Bill Text: HI HCR81 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Agriculture To Develop A Sustainable Food Security Strategic Plan And Prepare An Annual Report To The Legislature.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-14 - Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 33 [HCR81 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-HCR81-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

81

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO DEVELOP A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY STRATEGIC PLAN AND PREPARE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE.

 

 

 


WHEREAS, food security, as defined by the United Nations' Committee on World Food Security, means that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii annually spends approximately $3,000,000,000 on importing eighty-five to ninety percent of its food; and

 

     WHEREAS, increasing local food production is essential for the future health and vitality of the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Governor has established the goal of doubling local food production by 2020; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State has many natural resources and vast agricultural lands that lend themselves to increasing local food production; and

 

     WHEREAS, despite the State's natural resources and goals for increased local food production, that production has remained slow to develop; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's residents need access to food in the event of a natural disaster or interruption in the food supply chain; and

     WHEREAS, the fragility of the State's food inventory leaves Hawaii with only a three-to-seven day supply of food when shipments from the mainland are delayed or cancelled; and

 

     WHEREAS, a recent combination of bad weather and shipping problems have resulted in empty shelves at several grocery stores across the State, mere months after multiple storm warnings resulted in similar shortages; and

 

     WHEREAS, title 7 United States Code, section 3103, defines "sustainable agriculture" as an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long term:

 

(1)  Satisfy human food and fiber needs;

 

(2)  Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends;

 

(3)  Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrates, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls;

 

(4)  Sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and

 

(5)  Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole; and

 

     WHEREAS, improving access to sustainable local foods will not only benefit the State financially but will also benefit the residents of Hawaii; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Agriculture is requested to develop a Sustainable Food Security Strategic Plan; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture consult with the Department of Transportation, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Office of Homeland Security, and interisland cargo water carriers, in developing a Sustainable Food Security Strategic Plan; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the goals of the Sustainable Food Security Strategic Plan are to:

 

(1)  Increase efficient use of renewable resources to develop Hawaii's food and farm sector;

 

(2)  Increase sustainable local diversified agriculture for local consumption;

 

(3)  Increase the economic viability of local farm operations;

 

(4)  Improve access to local, sustainably produced foods; and

 

(5)  Improve biosecurity; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is requested to submit an annual report, containing its findings and recommendations and any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each Regular Session starting in 2020 regarding its development of a Sustainable Food Security Strategic Plan; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, Director of Transportation, and Adjutant General.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Sustainable Food Security Strategic Plan; Department of Agriculture

feedback