2022 LANDSCAPE UPDATE
2022 Farm to School Priorities
Lydi Bernal, Farm to School Hui Coordinator at the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institiute (HIPHI), explains their two Farm to School priorities for this session. The first priority is SB 2266, which establishes a "P-20 Agriculture Education Coordinator" within UH CTAHR to manage the statewide effort of providing students from preschool to post-secondary school with a quality agriculture education. The second priority for HIPHI this session is SB 2182, which establishes a "School Garden Specialist" position within the Department of Education's Office of Curriculum to help support schools choosing to use gardens as outdoor classrooms.
2022 Healthy Soil Bills
Food Systems Planner, Hunter Heaivilin discusses two bills relating to healthy soils: HB 1527, the Cover Crop Reimbursement Pilot Program and HB 1528, the Compost Reimbursement Program. The Cover Crop Reimbursement Pilot Program is a three-year initiative that would provide financial reimbursement for producers using cover crops, as well as create a position for a "Cover Crop Reimbursement Pilot Program Manager." The Composting Reimbursement Program, based on a successful 2018 pilot program, would reimburse participating farmers for the cost of using cover crops and create a position for a "Compost Reimbursement Program Manager."
2022 Farm to Food Bank Bill
Jaylen Murakami, Advocacy & Outreach Coordinator at the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institiute (HIPHI), explains HB 1566, the Farm to Food Bank bill for this session. The Farm to Food Bank bill would provide funding for food banks to enhance their local purchasing power. This would allow food banks to provide the community with more healthy, fresh, culturally appropriate foods while reducing the impact made by importing foods for distribution.
2022 Food Hub Bill
Christen Oliveira, Community Food Systems Planner at Kōkua Kalihi Valley, explains SB 2218, the Food Hub bill for this session. The Food Hub bill would allocate funding for the support of existing food hubs, along with the creation of new food hubs. Food hubs are a tremendous resource for our consumers and producers alike, and this effort will help to increase the many benefits of food hubs within our communities.
2022 Sugary Drink Fee Bill
Jaylen Murakami, Advocacy & Outreach Coordinator at the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institiute (HIPHI), explains SB 2211, the Sugary Drink Fee bill for this upcoming session. The Sugary Drink Fee bill would tax sugar-added beverages, such as juice and soda, an additional two cents per ounce. The revenue generated from this tax would be used for funding programs to improve community health.
ADC Reform Bill
Wahiawā resident T.J. Cuaresma explains the need for the ADC Reform Bill, HB2418. She discusses the history of mismanagement and the neglect occurring under the current leadership of the ADC. This bill would amend the focus, scope, and management of the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC), and appropriate funds to the ADC for a consultant for planning, an accountant, and for security on ADC property.
2021 LANDSCAPE UPDATE
Introduction
An introduction to the inaugural Food+ Policy Landscape Update. Dr. Kelsey Amos, co-organizer of the event, delivers a welcome to viewers. Dr. Albie Miles, Assistant Professor of the Sustainable Community Food Systems program at the University of Hawaiʻi - West Oahu, highlights the importance and need for integrated food policy in order for Hawai'i to make food system change. Finally, moderator Hunter Heaivilin provides an overview of the event.
Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (David Lopez)
David Lopez, Executive Officer of the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, provides an overview of the food and water system vulnerabilities in Hawaiʻi and suggests steps that can be taken to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s food security, particularly in a time of an emergency.
AgHui (Claire Sullivan & Michelle Galimba)
AgHui members Clair Sullivan and Michelle Galimba provide an overview of their organization, explain their recommendation matrix, and highlight AgHui’s five policy priorities for which they hope to gain legislative support.
KUA (Miwa Tamanaha & Niegel Rozet)
Members of KUA discuss the importance of indigenous foodways in helping Hawaiʻi to achieve food sovereignty. Miwa Tamanaha provides the historical background of Hawaiʻi’s indigenous foodways and shares examples of policies and resources that support indigenous foodways. Niegle Rozet explains the role of Community Based Subsistence Fishing Areas and emphasizes the need to support them.
Hawaii Appleseed (Daniela Spoto)
Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s Daniela Spoto presents policy solutions for address food insecurity by describing holistic policy solutions paired with tools for accomplishing them. She also highlights Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s priorities for the 2021 legislative session which include double up food bucks, farm to food non-profit, and the sugar-sweetened beverage fee.
Representative Amy Perruso
Hawaiʻi State Representative Amy Perruso describes the food and agriculture landscape that is underway at the 2021 state legislative session. She highlights food and agriculture proposals and the changes that are taking place at the Hawaiʻi legislature as a result of COVID-19.
C&C of Honolulu OCCSR (Dexter Kishida)
Food Security & Sustainability Manager Dexter Kishida, of the Office of Climate Change, Resilience, & Sustainability, discusses the City & County of Honolulu’s role in supporting and enhancing communities’ sustainability and resiliency.
Ulupono Initiative (Micha Munekata)
Ulupono Initiative’s Micha Munekata emphasizes the need to support local food producers, especially during this time of COVID-19. He also discusses Ulupono’s hopes for the legislative session and encourages community members to engage in the legislative process.
Q&A & Closing Remarks
The inaugural Food+ Policy Landscape Update closes with panelist answering questions posed by viewers and sharing what they are excited for in the 2021 legislative session.