Hawaii-2019-SB1436-Amended

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii is one of the most geographically isolated locations in the world. Hawaii is inordinately susceptible to price fluctuations for food and goods because prices of both are affected by the price of oil needed to fuel the importation of food and goods to the State. Further, almost all food items consumed in-state must be shipped to Hawaii to support the needs of the State's population.

The legislature further finds that, generally, large conventional farming operations use pesticides that damage the State's fragile ecosystem. The pesticides enter the water and land resources of the State and find their way into the ocean. The State's food security is also compromised by other factors, such as the rat lungworm, a disease-causing nematode, that may cause long-term disability and consequently diminish an affected person's ability to earn a living.

The legislature additionally finds that the State must explore more effective and environmentally responsible ways to increase food production to feed its residents. Agricultural technology, or ag-tech, should be at the forefront of the effort to revitalize the agricultural sector of the State and develop that industry's potential to be a major contributor to state revenue.

The legislature also finds that vertical farming, the use of indoor farming techniques in a closed and controlled environment to grow produce in vertically stacked layers, reduces the need for space, pesticides, and water to grow food.

AeroFarms in New Jersey, with its sixty-nine thousand square foot facility, has demonstrated the potential of vertical farming to grow healthy fruits and vegetables, and to spur economic activity at the same time. According to Cornell University and the University of California, "Every year, AeroFarms has the potential to produce up to thirty harvests and yield two million pounds of greens. In comparison, a traditional outdoor farm in New York state produces about three lettuce harvests in a good year."

Hawaii must entertain alternatives to its current agricultural operations by bringing in new ideas for the use of land and practicing responsible land stewardship. New agricultural production methods, such as vertical farming, have enormous potential to increase crop yields in limited land space. Several other developed countries, such as Singapore, have successfully implemented vertical farming operations that balance urban development and food production.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Require the department of agriculture to conduct a study on the feasibility of authorizing the department to establish and designate agricultural technology zones, or ag-tech zones, within the city and county of Honolulu, specifically the Kalihi-Palama, Kakaako, Moanalua, and Waianae coast areas; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the feasibility study.

SECTION 2. (a) The department of agriculture shall conduct a study on the feasibility of authorizing the department to establish and designate agricultural technology zones, or ag-tech zones, within the city and county of Honolulu, specifically the Kalihi-Palama, Kakaako, Moanalua, and Waianae coast areas, in which technological innovation in agriculture shall be used to increase food production in a more effective and environmentally responsible way that also contributes to state revenues.

(b) In conducting the feasibility study, the department of agriculture shall consider the following goals and objectives:

(1) Protecting and expanding Hawaii's agricultural production for in-state consumption and export;

(2) Creating a new industry that recognizes and responds to the challenges of the future of food production in the context of population growth;

(3) Recruiting and training Hawaii's youth for the new agricultural economy; and

(4) Promoting farming techniques that reduce the use of water and pesticides.

(1) Research into agricultural technology zoning currently used in other jurisdictions and best practices relating thereto;

(2) Identification of areas within the city and county of Honolulu suitable for agricultural technology zoning;

(3) Determination of funding and staffing requirements for a statewide agricultural technology program and any other implementation concerns;

(4) Recommendations for state and county legislation necessary to implement a statewide agricultural technology program; and

(5) Production of an economic impact report based upon the successful implementation of a statewide agricultural technology program.

(d) In conducting the feasibility study, the department of agriculture shall request, as appropriate, the assistance of the department of land and natural resources; University of Hawaii; department of business, economic development, and tourism; Hawaii community development authority; and city and county of Honolulu. Those agencies shall cooperate and provide necessary resources as requested by the department of agriculture.

(e) The department of agriculture shall submit a report of the findings and recommendations of its feasibility study, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2020.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the department of agriculture to conduct a feasibility study as required by this Act.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2150.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1436
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1