Thursday 9/23 Sessions - click here
Friday 9/24 Sessions – see details below

Friday September 24, 2010

Registration

2010 Hawaii Agriculture Conference Tradeshow and Farm Equipment Exhibits

Visit over 30 exhibitors and learn about resources that can help you grow your business, learn about innovative practices and connect to others who believe in agriculture as an important part of Hawaii’s future. Businesses, government agencies and nonprofit organizations will all have presence here at the tradeshow. Learn about some of the latest technology tools in the Web Tools for Connecting area. The exhibits' room will feature café like seating areas, free wireless connections to the internet and food and beverages throughout the day. Please make sure to visit the exhibits during the continental breakfast, session breaks and the pau hana reception.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

John McHugh, President of Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii
Diane Ley, State Executive Director, USDA Farm Service Agency

Keynote Presentation – A Path to our Future

A new renewable energy based economy has the ability to help pull ourselves out of economic troubles; find a new path away from the uncertainty and extreme volatility of imported fossil fuels; and help correct the environmental degradation caused by the massive use of fossil fuels for decades. We must and can squarely address these challenges and seize new opportunities for economic growth. Some of these efforts will be practical and fairly easy. Other actions are going to involve clearly seeing the vision; setting out to take calculated high risks; and gaining the skills to be quick to adapt the model. President Obama and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are strong advocates in leading this renewable energy transformation with vision, strategies and resources to support the private sector and the collaborative leadership of organizations such as the Hawaii Rural Development Council. Ms. Bittleman will update the conference on the progress of USDA's energy programs.

Speaker

Sarah Bittleman is a Senior Advisor to Secretary Tom Vilsack of the United States Department of Agriculture. She joined the Secretary’s Office in January 2010 serving as a policy advisor on energy, Environmental Protection Agency issues, Title I programs and other areas related to production agriculture. Bittleman previously worked for the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on a range of policy and strategic development issues involving agriculture, energy, natural resources and climate change. She has a Master of Public Administration from East Carolina University, a Juris Doctorate from Tulane University of Law School and a BA in Political Science from Union College in New York. Sarah will be the Friday morning keynote speaker

Plenary Session: Food AND Fuel: Maintaining a Balance

Hawaii has the capacity and resources to produce and sustain both essential systems and be good stewards of the land, good neighbors in our communities and globally competitive. Learn how the various plans for sustainability in the areas of food and energy security are currently being addressed. This session is to provide current data and information about what it means to the sector to increase biofuel production across the state. This session is part of the day-long Hawaii Biomass & Bioenergy Workshop: What’s the Buzz? & What’s in it for Hawaii’s Agriculture? being developed by U. S. Department of Agriculture.

Speakers

· Russell Kokubun, Vice President, Hawaii State Senate

· Dr. Makena Coffman, Assistant Professor of Urban & Regional Planning at the University of Hawaii at Manoa

· Abbey Mayer, Director, Hawaii State Office of Planning

· John Cross, Manager for Ed Olson, landowner in Ka`u (Invited)

Concurrent Sessions

Hawaii Biomass & Bioenergy Workshop: What’s the Buzz & What’s in it for Hawaii’s Agriculture?

On Friday the U. S. Department of Agriculture presents the following sessions:

· USDA Biofuels Roadmap – Presidents Obama’s Plan to Transition America’s Energy Economy

· Fuel Purchasing – Who’s doing the “Pulling” in the Military

· Why Biomass & Biofuels for Hawaii?

· What’s in it for Producers?

· Federal Resources to Assist

· Expanding the U.S. (Hawaii) Biofuels Market – Outreach Meeting and Facilitated Discussion

Please see session and speaker details on the Hawaii Biomass & Bioenergy Workshop here.

Networking Lunch (picnic box lunch)

Pick up your picnic lunch in the Tradeshow Exhibits room and join new friends at any of the various locations set aside for comfortable casual networking….or visit the tradeshow, or preview the film in Holkulani Ballroom #2.

Film Screening: Na Kupu Mana'olana – Seeds of Hope-the Future of Agriculture in Hawaii

For over 1,000 years the Hawaiian people produced enough food to support an estimated population of one million. Today, 85% of their food is imported. And if current trends continue, Hawaii’s last agricultural lands will be gone by 2040. Can Hawaii change course in time? Yes. This new documentary will expose the world to the individual heroes that are working to solve the biggest issue facing this beloved remote island paradise: “How Can Hawaii Feed Itself?”

These “seeds of hope,” innovative farmers – both large and small, ranchers, distributors, educators and everyday citizens are scattered throughout the island chain and are growing new ideas that can solve Hawaii’s food crisis and inspire a world to become more sustainable while returning to the land. Through personal stories, the film will explore the major issues facing Hawaii: The post plantation period, food security, education, nutrition and will demonstrate how everyone, from industrial farms to traditional taro farmers, must work together to solve these issues. The screening at the 2010 Hawaii Agriculture Conference is a 30-minute preview of the 2 hour film being developed by award-winning island filmmaker Danny Miller for Hawaii Public Television.

A Summit on Rural Hawaii: The Data, The Dilemmas, and The Opportunities

Following a recent statewide listening sessions the Hawaii Rural Development Council will host a series of presentations, conversations and planning on topics such as rural business development, food security, access to broadband and renewable energy. Please see session and speaker details on the Summit for Rural Hawaii see here.

Follow the Water: Hawaii's Drought Dilemma

Drought is a reality in Hawai'i. On July 21, 2010, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated all four counties in Hawai'i as primary disaster areas due to losses caused by drought that began January 1, 2010, and continues, with news media describing the drought in Hawai'i as the worst in the United States. This session will present stories of Hawai'i's drought challenges through distinct data lenses that consider rainfall and water availability in island ecosystems, wildfires and other hazards, impacts on ecosystem services, and the social, cultural, and economic impacts of drought. The panel presenters will talk story about multi-agency collaborative projects currently underway to understand drought patterns and impacts and how we all can improve county, state, and federal mitigation and adaptation planning efforts. Everyone from farmers to policy makers will benefit from information to be shared at the session about web-based tools, data, and other resources available to support drought mitigation and community resilience planning efforts. This session will be moderated by Marina Piscolish of MAPping Change, LLC.

Speakers

Neal D. J. Fujii, the Hawai'i State Drought and Water Conservation Coordinator in the Commission on Water Resource Management, Planning Branch, Department of Land and Natural Resources, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology from the University of Hawai'i, and has formerly served as the State’s Climatologist.  He administers the development of a statewide water conservation framework.  This includes the development and implementation of the State Drought Plan and the State Agency Water Conservation Plan.  He organizes and facilitates the State’s Drought Council and serves on the Hawai'i State Hazard Mitigation Forum.

Dr. Cheryl L. Anderson, PhD, is the Director of the Hazards, Climate, and Environment Program, University of Hawai‘i Social Science Research Institute and a certified urban/regional planner. For the last sixteen years, she has conducted research and planning projects on climate and disaster risk management in the Pacific, with attention to gender, traditional ecological knowledge, and socioeconomic aspects of risk reduction and resilience. She is the primary author of Hawai'i State’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. She serves on the boards and advisory committees of Pacific regional and Hawai'i State collaborations on climate change and disaster risk reduction, such as PRiMO and the Hawaii State Hazard Mitigation Forum.

Kevin Kodama serves as the Senior Service Hydrologist for the NOAA/National Weather Service's Honolulu Forecast Office and a meteorologist for the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.  He has been a meteorologist since 1989 and has worked for NOAA since 1995.  Kevin has a Bachelor of Science degree in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington (1988) and a Master of Science degree in Meteorology from the University of Hawai'i-Mānoa (1995). Since 1999, Kevin has provided weekly input to the U.S. Drought Monitor (now part of the National Integrated Drought Information System) regarding conditions in Hawai'i and provides input on climate and weather conditions to the Hawai'i Drought Council.

Dr. Kenneth Y. Kaneshiro, PhD, serves as Director of the Center for Conservation Research & Training and Director of the Hawaiian Evolutionary Biology Program at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. . He also serves as the Executive Director of the Hawai'i Conservation Alliance which is a cooperative partnership of 16 government, education and non-profit organizations. The mission of the HCA is to promote effective, long-term management of Hawaii’s native ecosystems through collaborative research, training and outreach among land managers, scientists, educators and the general public. Dr. Kaneshiro received his BS, MS, and PhD degrees from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa.

Dr. Marina Avi Piscolish, PhD, is the President and Principal Partner of MAPping Change, LLC. Dr. Piscolish is an experienced facilitator, mediator, strategic advisor, and trainer serving the public, private and not-for-profit sectors with a specialty in environment, education, and social justice issues in cross-cultural, complex or high-conflict settings. Her unique expertise combines knowledge of organizational planning and development, dispute resolution, and facilitative leadership to create capacity and climate for collaboration and strategic change. Additional professional services include systems and program design, project development, research and program evaluation.

Optimizing Hawaii Crops for Food Self Sufficiency: Import Replacements and Invasive Species

Two key issues in Hawaii’s path to food self sufficiency include identifying appropriate crops that have stable markets and ensuring we protect those crops we plan to rely upon. Best Management Practice resources for early detection and eradication of target pests will be shared as well as examples of collaborations between conservation management professionals and agricultural producers. Info about the Weed Risk Assessment will also be shared.

Confirmed Speakers

Jacqueline Kozak is the Communications Coordinator for the Hawai`i Invasive Species Council (HISC).  A Community Outreach Specialist since 2005, Jackie worked with farmers, students, nursery owners, and cultural practitioners to raise awareness about the impacts of invasive species and collaboratively work together to prevent their spread. She has served on the board of directors for Garden Island Resource Conservation and Development, Garden Island Arts Council, and the Landscaping Industry Council of Hawaii and is an active member of the Hawai`i Environmental Education Alliance.  She participated in the Agricultural Forum on Kaua`i, chairing the group on invasive pests.  She is on the steering committee for the `Aina Ho`ola o Mailikukahi (Hands Turned to Soil) annual conference on youth and food sovereignty. She moved to O`ahu in 2009 to pursue graduate classes in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at UH Manoa with an interest in local food systems planning and citizen engagement in conservation.  

Andy Kaufman, ASLA, MLA, Ph.D. Associate. Prof./Landscape Specialist Dept.Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences College of Tropical Ag & Human Resources. Dr. Kaufman ʻs educational background consists of a BA in Ornamental, MA in Landscape Architect, MA in Sociology and a Ph.D. in Horticulture. He is an award winning landscape designer with a background in the landscape industry covering landscape and irrigation design, installation and maintenance, and arboriculture for commercial and residential projects throughout Western US and Hawaii. He currently teaches courses in landscape architecture, arboriculture practices and horticulture at the University of Hawaii. His research involves human issues in horticulture/people-plant interactions, essentially how plants affect people socially, psychologically, and physiologically and the implications on design and the landscape industry. He also conducts research on green roof technologies for tropical environments.

Moderated by Dr. Ted Radovitch is an Associate Specialist with the Sustainable & Organic Farming Systems program at UH Manoa in Tropical Soil and Plant Sciences College of Tropical Ag & Human Resources, focusing on ecology and sustainable agriculture. He also specializes in Yield and Quality of Food Crops.

Integrating Animals on Your Farm: Sustainability and Food Safety

There is increased understanding that including animals in your farming equation contributes to sustainable agriculture. Dr. LaSalle will share his research informed thoughts on the why’s and how’s of including animals on your farm. While worthy of exploration and consideration, issues of food and a farm safety must also be part of the conversation. Jim Hollyer has extensive experience as a Food Safety Certification Coach throughout the state and will dialogue with LaSalle about Hawaii’s challenges. Join the conversation to help shape a path that can lead to safe and ecologically enhanced food and farming systems in Hawaii.

Speakers

Timothy LaSalle, Ph. D. is Founder/Director of NewEra Agriculture, graduate and former CEO of the California Agriculture Leadership Foundation and an internationally sought-after speaker on sustainable farming. His keynote presentation, grounded in an international worldview, will highlight opportunities for the agricultural sector to mitigate issues of changing climate, limited fossil fuels, global trade, diet-related health issues, and other economic challenges that continue to squeeze profits from farmers livelihoods by focusing on soil health, biological intelligence, engineering innovation and economic redesign. As Rodale Institute’s first CEO, Tim LaSalle championed his science-based hope for a regenerative food system that will mitigate climate change and prevent famine. LaSalle was raised on a dairy farm and was a fellow, the president, the CEO, and eventually the Director of Education of the California Agricultural Leadership Program.

James Hollyer, M.S. ADAP Project Manager/Food Safety Educator, University of Hawai`i at Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Jim is an international program manager, agricultural economist and an on-farm food safety coach.  He has been working with colleagues for the last 10 years to build Hawaii farms' capacity to compete in a global marketplace when it comes to farm food safety.  Jim is also the co-author of books such as Taro: Mauka to Makai, This Hawaii Product Went to Market, and 85 Plants for Hawaiian Lei Gardens.

Saturday September 25, 2010

Grown on Oahu Bus Tour

8:00 am – 2:00 pm

meet in hotel lobby, advance registration required

See how diversified agriculture is adding profits and sustainability to farms. Experience Kahuku Farm's value-added focus, Kualoa Ranch agtourism activities and MA‘O Farms efforts to raise a community health through a recently launched CSA, community supported agriculture. Call Lani Wiegert to inquire about last minute availability 808-283-3777.