Recipient Organization
UNIV OF HAWAII
3190 MAILE WAY
HONOLULU,HI 96822
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Hawaii's agricultural sector and food system face unique vulnerabilities due to heavy reliance on imported food. The transition from a plantation-based economy to a diversified production portfolio encounters significant challenges: an aging farmer population, limited land access, workforce shortages, and high input costs which hinder farm business viability.Despite these challenges, the increasing demand for locally sourced food, community-driven initiatives promoting traditional cultivation methods, and collaborative efforts to support producers present avenues for expansion and point to growth opportunities.Recognizing the pivotal role of workforce training and producer education in Hawaii's agricultural economy, GoFarm Hawaii aims to enhance the university's educational capacity. Through this project, we will offer non-credit pathways that combine practical technical skills with business and financial acumen. This grant proposal aims to enrich and expand agricultural education tailored to adult learners aspiring to become farm entrepreneurs or secure employment in Hawaii's food system.This Integrated Research, Education, and Extension project will facilitate access to nontraditional agricultural educational pathways for Native Hawaiian and underrepresented populations, forge connections between research and the practical needs of community farmers, increase mentorship opportunities throughout the agricultural network, support the state's goals for increased local food production and agricultural employment, provide learning opportunities that can lead to additional food production, revenues, cost savings, cultural integration, and leadership and community building, and encourage more youth to consider a career in agriculture.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
100%
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The goal of the project is to ensure that our educational offerings remain robust and relevant, providing students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the agricultural industry. The approach will maintaina pipeline that supports aspiring farmers while providing ongoing education, support, and growth opportunities for existing farmers. This project will not only enrich FANH education programs at the University, it will prepare students for careers in FANH and leave a lasting impact on the local agricultural community and food system long after the grant period concludes.Objective 1: Develop and provide courses on livestock, kalo, and "agri-culture": GFH will develop curriculum and provide training on livestock, kalo, and agri-culture.By developing livestock and kalo educational components, GFH aims to create opportunities for increased farm revenue, diversification, and access to new markets, thereby strengthening farm businesses. The agri-culture class willtarget NH farmers and facilitate the development of individual business approaches. By intertwining culture, business, and community, NH farmers can establish enterprises that not only foster economic prosperity but also reflect and spread their cultural values.Objective 2: Develop tools and resources for canoe and native crops: Canoe crops are plants introduced to Hawaii by ancestral Polynesians, and hold significant cultural importance to NH communities. GFH will collaborate with farmers and UH CTAHR staff to conduct research and develop resources, including a cost-of-production tool. This will allow for informed decision-making, leading to increased revenue opportunities, crop diversification, and access to new markets.Objective 3: Develop and offer public educational workshops: GFH will partner with service providers to organize publicly accessible training addressing these needs. This will increase the likelihood of cost savings and business success.Objective 4: Develop an educational module on agricultural policy and leadership: GFH will create an educational module focused on agricultural policy. This module will equip farmers with the knowledge needed to navigate the regulatory environment, advocate for their interests, and emerge as community leaders.Objective 5: Build capacity at Maui training site: GFH will increase capacity of shared infrastructure at the Maui training site, building on previous site development work.Objective 6: Operate and improve GFH Farmer Training Program:GFH operates a well-established farmer training program spanning five training locations across all four counties of Hawaii. Each site is equipped with a farm coach/instructor and agricultural land dedicated to hands-on learning experiences. The program is designed to prepare adult learners for careers in agriculture, offering mentorship and thepotential to launch independent businesses or fill key roles within the industry. It is highly accessible as a low-cost, non-credit certificate program. The program will be improved by incorporating crop specific tools and increasing shared infrastructureon Maui.Objective 7: Provide and improve agribusiness training and technical assistance to current and aspiring farmers (including FTP students): GFHsupports aspiring farmers through in-depth agribusiness training to all FTP students and ongoing business consulting to those in AgIncubator. The program will be strengthened by 1) incorporating increased mentorship and 2) increasing outreach by networking with other service providers including food hubs and food banks.Objective 8: Implement cultural education for program staff: Cultural exposure and training for staff and network development with NH practitioners.GFH staff will undergo NH cultural education and participate in network development opportunities, further strengthening our ability to support NH farmers respectfully and effectively.Objective 9: Provide youth support and FANH career exposure: GFH will create an educational module highlighting diverse career paths in agriculture and their connections to FANH.Additionally, GFH will extend its K-12 efforts on Kauai by collaborating with Kawaikini Public Charter School, a nearby Hawaiian language immersion school, to cultivate agricultural opportunities for their students. This initiative aims to motivate and equip youth to engage in local food system employment, fostering a future generation dedicated to creating a sustainable and robust food ecosystem.Objective 10: Increase mentorship opportunities: GFH will mentor and support Sustainable Molokai (SM) staff through coaching, shadowing, and resource development.In addition, GFH will increase farmer networking and mentorship amongst GFH participant network.
Project Methods
MethodThis project bridges scientific knowledge with practical application, fostering the development of agricultural businesses and workforce in Hawaii. Rooted in the principles advocated by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition,it combines peer mentorship, technical assistance, networking, and innovative teaching methods. Additionally, it provides opportunities for leadership growth, business skills enhancement, and self-assessment. What distinguishes our approach is its innovative design, shaped by our firsthand experience. Our priorities include:Progressive Commitment: The phased structure appeals to a wide audience. Students can engage in an introductory phase with minimal commitment, gaining exposure to agriculture, and then opt for more intensive phases. Resources are directed towards individuals with a high likelihood of pursuing careers in agriculture.Learner Accountability: Students independently plant, manage, and harvest crops on individual plots, offering a unique chance to apply theory to practice. They also handle marketing for their harvest, setting sales targets to underscore the financial aspects of farming. This hands-onapproach provides practical experience in crop planning, production, cost analysis, post-harvest handling, and marketing, enabling students to integrate lessons across activities.Collaborative Learning: We foster collaborative learning environments through peer mentorship and networking, enabling participants to share experiences, exchange ideas, and learn together, promoting innovation, continuous improvement, and knowledge transfer. Participants find that our cohort training model cultivates supportive relationships and offers a balance of independent and group learning.Holistic Development: By incorporating elements of leadership training, business management, and self-assessment, we provide a comprehensive framework for holistic development, equipping participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful.Dynamic Curriculum: The curriculum undergoes regular updates informed by new production methods, market trends, and feedback following each phase. Each site has the flexibility to adjust curriculum according to local conditions and community requirements.Infrastructure Access: GFH offers farm incubation, granting access to land, shared equipment, infrastructure, and coaching. This low-cost opportunity allows students to test and expand their farm businesses, enhancing their prospects for securing land and financing.Tailored, Ongoing, and Collaborative Support: Our project addresses farmers' unique needs and challenges through tailored support. Ongoing technical assistance, provided at no cost, ensures continuous guidance, which is critical for developing business plans and ensuring growth and sustainability. Leveraging our network, GFH assembles collaborative teams to support various needs, including production, access to capital, grant writing, and business assistance.Appropriate Technologies: Students are exposed to new and appropriate technologies, from farming equipment aligned with small-scale operations to food safety procedures appropriate for current market channels.The project pioneers a new approach to developing new farmers, marked by a dedication to excellence, innovation, and inclusivity. Prioritizing the cultivation of trusting relationships and networks, we emphasize the need for a supportive environment to ensure long-term success. By bridging theory with practice and a range of support services, we empower individuals to excel in Hawaii's evolving agricultural scene, enhancing farmer participation, retention, and success.EvaluationA Logic Model has been developed to ensure that outcomes are measured and relevant to our objectives. Learning objectives are developed for each FTP phase. To ensure objectives are met, a rubric for student assessment will be used. Students must earn a minimum score to receive a certificate; higher scores are required to qualify for the AgIncubator Phase. Minimum scores are based on: coach's assessment of field production, crop research presentation and other assignments, produce sales, and business plan and presentation.Pre- and post-class surveys will be collected and evaluated by site coaches and management. The program will collect feedback from stakeholders and gather longitudinal data from graduates. Similar to the Farm and Ranch Business Health Assessment Tool, the AgBusiness Team has developed self-assessment tools and checklists to help evaluate business readiness, gaps in learning, and tasks that need completion.An independent external evaluator will work with the project team to validate evaluation questions, outcomes, evaluation tools, and a timeline of dissemination of data collection tools. The evaluation will incorporate the use of a culturally responsive evaluation (CRE) process. The goal of CRE is to ensure that the evaluation processes are culturally sensitive, equitable and inclusive. For a program based in Hawaii, where Native Hawaiians are the indigenous peoples, this is the culture that will be at the forefront. Therefore, monitoring and evaluation data collection tools will build a bridge between Western methodology and Hawaiian culture. Relevant Hawaiian evaluation frameworks will be incorporated such as the ALOHA Framework for Evaluationand Kukulu Kumuhana. The evaluation will ensure that cultural nuances and the differences between sites are considered for informed interpretation of data.A formative evaluation will address project tracking, analysis of grant and participant data, encountered issues, implemented adjustments, and their effects. The summative evaluation will focus on long-term results relative to goals. Both aspects of the evaluation will incorporate talk story sessions and surveys with students, staff, and stakeholders.The evaluator will meet with the project team on a regular schedule to confer and to share lessons learned, and findings from the evaluation. These meetings will help to implement appropriate changes if needed.