21st Century agriculture

Hawaii’s agriculture sector produces specialty crops that sustain local communities and economies. This policy committee advances policies that strengthen farm viability, improve transportation and infrastructure efficiency, align production with demand, and foster resilient, innovative, and economically sustainable food systems statewide.

Our Mission

To promote a resilient, diversified, and economically strong local food system by supporting farm viability, aligning agricultural production with institutional demand, and reducing costs while strengthening workforce stability and community access to fresh, locally grown products.

The Chamber promotes region-specific agricultural production, local food system planning, transportation support, workforce housing, and production readiness programs. Initiatives aim to expand market access, strengthen small- and medium-sized farms, and enhance sustainability across Hawaii.

Supporting agricultural production and workforce stability creates jobs in farming, food processing, and distribution. Aligning production with institutional demand increases efficiency, lowers costs, and strengthens food security. Broader benefits include resilient rural economies, equitable participation for smaller producers, and sustainable long-term agricultural growth.

Our Purpose

The 21st Century Agriculture Policy Committee supports the goals of the 2030 Blueprint for Hawaii by:

Increasing local production and value-added output through shared processing infrastructure, regional kitchens, and the Food Product Innovation Network (FPIN).
Expanding farm-to-school and institutional procurement to strengthen local markets and sustain steady demand for Hawaii-grown products.
Modernizing agricultural policy and data systems to improve transparency, reporting, and long-term planning.
Activating agricultural lands through targeted investment in infrastructure, workforce, and land management partnerships.
Supporting agricultural workforce development by aligning education, training, and industry to ensure a skilled labor pipeline for emerging food and ag-tech industries.
Promoting agricultural exports and innovation to diversify markets and elevate Hawaii’s position in regional food systems.

21st Century Agriculture Scorecard

Our Vision

A resilient, innovative agricultural system where farmers thrive, local communities access fresh produce, and Hawaii’s food economy is self-sufficient, economically strong, and responsive to local demand.

Policy Committee Focus Areas

PRODUCTION & INFRASTRUCTURE

Supports regional crop planning, expanded regional kitchen capacity, shelf-stable food production, value creation, and land use prioritization to strengthen farm viability and food system resilience.

INSTITUTIONAL PROCUREMENT

Aligns farm production with institutional demand, strengthens procurement processes, data reporting, and interagency coordination (DOE, DOA, ADC, UH) to expand access to local food.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION PATHWAYS

Incentivizes agricultural workforce housing and aligns CTE, UH, and community college programs with production, processing, and logistics workforce needs.

TRANSPORTATION & MARKET ACCESS

Reduces inter-island transportation costs, supports diversified export products, shelf-life technologies, and market-entry strategies to enhance competitiveness and reach for Hawaii producers.

Excited about the Blueprint?

Has the Blueprint been a catalyst for business growth and legislative engagement? We want to spotlight you.

Reach out

Contact us if you want to know more about or get involved with legislative action, advocacy events or the 2030 Blueprint.