2013-03-26 NKCDP Agriculture Subcommittee Meeting Notes Minutes

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Strategy 1.4 & 1.5: Promote Agricultural Education in the Community. High School Aquaponics Program: Current Report Cipriani projected slide-show photos depicting the progress made at Kohala High School from October, 2012 to March, 2013. He then projected his ATOLL webpage and explained the various innovative applications that are available for the students virtual classrooms. Phase I Aquaponics System construction in the greenhouse is completed. Start-up anticipated following Spring Break. Fund raising for the Aquaculture Program is on-going. Strategy 1.4 & 1.5: GMO Issue. Cipriani projected a research paper conducted by a French Scientific Group, on the adverse effects of GMO feed consumption in lab animals. Dr. Bogs presented a written, illustrated Testimony paper she sent to the Hawai'i Legislature advocating the labeling of GMO Food Products. Bill 174; GMO Labeling was defeated in the Legislature on Thursday, March 21. We discussed developing a Kohala Brand for non-GMO and Organic labeling of Kohala's Produce. Strategy 1.7: Sustainable AG-Water Development: Wells, Reservoirs. Cipriani has compiled a list of major local Well Drilling Companies having a Drillers License (C-57) and Pump License (C-57a). The list is available by request. Seeking guidance from the County to initiate a development plan for sustainable Ag water at strategically identified IALs. Discussion & Conclusion: It was concluded that many of the goals of the NKCDP AG-Action Subcommittee co-inside with the objectives of Andrea's Committees. It was agreed, once again, that we should pool our resources and energy toward our common interests to benefit our Community. This is a start. Planning to achieve this end is on-going. We look forward to taking together! action We discussed the Issue of non-attendance: For the past three months, of the 60 or so e-mail invitations sent out to my mailing list, just a couple people have shown up for the meetings. I suggest that an Official Letterhead for my mailings may attract a bit more attention. Meanwhile, I am open to suggestions for getting the Community involved. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 pm. The next AG-Action Subcommittee Meeting will be held on April 30, 2013 at 6:00 pm.