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Committee approves funding framework and flexibility for food and product innovation network sites
Summary
SB558 advanced with the committee adopting DBEDT's proposed amendments and allocating $350,000 in committee notes for the Food and Product Innovation Network (FPIN); the Agribusiness Development Corporation and other testifiers urged flexibility for neighbor-island site selection.
The House Committee on Economic Development voted Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 558 with amendments adopting language from the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism and inserting an appropriation note of $350,000 to support the Food and Product Innovation Network (FPIN).
Testimony in support came from agricultural and food-industry groups including the Ulupono Initiative, Local Food Coalition, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau and the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC). Witnesses emphasized economic equity for rural communities and the need to use the roughly 40% of agricultural product currently not marketed (off-grade produce) by adding processing and value-added capacity.
ADC asked the committee to add flexibility for siting manufacturing facilities on neighbor islands and proposed amendments to section 2 to allow broader siting options for Maui and Hawaii counties. Committee members asked whether the bill's site-specific language would constrain future choices; ADC responded that Oahu and Kauai sites were selected, but neighbor-island sites remained undetermined and required additional planning.
The chair's recommendation adopted DBEDT testimony and technical amendments; the committee recorded that $350,000 would be noted in committee appropriations. The recommendation to pass with amendments was adopted.
