Co-Managing Food Safety and Land Stewardship on Hawaii Farms

Project Overview

WPDP19-24
Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 2019: $74,715.00
Projected End Date: 06/30/2021
Host Institution Award ID: G111-20-W7504
Grant Recipients: Oahu RC&D; North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership; University of Hawaii - Cooperative Extension
Region: Western
State: Hawaii
Principal Investigator:
Dave Elliott
Oahu RC&D
Co-Investigators:
Jean Brokish
Oahu Resource Conservation and Development Council

Information Products

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Animal Production: aquaculture, grazing management, manure management, preventive practices, processing regulations, watering systems
  • Crop Production: agroforestry, alley cropping, conservation tillage, cover crops, crop rotation, food processing, food product quality/safety, nutrient management, organic fertilizers, water management, windbreaks
  • Education and Training: decision support system, demonstration, extension, farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research, technical assistance, workshop
  • Farm Business Management: whole farm planning
  • Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity, grass waterways, hedgerows, wetlands, wildlife
  • Pest Management: integrated pest management, physical control, prevention, sanitation
  • Production Systems: agroecosystems, aquaponics, dryland farming, holistic management, hydroponics, integrated crop and livestock systems, organic agriculture
  • Soil Management: composting, organic matter
  • Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems

    Proposal abstract:

    In order to elevate Hawaii’s farms to meet national standards and public expectations, Hawaii’s farmers will require technical assistance and training to comply with food safety regulations and land management requirements.  This initiative, “Co-Managing Food Safety and Land Stewardship on Hawaii Farms” will identify and fulfill opportunities for local farmers to comply with two common regulations: food safety requirements designed to minimize risk to consumers, and land development ordinances designed to minimize soil erosion.  We will assemble a team of farmers and food safety & conservation planning experts to identify, select, and demonstrate co-management practices (defined as conservation practices that simultaneously address food safety requirements) that are suitable for Hawaii’s agricultural industry. We will share information with conservation planners, extension agents and other agricultural professionals, increasing the use of conservation practices that improve land stewardship and support food safety compliance.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    Project team members will identify, select, and demonstrate management tools and best practices for Hawaii farmers to successfully co-manage food safety and land stewardship goals. Key objectives and timelines include:

    1. Evaluate and identify practices that simultaneously address food safety and land stewardship goals.

    July - October 2019: Convene advisory panel of farmers and professionals with expertise in food safety and land stewardship

    July - December 2019: Create matrix of conservation practices based on the relationship between food safety and land stewardship

     

    1. Select high priority practices based on efficacy, feasibility and viability for Hawaii’s farmers.

    January - March 2020: Obtain feedback from farmers and others to select the most viable strategies

     

    1. Demonstrate the use of practices identified as supportive of both goals (co-management practices).

    April - June 2020: Install on-farm demonstrations of the most viable practices

    July - September 2020: host on-farm workshops to share results (2 islands)

     

    1. Increase knowledge of co-management practices among farmers and agricultural professionals.

    April - June 2020: draft outreach materials (fact sheet, e-newsletter, articles / publications)

    June - December 2020: Share information with farmers, farm advocacy groups, conservation planners, farm advisors and other agricultural professionals.  

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.