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Form #: B-52 7/18/91 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION DEPARTMENT: Research and Development DATE: September 26, 2017 STAFF CONTACT: Glenn Sako PHONE: 808 961-8811 A. REQUEST: Resolution authorizing County (via R & D) to enter into agreement with Office of Research Services, University of Hawaii, to provide funding for its "The Analysis of Agricultural By -Products to be used as Animal Feeds on Hawaii Island" proposal. B. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION (USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS AS NEEDED): Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes § 46-7, the County may enter into agreements with "any public body" with the consent of Council. R & D is requesting that Council approve a resolution authorizing R & D to enter into an agreement with Office of Research Services, University of Hawaii, a public body, for the purposes of funding its research proposal, "The Analysis of Agricultural By -Products to be used as Animal Feeds on Hawaii Island", pursuant to HCC 2-139(3)(c). In Hawaii, the numbers of livestock operations have declined dramatically over the last decade. Higher feed cost is one the contributing factors for the decline. There are approximately 60 small scale piggeries in Big Island. ranging from 5 to 300 sows per farm. These animals are being fed a wide range of locally available food sources such as papaya waste, banana stems, and occasional grain feeds. However, the majority of piggeries depends on the food wastes (slop) collected from various sources such as schools, prison, restaurants, etc. The collected slop is boiled before being fed to animal. This practice causes an environmental nuisance and possible risk of health hazard to the surrounding community. Fruit, vegetables and root crops play an important role as staples in the human diet. As there is a wide range of potential by-products and residues from food crops which are often under-utilized or wasted. Much of these by-products are now being fermented and fed to animals by many sustainable agriculture farms on Big Island. The introduction of Natural Farming has increased the interest of farmers on poultry and swine production in the state. The use of a fermented diet is highly recommended in this system. This research proposal is for$8,250.00 and will be used to: 1) survey the by-product availability and quantity; 2) Analyze the nutrient content quality of the by-products for future feed development; 3) Shelf-life and palatability enhancement through ensilating of by-products and 4) Dissemination of project findings through producer workshops. The term of the contract will end on December 31, 2018. Funds are from 2017-8 Fiscal Year Budget