PROTECTING OUR FOOD SECURITY

Ensuring the security of Hawaii’s food supply is a continuing priority for the Lingle-Aiona Administration.  Due to the fact that food safety and security are vital to good public health, this year’s initiatives will protect our agricultural capacity and ensure our food safety by preserving agricultural land, encouraging agricultural activity, enhancing our ability to diagnose food-related disease outbreaks, protecting our drinking milk supply, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Protecting Agricultural Activities

Currently 90% of the beef, 67% of fresh vegetables, and 65% of fresh fruits consumed in Hawaii are imported.  In 1984 Hawaii produced 100% of the milk consumed in the State, but today local production only fills 30% of our needs.  In order to secure the State’s food supply, the Administration is making two proposals that will increase Hawaii’s agricultural capacity, conserve and protect agricultural lands, and increase agricultural self-sufficiency. 

The Administration proposes legislation to further protect Hawaii’s best agricultural lands by limiting the construction of residential homes on land classified for agricultural use, which includes agribusiness and subsistence farming.  In order to obtain building permits for the construction of homes and structures on agricultural land, applicants must provide a farm plan or proof of substantial farming activity which includes annual incomes and expenditures from farming and list of products grown on the land.  However, this change in the permitting process will neither affect existing residential homes on agricultural land nor permits for homes on agricultural land that have already been approved.  This effort can preserve agricultural lands and protect our food supply for decades to come. 

Additionally, the Lingle-Aiona Administration is introducing a bill to promote agricultural activities by increasing loans for ranch or agricultural operations on Hawaiian home lands.  This measure would increase the amount of available loans to a maximum of $200,000 rather than the current $50,000.  The amount has not been adjusted since 1982. 

This bill will provide financial support to beneficiaries of Hawaiian home lands who would otherwise not be able to farm.  Moreover, because the loans are provided from a revolving fund, the money would re-circulate back in and be loaned out again to help other beneficiaries to implement agricultural activities.

Protecting Our Food Supply

From the banana bunchy top virus to the salmonella virus, the safety of Hawaii’s food supply affects us all.  Quick detection and identification can prevent or contain disease outbreaks.  However, in order for the State of Hawaii to remain ahead in identification and diagnosis, the Lingle-Aiona Administration is proposing two bills that will increase the Department of Health’s capacity to deal with disease detection and outbreak.   

In particular, the Administration is proposing a bill that allows the Department of Health to collect samples from any location, including private farms and livestock operations, in order to successfully conduct investigations, as long as the Director believes it is necessary.  Unlike previously where individuals were able to deny the Department access to information or samples, this initiative will allow the Department of Health to issue and enforce a warrant for agricultural samples. 

Additionally, another bill proposed by the Lingle-Aiona Administration will increase the number of epidemiologists, scientists who study the outbreak and spread of diseases.  This proposal will increase the available manpower for investigating outbreaks that threaten public health and safety.  By increasing manpower and empowering investigations, these two bills will allow the Department of Health to effectively prevent, interrupt, and contain food and non-food-related disease outbreaks.

Due to the declining number of milk producers in Hawaii, milk production plunged fifty percent between September 2006 and September 2007.  Currently, Hawaii milk producers are paid more per gallon of milk if it is processed for drinking (class I use), rather than for making dairy products like cottage cheese, yogurt, or ice cream (class II use).  Since Hawaii’s sole milk processor can buy drinking milk from producers on the mainland, Hawaii produced milk is currently used to make dairy products.  Rather than receiving approximately $30 per unit paid for class I milk, Hawaii’s milk producers are being paid approximately $20 per unit for class II milk.  As a result of the lower prices, milk producers in Hawaii are going out of business, which will eventually leave the State with no fresh milk dairy industry. 

In order to enjoy fresh products, protect our local food supply, and decrease our reliance on imported foods, it is vital for Hawaii to maintain a diversified agricultural economy that includes diaries.  To keep milk production in-state, the Lingle-Aiona administration is proposing a bill that will classify milk produced in Hawaii as class I milk.  This will allow milk producers in the State to receive a higher price per unit of milk, encouraging continued local milk production to ensure the availability of fresh milk.   

Protecting Against Pests and Invasive Species

From coqui frogs that make deafening noise to varroa mites that kill honey bees, Hawaii’s list of invasive species is getting longer every year.  Not only are these pests a nuisance, they also have the ability to adversely impact our local agriculture industries and food supply.  In an effort to increase the efficiency of inspections of shipping containers and target specific risks, the Lingle-Aiona Administration is introducing a measure that will give the Department of Agriculture new powers to inspect non-agriculturally-related products that may contain invasive species. 

Specifically, shippers and transporters will be required to provide the Department of Agriculture with pre-shipment manifests listing all carried articles, allowing the Department to flag high-risk shipments and allocate inspection personnel accordingly.  The department would also receive notification of cargo from aircrafts and marine vessels, whether traveling to Hawaii or traveling from island to island.  This measure will increase the State’s ability to halt the spread of pests that ultimately could adversely impact our agriculture and wildlife.