Action Alert: Support Regenerative Ag and Local Food Producers!
Support Regenerative Agriculture & Local Food Producers
The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment will be hearing two important bills to support a more regenerative and resilient food system for Hawaii this Wednesday, Jan. 28th at 3pm in Conference Room 224 (and virtually). Please take a moment to submit testimony in support of four good food & ag bills. All testimony is due by Tuesday at 3pm.
If you have not done so already you will need to create an account with the Hawaii State Legislature website to submit testimony.
Support SB 2097: Climate-Resilient Grants for Farmers
What Does This Bill Do?
Establishes the Climate-Resilient Food Systems Grant Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.
Why Is This Important? Sample Testimony:
Aloha Chair Gabbard, Vice Chair Richards and Members of the Committee,
Please support SB 2097. Climate change is upon us, and our food producers are already struggling with the costs of adaptation. Extreme weather events such as rain bombs and drought are already impacting farmers and food producers' livelihoods. One extreme weather event such as the historic flooding of Kauaʻi in 2018 can wipe out an entire harvest, destroy equipment and infrastructure, and ultimately put food producers out of business. Margins are already thin for farmers in Hawaii. To prioritize local food security we must support programs such as the proposed climate-resilient grant program to bolster our food producers and as a result, our local food security.
Mahalo for your consideration,
Your name, Town
Support SB2110 : Healthy Soils Program
What Does This Bill Do?
Establishes a Conservation Agriculture and Soil Health Incentive Program within the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Requires an annual report to the Legislature.
Why Is This Important? Sample Testimony:
Aloha Chair Gabbard, Vice Chair Richards and Members of the Committee,
Please support SB2110. Healthy soils provide many environmental and economic benefits, by supporting healthy crops and a productive ag sector, capturing carbon/climate change mitigation, making plants more pest and climate impact resilient and less dependent on costly inputs. Healthy soils are the foundation of a healthy food system.
We must provide farmers with education and technical assistance to implement farm management practices that contribute to healthy soils and issue awards and other financial incentives to implement farm management practices that contribute to healthy soils.
In recent decades we have learned a great deal about the importance of microbial life, soil biodiversity and the potential for our soil to capture carbon, aiding in mitigating climate change. The impacts heavy industrial practices have in depleting our local soil health for over a century, we must move away from the outdated practices of sterilizing lands with pesticides and herbicides and killing the soil microbes and life, and instead support the biodiversity of insects and microbes that are beneficial to soil health. Please support SB2110.
Mahalo for your consideration!
Your Name, Town
Mahalo for taking the time to support Hawaiʻi's farmers and food systems!
In solidarity,
The HAPA Team
New to Legislative Engagement? Learn more about how to engage in the Legislative Session!
Make sure you have set up your account on the Hawaiʻi State Legislature website. If you are new to the process, see this helpful page on legislative engagement 101 from the Public Access Room including a link on how to submit testimony!
Join us this session in supporting a broad array of bills designed to support local farmers, food producers, increase local food production, address inequities in our food system such as food insecurity, and support regenerative and indigenous farming/food production practices.
Learn more information below about HAPA’s 2024 FSFS policy agenda and take action in support of these Fair & Sustainable Food System policy priorities!
New to Legislative Engagement? Learn more about how to engage in the Legislative Session!
Make sure you have set up your account on the Hawaii State Legislature website. If you are new to the process, see this helpful page on legislative engagement 101 from the Public Access Room including a link on how to submit testimony!
Mahalo for taking action!
