Report Title:

UH College of Trop. Agriculture & Human Resources

Description:

Appropriates $       to the UH to enable the college of tropical agriculture and human resources to conduct research and outreach to develop and promote high-value agricultural products, breeding programs, and related activities.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1688

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

making an appropriation to the university of hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources.

 

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

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii to enable the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources to conduct crucial research and outreach to develop and promote high-value agricultural products, breeding programs, and related activities.

The legislature finds that Hawaii must diversify its economic base beyond a reliance on tourism. A revived state agricultural industry holds the promise of not only diversifying Hawaii's economy, but also improving the food security of our isolated islands and preserving the green space and lifestyle that Hawaii's citizens and visitors value.

Hawaii's agriculture and value-added products contribute $2,400,000,000 to the State's economy and employ more than thirty-eight thousand people. During the past twenty years, diversified agriculture in Hawaii has more than doubled. The prime agricultural lands released from sugar and pineapple production present a rare window of opportunity to further agricultural development. Currently, about one hundred thousand acres of former sugar and pineapple land lie fallow, awaiting economically viable agribusinesses to develop. If all this land could be put to productive use in successful agricultural ventures, an additional $1,700,000,000 to $4,400,000,000 could be added to the State's economy.

The legislature further finds that, in order for Hawaii's agriculture to take advantage of this opportunity, it must produce high quality, market-driven products that offset Hawaii's high costs of land, labor, water, and transportation. This requires that agriculture have access to the highest quality, state-of-the-art research and outreach programs.

The University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources is engaged in several areas of research and outreach that have already contributed to the resurgence of agriculture in Hawaii. Among the college's contributions to the State's agricultural industry are:

(1) Identification and development of high-value food, plant, and fiber products to help Hawaii stay competitive in a global market; and

(2) Research that advances agricultural biotechnology, an industry that has the potential to bring billions of dollars to the State's economy.

The legislature further finds that work in all of these areas must be expanded to develop high-value products such as:

(1) New and improved plant varieties that:

(A) Are resistant to disease and environmental stress;

(B) Are tolerant to pesticides; and

(C) Produce high-value chemicals, fragrances, vaccines, or specific nutrients; and

(2) Effective and environmentally sound pest, disease, and nutrient management systems.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the continued development of high-value agricultural products, a breeding program to provide new agricultural products, the assessment of local and export markets, development of industry assessments, disease prevention programs, and other high-priority needs; provided that these appropriations shall be added to the base budget of the University of Hawaii.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________