Bill > SCR49

This concurrent resolution requests the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to conduct a comprehensive study on Hawaii's food manufacturing capabilities and the most promising markets for its products. The study will identify Hawaii's competitive advantages, pinpoint specific high-value, premium food products suitable for export, and establish clear economic benchmarks for what constitutes a "high-value product." It will also analyze the true cost of production in Hawaii, considering factors like energy, labor, and imported ingredients, to determine the profit margins necessary for local food manufacturing to be economically viable. Furthermore, the resolution calls for an assessment of logistical and transportation challenges hindering market access and for the proposal of state-level solutions. The findings will be used to update curricula at the Maui Food Innovation Center and Wahiawa Value-Added Product Development Center to train entrepreneurs in developing products for export markets, and to integrate the study's results into existing workforce development and business incubation programs. The Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) and the University of Hawaii will use the study's insights to guide the development of scaling facilities and to instill market discipline early in the product innovation process, ensuring entrepreneurs focus on high-value, export-viable products. Finally, DBEDT is tasked with recommending policy changes to realign and prioritize state resources, grants, and funding to support businesses producing these identified high-value, premium products.