Agricultural Forum to renew the strategic plan

In 1998 Kaua‘i residents developed the Agricultural Strategic Plan for the island initiated by Garden Island Resource Conservation and Development Inc. The Kaua`i Agricultural Forum will bring together stakeholders to renew the strategic plan and identify greatest agricultural challenges and priority goals.

The Forum will takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School cafeteria. On Sunday a half-day follow-up session will be held at the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center to distill the conclusions of the prior day’s events. The Kaua`i Agricultural Forum will produce an updated planning document and establish working groups, or strengthen existing ones, to implement the identified strategic goals.

Schedule:

•  8 a.m. registration

•  8:35 a.m. pule with Sabra Kauka

•  8:40 a.m. keynote speech and overview of forum with Michael Pilarski

•  9 to 10:30 a.m. panel “Assessing Our Island’s Inventories” with Jerry Ornellas of Kaua‘i Farm Bureau; Lex Riggle of Natural Resources Conservation Services; Roy Yamakawa of University of Hawai‘i Extension Agent; Bobby Farias Jr. of Kaua‘i Ranchers Association; Bill Cowern of Hawaiian Mahogany; Arryl Kaneshiro of Grove Farm; Don Heacock, State Aquatic Biologist and Kaua‘i Organic Agroecosystems; Louisa Wooton of Hawai‘i Organic Farmers Association and Kaua‘i Kunana Dairy and Ian Costa of County of Kaua‘i Planning Department

•  10:30 to 12:30 p.m. group facilitated brainstorm on inventories of sectors of ag economy: water, land, labor, capitol/financing, commodities, marketing, distribution, pests and disease, waste stream, research and education, legislative objectives

•  12:30 to 1:30 p.m. locally grown lunch

•  1:30 to 3:30 p.m. work in break-out groups in ag sectors identified above

•  3:30 p.m. short refreshment break/reconvene as a whole group

•  3:45 to 5:30 p.m. – Presentation of prioritized challenges and strategic goals with Michael Pilarski