Bill > SR48

This resolution requests the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to conduct a comprehensive study on Hawaii's food manufacturing capabilities and identify promising markets for high-value, premium food products. The study will assess the competitive advantages of local products, define what constitutes a "high-value" product using clear economic metrics, and pinpoint specific export markets that align with these products. It will also analyze the costs associated with food production in Hawaii, considering factors like energy, labor, and imported ingredients, to determine the profit margins needed for local manufacturing to be economically viable. Furthermore, the study will identify and propose solutions for logistical and transportation barriers to entering these strategic markets. 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 from the outset. DBEDT will collaborate with other state agencies and the University of Hawaii to integrate the study's results into existing workforce development and business incubation programs, and the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) will use the findings to guide the development of its scaling facilities. The resolution also calls for policy recommendations to realign state resources and funding to support businesses producing these identified high-value, premium products.