PBARC-CAFNRM Collaboration on Regionally-based Feedstocks Including Agricultural By-products and Algae

Goals / Objectives
The goal of this agreement is to carry out a collaborative research effort among PBARC and The College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM) at the University of Hawaii at Hilo (UHH) that addresses important agriculture problems in Hawaii. The specific problem to address is determined through consultation and agreement among the dean of CAFNRM and the director of PBARC. The main objective of this SCA is to evaluate the usefulness of regionally grown feedstock including algae for aquaculture and livestock.

Project Methods
In 2002, Congress provided funds to PBARC with the mandate that funds should be split between CAFNRM and PBARC to develop a mutually beneficial collaborative research effort. Each institution would focus on research areas in which they have strengths and which would move them closer to achieving the stated objective. To ensure that the research is focused on the objective and to assess progress, the investigators, the Dean, and the Director will meet annually to evaluate the work. Following the annual meeting, changes in the research personnel or focus may take place if needed. To maintain a degree of flexibility, the Dean may use a small part of the funds to support other projects that may not be directly related to the main objective. These small projects may take no more than 49% of the total available for this SCA, must aid PBARC in meeting its mandated research objectives, must meet the requirements outlined in this Approach, must meet its internal milestones as described by the principal investigator(s) and must be developed as a partnership between a PBARC scientist and a CAFNRM scientist whenever possible, although they can include scientists from other institutions or organizations for purposes of leveraging intellectual or fiduciary capital. During 2013-14, there will be two primary sub-projects and one small secondary project as follows: Primary Sub-Projects: -Biofuel byproducts to supplement cattle grazing. -Use of algae for aquaculture feeds. Secondary Sub-Projects: -Beekeeping. Byproducts to Supplement Cattle Grazing: After completion of on-going baseline grazing trials in the eight experimental paddocks at the University of Hawaii at Hilo farm in Panaewa, a set of experiments will be designed to test the feasibility of using locally-produced byproducts from biofuels, algae or agricultural wastes in supplemental diets for cattle. These cattle will be grazed on typical pastures, fed the supplements and growth responses monitored. Use of Algae for Aquaculture Feeds: This sub-project had two major components: production of microalgae using the pilot-scale microalgae culture facilities at Pacific Aquaculture & Coastal Resources Center (PACRC); and feeding trials comparing a microalgae-based diet with a standard test diet. The first feeding trial experiment will feed ¿kahala¿ (Seriola rivoliana) juveniles experimental diets with the Schizochytrium sp., the green algae Haematococcus sp. and SPC as the major protein sources to replace 10, 25, 40, 60 and 80% of dietary fish meal. Beekeeping: A 20 page booklet was completed in 2012/13 providing detailed instructions and pictures on how to build a custom top bar hive including an oil tray to exclude the small hive beetle, an insect that is restricted to only certain Hawaiian Islands. These plans allow the beekeeper to utilize materials that can be found here in the islands to build hive structures thereby reducing dependency on importing materials for hives. Furthermore, this type of hive lends itself to farms that are primarily interested in pollination rather than hive products. During 2013/14, tests of these hives will continue.