explore using software (such as ClubHouse IQ) for enabling team members to communicate and share info, stories, etc. (Conveners)
Branding and Marketing Action Team
Co-Captains: Jason, Olelo
Team Members: David, Leanne, Pomei, Sarah, Tara
Shared Priority
• Brand Hawai’i Island produce and value-added products as “Made on Hawai’i Island” and launch with a product festival to target off-island buyers
• Do better at telling agriculture’s story, partnering with other groups to build local and outside awareness about agriculture’s challenges and opportunities, targeting key audiences (e.g., investors, policymakers, general public/consumers)
Success Measures
• Better local awareness of and support for agricultural growth and innovation on Hawai’i Island
• Greater support beyond Hawai’i Island, including consumers (more exports) and investors (more participation in helping expand local agricultural production and value- added processing)
Actions Completed
ü Began planning for the launch of the 2020 Made on Hawaii Island Festival. At the moment, we have secured some funding interest from Councilwoman Ashley Kiekiewicz to fund the development of a “Grown on Hawaii Island” logo and have it printed on stickers. The initial run of stickers will serve as a proof-of-concept to determine value. In discussion with Sig Zane to develop logo.
ü Expanding agricultural awareness. Working on agriculture video that can be used to increase awareness. Also looking at incorporating ag awareness through advertising for Mahiʻai Match-up contest and event. Strong presence at the Hawaii Ag conference on Oahu in October.
ü Completed survey of the cornerstone principles to reflect in a brand narrative and logo. Drafted logos and branding image for the Made on Hawaii Island Brand and shared with HIAP partners at February 18 meeting.
ü Held meeting at Hawaii County R&D office about the Made on Hawaii Island Festival. During the meeting, the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce announced that they were going to do this Festival on their own. The Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce expressed a willingness to collaborate with HIAP to plan the festival.
Next Actions to be Completed by April 2020
· Incorporate feedback from group on logo/branding concepts and continue developing brand narrative and logo. Explore opportunities for funding of logo and brand development, possibly through , (Jason, Olelo)
· Share logo and lessons learned from the “think local, buy local” campaign to provide insight to these new efforts. (Andrea)
Next Steps
This partnership is all about action and in order to be successful it must be driven by industry champions. During February, March and April, champions will work on their next 60-day actions, and reconvene in to review progress, make course corrections, and set new 60-day actions to advance their shared priorities.
Executive Committee
The Hawai’i Island Agricultural Partnership has established an Executive Committee to guide overall Partnership strategy, structure, fundraising, appointment of Action Team co-captains, business champion recruitment, and support to Action Teams. Executive Committee members are: David Fuertes, Leanne Okamoto, Eric Tanouye, Young Tarring, and Jason Ueki.
Convening Team
Beginning in February 2020, the Hawai’i Island Agricultural Partnership has a new convening team to support its operations. This team will be composed of (1) the Hamakua Institute, (2) Hawaii Community College, and (3) Hawaii County. The Hamakua Institute will provide the primary support for the Partnership, playing the following roles:
· Administrative—the Institute will be responsible for database maintenance, invitation/RSVP process, meeting logistics, and Partnership communications, and may be able to offer meeting facilities. Hawaii Community College will provide use of their facilities for Partnership meetings.
· Facilitation--the Institute will provide facilitation and documentation of Partnership meetings, Action Team sessions, and meetings of the Partnership Executive Committee.
· Connector—the Institute and County will help business champions team with appropriate public partners, working with Partnership co-chairs, Action Team co-captains, and others.
· Research and Analysis—the Institute and County will provide research and analytical support to the Partnership as necessary to implement its Action Plan.
· Fiscal agent--the Institute will receive an initial grant, and could also serve as fiscal agent for small grants that do not require extensive administration; others could serve this function on a case-by-case basis over the next 6-12 months; longer-term options are also being explored this role over the longer-term--beyond the next 6-12 months.
· Leadership support—The Institute will support the newly-formed Executive Committee which will be responsible for overall Partnership strategy, structure, fundraising, appointment of Action Team co-captains, business champion recruitment, and support to Action Teams.