Funding released toward Tropical AgTech Center project in Hilo
The main goals of the Tropical AgTech Center are to improve the profitability of small farms on Hawaiʻi Island and to increase exports from the state.
Funding has been released for the design and construction of a greenhouse nursery to expand agricultural technology resources for Hawaiʻi Island farmers.
Hawai‘i Senate Vice President Lorraine Inouye announced that capital improvement project monies totaling $250,000 were released for the Tropical AgTech Center, located at the Hilo Foreign-Trade Zone located at the old Hilo airport.
The nursery will be used for tissue culture.
The Tropical AgTech Center is being developed by the State of Hawaiʻi Foreign-Trade Zone No. 9 (FTZ9), a division of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Island Agricultural Partnership. The project is designed to strengthen small-farm profitability, increase food security and support the growth of high-wage agricultural technology jobs on Hawaiʻi Island.
Inouye said she is pleased with this investment in the Hilo Foreign-Trade Zone.
In the State of Hawaii, FTZ9 was given a grant of authority by the Foreign-Trade Zones Board in Washington DC in 1966 to establish, operate, and maintain zones within the state for the purposes of encouraging international business and economic development, according to the Foreign-Trade Zone 9 website.
“The Hilo site became part of Hawaiʻi’s Foreign-Trade Zone program during my time as Mayor of Hawaiʻi County, and to see how it has evolved many years later is especially rewarding,” the Big Island senator said. “This investment will help provide our farmers with access to technology and resources that can strengthen their operations while supporting the future of agriculture on Hawaiʻi Island.”
The main goals of the Tropical AgTech Center are to improve the profitability of small farms on Hawaiʻi Island and to increase exports from the state. The website also posted a 54-page document that outlines a roadmap for transforming Hawaiʻi Island’s agricultural economy.
“The program would further FTZ9’s mission to increase international trade, support local companies, grow jobs, and encourage investment,” according to the Foreign-Trade Zone website. “The development delivers flexible office and warehouse space, and greenhouses near the Hilo airport.”
This initiative leverages advancements in technology to address the multifaceted challenges of modern agriculture.
By fostering collaboration among a diverse set of stakeholders, the Tropical AgTech Center aims to be a beacon of innovation for developing practical solutions that enhance agricultural productivity and resilience. The Tropical AgTech Center is poised to transform Hawaiʻi’s agricultural sector into a model of efficiency, inclusivity, and sustainability, ensuring it thrives in the 21st century and beyond.
Inouye expressed appreciation to Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green for releasing the funds, as well as U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and Congresswoman Jill Tokuda for their continued support of the project.
“Investments in agricultural technology can help strengthen our local farms, improve our food security and create new economic opportunities for Hawaiʻi Island,” Inouye said.
