Project Overview
Commodities
- Fruits: avocados, bananas, citrus, papaya
- Vegetables: eggplant, greens (leafy), peppers, sweet potatoes, taro, tomatoes
- Additional Plants: native plants, Ulu (breadfruit)
- Animals: fish
- Animal Products: honey, meat
Practices
- Animal Production: aquaculture
- Crop Production: agroforestry, cover crops, crop rotation, food processing facilities/community kitchens, high tunnels or hoop houses, irrigation, season extension
- Education and Training: farmer to farmer, mentoring, networking, on-farm/ranch research, workshop
- Energy: energy conservation/efficiency, renewable energy, solar energy
- Farm Business Management: agricultural finance, business planning, value added
- Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity
- Production Systems: aquaponics, hydroponics, organic agriculture
- Soil Management: composting, organic matter
- Sustainable Communities: food access and security, food hubs, local and regional food systems, new business opportunities, values-based supply chains
Proposal abstract:
The Hawaii Good Food Alliance (HGFA) and its partners, which include the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, UH CTAHR Extension, Guahan Sustainable Culture, Alaska Food Policy Council, and the Hawaii Agriculture Technical Assistance Hui (Ag TA Hui), propose a project to address the pressing need for sustainable agriculture in the USDA Regional Food Business Center (RFBC) Island and Remote Regions (Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, American Samoa, and CNMI).
The Target Areas share common challenges, including geographic isolation, complex food transit logistics, underdeveloped infrastructure, climate change impacts, colonial histories, indigenous populations, and legal issues. These challenges demand innovative solutions for building resilient and sustainable regional food systems.
To address these issues, our project leverages the 5-year RFBC Technical Assistance and Business Builder Grant programming to expedite the adoption of Western SARE sustainable agricultural practices. This project builds on planned RFBC events, workshops, training, and media products to disseminate Western SARE materials tailored to each region's specific needs.
By providing technical assistance and financial support through RFBC activities, this project equips agricultural professionals, producers, and communities with the knowledge and resources needed to reduce risks associated with sustainable practices. Through educational activities, workshops, training, and digital campaigns, the project empowers agricultural stakeholders to both adopt and share sustainable agriculture practices.
The project's outcomes will be rigorously evaluated, and results will be shared with the public to promote the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and contribute to the region's environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
In summary, this project addresses the urgent need for sustainable agriculture and exemplifies the power of collaboration, education, and community empowerment in driving positive change. It offers a holistic solution to the unique challenges faced by the Target Areas, paving the way for resilient, sustainable, and self-reliant local food systems.
Project objectives from proposal:
Enhance Understanding of Sustainable Agriculture Principles: Ensure that extension agents, technical assistance providers and agricultural professionals have a deep understanding of sustainable agriculture principles, with specific focus on soil health, integrated pest management, and ecological farming methods.
Expand Technical Proficiency: Strengthen the technical proficiency of agricultural professionals and producers in the application of sustainable agriculture techniques, such as organic farming practices, agroforestry, and precision agriculture.
Empower Decision-Making: Enhance the decision-making capabilities of agricultural professionals and producers by providing tools and knowledge for assessing the feasibility and potential benefits of sustainable practices.
Encourage Collaboration and Networking: Promote collaboration and networking among agricultural professionals and producers, enabling them to share best practices and learn from each other's experiences in sustainable agriculture.
Cultivate Leadership in Sustainable Agriculture: Identify and nurture emerging leaders in sustainable agriculture within the Target Areas, empowering them to take on leadership roles and inspire positive change in their communities.
Address Specific Regional Challenges: Tailor training and education to address the unique challenges faced by agricultural professionals and producers in the Target Areas, such as geographic isolation, climate change impacts, and limited resources.
Measure and Report Progress: Implement a system for measuring and reporting the progress of agricultural professionals and producers in adopting sustainable agriculture practices and principles.
Evaluate Impact: Conduct regular evaluations to assess the impact of the project in terms of the knowledge and skills gained by participants, as well as the subsequent adoption of sustainable practices in the Target Areas.