Support Meaningful Reform of the ADC and Regenerative Agriculture!
Bills related to the reform of the failing Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC), along with several good food and agriculture bills, have been scheduled for their final hearings this upcoming week. After this, bills will crossover. Read below to learn how you can engage!
Note: If you have limited time, please prioritize supporting HB2418 HD1 and opposing SB2473.
About the Bills
SUPPORT HB2418 HD1 (ADC REFORM) WITH AMENDMENTS
After its first hearing, the House Committee on Agriculture (AGR) passed a strong ADC reform bill that included several of our recommended amendments. HB2418 HD1 is now moving into its final House hearing and will be heard by the House Committee on Finance Wednesday, February 23rd at 2 PM. Testimony is due by Tuesday, February 22nd at 2 PM.
Learn more about the ADC’s decades of controversy
What Does This Bill Do?
Provides comprehensive and meaningful reform of the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC).
Amends the purpose of the agency to shift from a focus on crops for export to farming and food production for local consumption.
Ensures a variety of agricultural expertise on the governing board of directors, including a focus on sustainable local food production.
Ensures that a comprehensive strategic plan is created for the agency. This would be informed by an analysis of farmer and food producer needs throughout Hawaiʻi. The plan would be reviewed annually to ensure the agency is meeting goals and benchmarks.
Provides greater oversight and direction for the executive director to ensure the agency is being managed to meet its goals for increasing local food production.
Prioritize entering into lease agreements designed to increase the production of local agricultural products. Set lease sizes appropriately to support small and mid-sized food producers.
Establish requirements regarding the amount of leases set aside for the production of local agricultural products for local consumption.
Why is This Bill Important?
Several studies have shown that small farmers overwhelmingly identified a lack of access to affordable, right-sized farm leases as a major barrier to farming. If Hawaiʻi is to meet its goals of doubling food production for local consumption, the agency must be reformed. Rather than focusing on using agribusiness for export, ADC-managed lands could be used to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s food security. The ADC should be a part of the solution in prioritizing access for farmers that are committed to sustainably producing food for local consumption.
It is critical that our government agencies manage Hawaiʻi’s public lands for the public good.
Talking Points
Please feel free to use the talking points below when submitting your testimony. You can also write something powerful from your experience on why this issue matters to you.
In 2021, a shocking state audit revealed that the ADC has failed to fulfill its mission within its nearly 30-year existence
The Hawaiʻi State Auditor described the ADC as an agency that "has done little – if anything – to facilitate the development of agriculture enterprises to fill the economic void created by the demise of the sugar and pineapple industries."
Prior to the 2021 audit, the ADC has also faced additional scandals throughout the years. This includes being sued for blatantly mismanaging land and water resources, people dying on ADC-managed lands, denying local farmers leases without justification, violating the Clean Water Act, allowing tenants to operate without formal leases, and leasing the majority of their landholdings to agrochemical companies that test experimental pesticides and grow herbicide-resistant seed crops.
If Hawaiʻi is to meet its goals of doubling food production for local consumption, the agency must be reformed. Rather than focusing on using agribusiness for export, ADC-managed lands could be used to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s food security.
Several studies have shown that small farmers overwhelmingly identified a lack of access to affordable, right-sized farm leases as a major barrier to farming. If the state is to meet its local food production goals, the ADC should be a part of the solution in prioritizing access for farmers that are committed to sustainably producing food for local consumption.
The state audit found that the ADC was lacking in deep agricultural expertise. The ADC should seek to increase the agricultural expertise on its board and staff through its strategic planning process.
Despite being required by statute, the ADC never developed an agribusiness plan for defining and establishing goals, objectives, policies, and priority guidelines. Having this plan in place would help the agency to fulfill its mission.
Resources
OPPOSE SB2473 SD1 (TRANSFER OF THE ADC)
This bill will not address the longstanding structural problems that have led to the failures of the ADC. It will only shift the oversight of the ADC from one agency to another, allowing the ADC to operate as-is. It is crucial that we strongly oppose this bill. SB2473 SD1 has a hearing before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Tuesday, February 22nd at 10 AM. Testimony is due Monday, February 21st at 10 AM.
What Does This Bill Do?
If passed, SB2473 will transfer the administrative attachment of the Agribusiness Development Corporation from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
Why Is It a Concern?
While some business and economic development expertise should certainly guide the ADC’s effort of increasing local food production enterprises in Hawaiʻi, an agency tasked with catalyzing the transition from pineapple and sugar to diversified agriculture must be well versed in the needs of the agricultural sector. Moving the agency into DBEDT would only further alienate the agency from its key stakeholders. The agency does not need to be housed under DBEDT to access business and economic development acumen. The legislature should take a more comprehensive approach to addressing the failings of the agency and enact reforms based on the recommendations of the state audit and the House Investigative Committee.
Talking Points
Please feel free to use the talking points below when submitting your testimony. You can also write something powerful from the heart on why this issue matters to you.
In January of 2021, a shocking audit conducted by the Hawaiʻi State Auditor revealed how leaders of the ADC have failed to accomplish the agency's mission within its nearly 30-year existence.
The state audit raises a multitude of concerns that cannot be addressed by simply moving oversight of the agency. Therefore, we oppose the transfer of the agency and respectfully request that the legislature take a more comprehensive approach to reforming the ADC.
The state audit found that the ADC was “lacking in deep agricultural expertise”. Moving the agency out of DOA into DBEDT would only further exacerbate this disconnect with the needs of farmers/food producers on the ground. The ADC should seek to increase the agricultural expertise on its board and staff through its strategic planning process.
Several studies have shown that small farmers overwhelmingly identified a lack of access to affordable, right-sized farm leases as a major barrier to farming. If the state is to meet its local food production goals, the ADC should be a part of the solution in prioritizing access for farmers that are committed to sustainably producing food for local consumption.
Proposed Amendments:
No land within the corporation's inventory shall be leased or licensed to any agricultural operation that meets the regulatory definition of a concentrated animal feeding operation as defined by United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations pursuant to title 40 Code of Federal Regulation section 122.23.
The corporation shall test the soils of all lands it leases or licenses prior to occupancy.
All leases of lands under the corporation's direct or indirect control shall contain provisions requiring that prior to expiration of the lease or the lessee's or licensee's vacating of the leased property, the lessee or licensee shall procure the service of an independent third-party to test the soils and remove any and all contaminants above the levels existing at commencement of the lease or license term.
SUPPORT SB2675 AND SB2990 (COVER CROP INCENTIVES)
There are several good cover crop incentive bills moving through both the House and Senate. Support for any or all is appreciated. Both SB2675 and SB2990 have a hearing before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Wednesday, February 23rd at 10:05 AM. Testimony is due Tuesday, February 22nd at 10:05 AM.
What Do These Bills Do?
Both bills establish a cover crop reimbursement pilot program to provide reimbursement to farming operations in the State for costs related to cover cropping.
Why Are These Bills Important?
Cover crops improve water quality, soil health, and build resiliency in the face of climate change. They are one of the most common, accessible agricultural strategies for improving soil health and water retention. They also prevent nitrogen pollution in water and erosion to the benefit of both the environment and the farmer.
Talking Points
Cover crops improve water quality, soil health, and build resiliency in the face of climate change. They are one of the most common, accessible agricultural strategies for improving soil health and water retention. They also prevent nitrogen pollution in water and erosion to the benefit of both the environment and the farmer.
Cover crops are considered a Best Management Practice (BMP) widely used in agriculture for nutrient loss reduction and soil conservation.
Cover crops are crucial to the nutrient cycle and the development of fertile soil. Because of this trait and how they’re used to manage a range of soil macronutrients and micronutrients[3], they are sometimes referred to as "green manure”. Of the various nutrients, the impact that cover crops have on nitrogen management has received the most attention from researchers and farmers because nitrogen is often the most limiting nutrient in crop production.
In the same way that allelopathic properties of cover crops can suppress weeds, they can also break disease cycles and reduce populations of bacterial and fungal diseases and parasitic nematodes. For example, species such as mustards have been shown to suppress fungal disease through the release of naturally occurring toxic chemicals. Similarly, some cover crops are used as so-called "trap crops" to attract pests away from the crop of value and intentionally toward the cover crop.
The many benefits of cover crops include:
Growing our agriculture sector through cover crop seed production
Supporting sustainable farming practices and healthy soil
Remediating depleted soil from industrial farming systems
Building organic matter (soil quality) and improving soil fertility (nutrients)
Reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and saving farmers’ money in inputs
Supporting native species and biodiversity
Increasing water infiltration and water retention
Suppressing weeds, resulting in less herbicide use
Providing disease and pest management
Reducing wind and water erosion and conserving top soil
Preventing runoff from impacting sensitive environments, water sources, nearshore reefs, and fisheries
Similar cover crop reimbursement programs have been successfully implemented in other states and work to incentivize cover crop planting and growth.
Resources
SUPPORT SB2955, SB3004, AND HB1992 HD2 (COMPOSTING BILLS)
SB2955 and SB3004 have a hearing before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Wednesday, February 23rd at 10:05 AM. Testimony is due Tuesday, February 22nd at 10:05 AM. HB1992 HD2 has a hearing before the House Committee on Finance next Wednesday, February 23rd at 2 PM. Testimony is due by Tuesday, February 22nd at 2 PM.
What Do These Bills Do?
Both SB2955 and SB3004 establish a staffed compost reimbursement program to provide reimbursements to farmers and ranchers when purchasing compost. SB2955 is a 3-year pilot program, while SB3004 doesn’t set an end date of the program and only appropriates staff funding for one year.
HB1992 HD2 permits composting and co-composting operations in agricultural districts.
Why Are These Bills Important?
Please feel free to use the following as talking points for your testimony. You can also write something powerful from your experience on why this issue matters to you.
Efforts to expand composting can divert up to 54% of household waste from the landfill and create garden gold for healthy, nutritious plants.
Through encouraging composting programs, we have the added benefit of avoiding the costs associated with hauling waste to other locations for recycling or disposal as well as reducing costs of inputs such as fertilizer or compost.
Composting will reduce carbon dioxide and human-made methane emissions, which are greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change and are also a critically important part of regenerative agriculture.
Resources
What You Can Do
Please submit testimony for each of these bills via the Hawaiʻi State Capitol Portal.
Share this call to action on your social media channels and spread the word! There is more power in numbers.
Stay involved and continue to testify this legislative session!
(Click here for full legislative website guide)
Please note that the Senate Committee on Ways and Means (WAM) does not accept oral testimony.
Thank you for standing alongside us to fight for a more just Hawaiʻi.
Together, we can heal Hawaiʻi’s broken food system.
