Located 2,200 miles from the continental U.S., Hawaii imports about 85-90% of its food, making it particularly vulnerable to disruptions in food supply. The state struggles with an aging farmer population (avg. 60 years old), lack of farm labor, and declining numbers of sustainable farmers. To address these critical issues, Hawaii’s Governor established a goal to double local food production by 2030.
The goal of the project was to reduce Hawaii’s dependence on imported food and increase the state’s food sustainability. This was accomplished by developing and supporting farmers and individuals who want to establish a business in the agricultural industry. This project developed new farmers through 1) a certificate-based farmer training program that integrated formal classroom and experiential lessons, 2) 1-on-1 business consulting and technical support, and 3) ongoing production, business, and networking support. Incorporating these components increased the likelihood of success for the state’s new and beginning farmers.
Over the past three years, 68% of participants (most of whom began with no farming experiences or connections) have started or improved a commercial farming operations, 13% of participants found employment in the agricultural industry, and 14% plan to use their knowledge to establish a farm in the future.
During the same period, a total of 2,471 aspiring and existing farmers have attended educational workshops and 189 have received individualized consulting.