THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	57
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the department of agriculture to establish a sustainable food systems working group.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, a sustainable food system is a food system in which producers, retailers, community members, non-governmental organizations, and government agencies partner to create a vibrant and resilient local food economy that enhances and sustains the environmental, economic, and social health of the community; and

 

     WHEREAS, the development of a more sustainable food system for Hawaii represents an opportunity to create a new food economy that integrates the objectives of "green" job creation, sustainable economic development, land stewardship, food security, environmental protection, and climate change resiliency with community health and well-being; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State needs a coordinated, comprehensive, and unified approach to building a sustainable food system; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, that the Department of Agriculture is requested to establish a Sustainable Food Systems Working Group; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group is requested to consist of the following members;

 

     (1)  The Deputy to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, who is also requested to serve as chairperson of the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group;

 

     (2)  A representative of the Department of Health, to be designated by the Director of Health;

 

     (3)  A representative of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to be designated by the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;

 

     (4)  A representative of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, to be designated by the Acting Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development;

 

     (5)  The Coordinator of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, or the Coordinator's designee;

 

     (6)  A member of the House of Representatives, to be designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

 

     (7)  A member of the Senate, to be designated by the President of the Senate;

 

     (8)  The Interim Dean and Director of the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, or the Interim Dean and Director's designee;

 

     (9)  An associate professor of indigenous crops and cropping systems at the University of Hawaii at Manoa;

 

    (10)  An assistant professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Hawaii at Manoa;

 

    (11)  A representative of the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, to be invited by the chairperson of the Working Group;

 

    (12)  A representative of the Hawaii Foodbank, to be invited by the chairperson of the Working Group;

 

    (13)  A representative of the Hawaii Farm to School Hui, to be invited by the chairperson of the Working Group;

 

    (14)  A representative of the Hawaii Foodservice Alliance, to be invited by the chairperson of the Working Group; and

 

    (15)  A representative of Hawaii Investment Ready, to be invited by the chairperson of the Working Group; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group is requested to develop an interagency food systems plan pegged to sustainable development goals that address all of the following food system planning themes:

 

     (1)  Food as a human right and healthy food for all;

 

     (2)  Social equity and food justice;

 

     (3)  Food system resilience;

 

     (4)  Agriculture and food system sustainability;

 

     (5)  Food at the center of a circular economy;

 

     (6)  Sustainability education, workforce development, and fair labor; and

 

     (7)  Good food governance; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group's interagency food systems plan also be pegged to sustainable development goals that address all of the following food system planning elements:

 

     (1)  Public health and nutrition;

 

     (2)  Household food security;

 

     (3)  Food safety;

 

     (4)  Social equity and food justice;

 

     (5)  Secure and affordable land access;

 

     (6)  Food system resilience, disaster preparedness, and response;

 

     (7)  Biocultural restoration;

 

     (8)  Ecological sustainability;

 

     (9)  Land and water resource use;

 

    (10)  Food waste;

 

    (11)  Biosecurity;

 

    (12)  Infrastructure and capital investment;

 

    (13)  Sustainable economic development and local food economies;

 

    (14)  Sustainable fisheries;

 

    (15)  Education and food literacy;

 

    (16)  Workforce development;

 

    (17)  Fair labor; and

 

    (18)  Good food governance; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group's interagency food systems plan include scientific indicators and a metrics system to track progress; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group are requested to serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in carrying out their duties; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group is requested to submit the interagency food systems plan and its recommendations for the implementation of the plan, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is requested to provide any necessary administrative and staff support to the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group, including the preparation of the interagency food systems plan; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture; Director of Health; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Acting Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Coordinator of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Interim Dean and Director of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii at Manoa; Chair of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of the University of Hawaii at Manoa; Executive Director of the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Foodbank; Program Manager of the Farm to School Hui; Chief Executive Officer of Hawaii Foodservice Alliance; and Chief Executive Officer of Hawaii Investment Ready.