FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Hawaiʻi Institute of Pacific Agriculture Awarded Federal USDA Grant to Scale Soil Conservation Practices on Hawaiʻi Island
NORTH KOHALA, HAWAIʻI - The Hawaiʻi Institute of Pacific Agriculture (HIP Ag) has been awarded $1,169,491 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to lead a groundbreaking project aimed at scaling soil conservation practices in Hawaiʻi. HIP Ag is one of four Hawaiʻi awardees for this program and the only one serving Hawaiʻi County. The other awardees include The Bishop Museum, the University of Hawaiʻi, and E Kūpaku Kā ʻĀina. This funding is part of a nationwide initiative, with a total of 53 awardees. This funding will enable HIP Ag to to regenerate soil organic matter and health, increase crop production, and improve statewide food security and resilience. HIP Ag’s mission is to practice and teach regenerative agriculture through farm-to-school education, farmer training, and ecosystem restoration, and this funding will significantly enhance their efforts to build a resilient, self-sufficient community.
Transforming Hawaiʻi’s Agriculture for a Resilient Future: Hawaiʻi faces challenging environmental and economic conditions, including high food import dependence and historic soil degradation. In response, HIP Ag has launched a comprehensive project to implement soil health demonstration trials (SHDTs) across Hawaiʻi Island. This initiative, in collaboration with the University of Hawaiʻi, Ridge to Reefs, and Hoʻōla Farms, will utilize cover cropping, Polynesian crop agroforestry, and various composting methods to improve soil health and increase crop production.
A Comprehensive Approach to Soil Conservation: The project will involve 12 on-farm SHDTs, focusing on evaluating soil health, agronomic productivity, and the economic and social impacts of integrating regenerative practices into production systems for staple crops like taro, sweet potato, and banana. The data from these trials will be compiled and analyzed, resulting in specific, actionable recommendations for producers and facilitating increased adoption of these practices. Over 300 producers in Hawaiʻi will benefit from peer-to-peer learning exchanges, workshops, one-on-one farmer technical assistance, field days, and the development of multimedia materials including videos.
“This grant is a game-changer for our soil conservation efforts in Hawaiʻi,” said Dashiell “Dash” Kuhr, Project Director and Co-Director for HIP Ag. “With this funding, we can expand our reach and provide vital resources and education to farmers, enabling them to adopt sustainable practices that will not only improve their crop yields but also strengthen our community’s resilience against climate change and environmental challenges. We are stoked to see the positive impact this project will have on our local food systems and environment! Our goal is to increase quality and quantity of these critical staple crops that can go into the cafeterias of our public schools, helping the State of Hawaiʻi to reach their farm-to-school goals by 2030.”
At HIP Ag, the urgency of improving soil health and food security is clear. This grant will empower us to take significant steps toward these goals, aligning our efforts with state and community priorities. By fostering regenerative agricultural practices, we aim to cultivate a resilient and thriving local food system in Hawaiʻi for generations to come! For more details, read the full USDA press release here.
About Hawaiʻi Institute of Pacific Agriculture: The Hawaiʻi Institute of Pacific Agriculture is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture and local food systems in Hawaiʻi. Since its inception, HIP Ag has been at the forefront of farm-to-school initiatives, pioneering programs that connect students and communities to the land and their food. For more information or to get connected, visit HIP Ag’s website!
