Requesting The Department Of Agriculture To Develop And Implement A Process To Certify Privately-owned And Operated Plant Quarantine Facilities.
Votes
SCR169 passed unanimously in the House Agriculture committee with a vote of 7-0, indicating a strong legislative support for the initiative aimed at enhancing Hawaii's plant quarantine capabilities to support its essential coffee industry.
Impact
The resolution is expected to have a positive impact on the agricultural landscape in Hawaii by allowing greater flexibility and capacity for importing new coffee plant varieties. By certifying private facilities, the state can increase its ability to quarantine these plants, which is particularly essential given the restrictions currently in place on the movement of infected plants between islands. The introduction of rust-resistant varieties could substantially improve the resilience of Hawaii's coffee crops, thereby safeguarding the industry against ongoing threats posed by the coffee leaf rust pathogen.
Summary
SCR169, a Senate Concurrent Resolution from the Thirty-first Legislature of Hawaii, aims to address the significant threat coffee leaf rust poses to Hawaii's coffee industry. The resolution requests the Department of Agriculture to develop and implement a process for certifying privately-owned and operated plant quarantine facilities. This initiative is crucial as the state currently oversees plant quarantine facilities that are necessary for the importation of new coffee plant varieties. The resolution emphasizes the importance of increasing the capacity for quarantining plants, particularly those that are resistant to the destructive coffee leaf rust fungus.
Contention
While the resolution appears to be a step forward for Hawaii's agricultural wellbeing, discussions around its implementation may involve considerations of regulatory oversight and the potential implications for existing public quarantine facilities. Concerns regarding biosecurity and the standards of privately-operated facilities could become points of contention among stakeholders. Stakeholders, including local coffee farmers and policymakers, will likely need to weigh the benefits of expanded capacity against the need for strict oversight to prevent the introduction of other pests or diseases.
Same As
Requesting The Department Of Agriculture To Develop And Implement A Process To Certify Privately-owned And Operated Plant Quarantine Facilities.
Requesting The Office Of The Auditor To Conduct A Performance Audit Of The Plant Pest Control Branch And Plant Quarantine Branch Within The Plant Industry Division Of The Department Of Agriculture.
Requesting The Office Of The Auditor To Conduct A Performance Audit Of The Plant Pest Control Branch And Plant Quarantine Branch Within The Plant Industry Division Of The Department Of Agriculture.
Requesting That The Department Of Agriculture Convene An Advisory Commission To Address Certain Issues To Guide Action And Progress In The Agriculture, Aquaculture, And Food Systems Industries Of The State.
Requesting The Department Of Agriculture To Create A Plan To Develop An Invasive Pests Placard Program And Assess The Resources Needed To Implement The Program.
Requesting The Department Of Agriculture To Convene A Working Group To Review The Effectiveness Of The Relevant State Laws Governing Agricultural-based Commercial Operations.
Requesting The Department Of Agriculture To Create A Plan To Develop An Invasive Pests Placard Program And Assess The Resources Needed To Implement The Program.
Requesting That The Department Of Agriculture Convene An Advisory Commission To Address Certain Issues To Guide Action And Progress In The Agriculture, Aquaculture, And Food Systems Industries Of The State.
Requesting That The Agribusiness Development Corporation Conduct A Study On The Feasibility Of Developing Desalination Plants In West And South Maui That Are Co-located With Hydrological Power Plants.