HI SCR93

Hawaii imports approximately 92 percent of its food, making the state vulnerable to food shortages from natural disasters or supply chain disruptions.

Replacing 10 percent of food imports with locally grown food would create approximately 2,300 jobs and keep hundreds of millions of dollars circulating in Hawaii's economy, according to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

The Office of Planning is urged to convene the Food Sustainability Standard Task Force with members from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism, Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawaii, and other appropriate agencies and stakeholders.

The task force must develop a feasible, coordinated, and interdisciplinary food sustainability standard while consulting with private, nonprofit, community, and government stakeholders.

The Office of Planning must submit the food sustainability standard and proposed legislation to codify it to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the 2014 Regular Session convenes.