Conference Background
The 2017 Hawai'i Agriculture Conference (Hawaii AG2017), will be held on August 29-30, 2017. Hosted by the Agriculture Leadership Foundation of Hawaii, this event is Hawaii’s premiere all-agriculture conference.
Past Hawaii Agriculture Conferences have pushed and expanded the horizons of businesses and decision-makers alike. Since 2002, topics and content ranged from agritourism to internet sales; entrepreneurial business skills and the power of local markets; agricultural theft and biofuels; to the continuing evolution of Hawai'i’s agriculture sector.
A diverse planning team of agricultural stakeholders has been working to generate the theme, sessions,
field days and more. Next steps in the process are to identify critical oral and poster presentations, forums
and workshops that will maximize the impact of the 2017 Hawai‘i Agriculture Conference and inspire all
attendees.
Past Hawaii Agriculture Conferences have pushed and expanded the horizons of businesses and decision-makers alike. Since 2002, topics and content ranged from agritourism to internet sales; entrepreneurial business skills and the power of local markets; agricultural theft and biofuels; to the continuing evolution of Hawai'i’s agriculture sector.
A diverse planning team of agricultural stakeholders has been working to generate the theme, sessions,
field days and more. Next steps in the process are to identify critical oral and poster presentations, forums
and workshops that will maximize the impact of the 2017 Hawai‘i Agriculture Conference and inspire all
attendees.
Tracks
The tagline for this year’s conference is, “Our world is changing. You can shape its future.” Conference organizers want speakers and presentations to inspire participants to make commitments that they will implement to grow/enhance agriculture in Hawai'i. Organizers have designed three tracks that highlight where participants can make a difference.
1. Hawaii’s $300 Million Ag Opportunity
Hawaii Department of Agriculture Chairperson, Scott Enright says, “Replacing 10% of the food Hawaii imports could generate $188 million in sales, $94 million to farmers and create 2,300 jobs.” And that is just the food side of agriculture – imagine what could happen with the synergy of exponentially expanding Hawaii’s non-food agriculture production including floriculture, nursery, forestry and more!
Submit your proposal today that inspires tangible action toward increasing local food and other agricultural production. How can agriculture seize this $300 million opportunity? Technology, science, food safety, coops and food hubs, agritourism, and data/information access will help get us there.
Aquaponics, urban agriculture, precision agriculture and innovative or traditional production systems and techniques offer new horizons of exploration and growth.
Your submissions to this track should proactively address opportunities and challenges of increasing agricultural production in Hawai‘i.
Guiding Questions
2. Local Farms, Families, and Communities
Local farms and ranches are all about making connections to the agriculture system: producers, aggregators, distributors, entrepreneurs, marketers, decision makers and consumers.
Hawaii’s farms and ranches survive and thrive via active community support. In return, they provide an array of benefits including fresh food, jobs, environmental benefits and open space.
Successful proposals will address issues such as building local food systems, farm to plate initiatives, ag education, consumer connections (e.g. buy local campaigns), access to capital, land and equipment and best management practices.
Guiding Questions
3. Sustaining the 'Āina
Almost half of Hawaii’s total land mass (2 million acres) is classified Agriculture. Sustainable agriculture practices can produce high yields and contribute to clean water, biodiversity, climate resiliency and landscapes which preserve cultural identity. AG2017 will be a safe place for discussion, debate and commitments to healthy lands, healthy food and healthy communities.
Successful proposals will address issues that may be driven by these guiding questions:
Guiding Questions
1. Hawaii’s $300 Million Ag Opportunity
Hawaii Department of Agriculture Chairperson, Scott Enright says, “Replacing 10% of the food Hawaii imports could generate $188 million in sales, $94 million to farmers and create 2,300 jobs.” And that is just the food side of agriculture – imagine what could happen with the synergy of exponentially expanding Hawaii’s non-food agriculture production including floriculture, nursery, forestry and more!
Submit your proposal today that inspires tangible action toward increasing local food and other agricultural production. How can agriculture seize this $300 million opportunity? Technology, science, food safety, coops and food hubs, agritourism, and data/information access will help get us there.
Aquaponics, urban agriculture, precision agriculture and innovative or traditional production systems and techniques offer new horizons of exploration and growth.
Your submissions to this track should proactively address opportunities and challenges of increasing agricultural production in Hawai‘i.
Guiding Questions
- What are the strengths and opportunities of Hawai‘i agriculture, and how can these be leveragedto achieve the $300 Million Ag Opportunity?
- What commitments could conference attendees make to help reach this goal?
- How do we kick start and sustain an expanded agricultural sector?
- How do we inspire and support a new generation of farmers, entrepreneurs and farm laborers to choose agriculture as a lifelong career?
- How do we measure progress?
- How can legislative and administrative bodies work collaboratively with the private sector and non-profits to resolve challenges for producers
2. Local Farms, Families, and Communities
Local farms and ranches are all about making connections to the agriculture system: producers, aggregators, distributors, entrepreneurs, marketers, decision makers and consumers.
Hawaii’s farms and ranches survive and thrive via active community support. In return, they provide an array of benefits including fresh food, jobs, environmental benefits and open space.
Successful proposals will address issues such as building local food systems, farm to plate initiatives, ag education, consumer connections (e.g. buy local campaigns), access to capital, land and equipment and best management practices.
Guiding Questions
- How can the agriculture sector - producers, distributors, retailers, consumers, ag support services, etc. - work together so that local ag can thrive?
- What successful case studies already exist in Hawai‘i or elsewhere?
- How do we leverage the connections in the local food web to decrease waste and negative impacts on the environment and community and increase community resilience?
- How can the agriculture sector serve as a model for sustainable practices (e.g. decreasing food waste, increasing community resilience)
- How do we build effective community support for local farms and ranches?
- What do farmers and ranchers need to be successful - from policy makers, distributors, landowners, consumers?
- How do we help people make the connection between who they are and what they eat?
3. Sustaining the 'Āina
Almost half of Hawaii’s total land mass (2 million acres) is classified Agriculture. Sustainable agriculture practices can produce high yields and contribute to clean water, biodiversity, climate resiliency and landscapes which preserve cultural identity. AG2017 will be a safe place for discussion, debate and commitments to healthy lands, healthy food and healthy communities.
Successful proposals will address issues that may be driven by these guiding questions:
Guiding Questions
- What examples of sustainable farming and ranching in Hawai‘i and Asia-Pacific island communities can AG2017 examine?
- Who provides Hawai‘i farmers with technical, operational and financial resources to implement sustainable farming practices?
- What do successful collaborations between resource conservation and food producing communities look like?
- What metrics at the farm, regional, national and global levels can measure the costs and benefits of sustainable agriculture production?
Submission Process
Proposal Deadline: April 3, 2017. (Now extended to April 17, 2017). Proposals must be submitted online.
Revisions Deadline: May 1, 2017
*Authors must complete requests for proposal revisions by this deadline in order to be accepted into the conference. Accepted proposals will be included in the program book in the format received---please be sure to double check your work.
Deadline for Presenters to Register: June 1, 2017 *Paid registration is required for all presenters.
Revisions Deadline: May 1, 2017
*Authors must complete requests for proposal revisions by this deadline in order to be accepted into the conference. Accepted proposals will be included in the program book in the format received---please be sure to double check your work.
Deadline for Presenters to Register: June 1, 2017 *Paid registration is required for all presenters.
Format Descriptions
Oral and Poster Presentations: Formal, individual presentations on various topics will be scheduled in general sessions depending on the specific “Track” in which it was submitted and the thematic content. The abstract submission form requires the selection of preferred presentation format (oral or poster) and whether you are submitting your abstract as an individual or part of an organized symposium. The review committee may suggest that you change your proposed format depending on the novelty, relationship to
theme, available time in the program, and whether or not the content has been previously presented. All oral and poster presenters must be registered participants.
1. Oral presentation: 20 minute individual presentations (15 minute talk, 3 minutes Q&A, 2 minute for transition time). Paid registration is required for all presenters.
2. Poster presentation: This is a visual presentation that showcases your work to conference attendees. More than one participant may author a poster, but at least one of the primary authors must be a paid conference attendee.
3. Symposium: A formal moderated session with 5-6 presentations organized around a topic or theme; individual presentation time is limited to 15 minutes; moderator introduces presenters and conducts Q&A at end of session. Time limit: 2 hours per session. Abstracts for each presenter are required and due April 4 -3, 2017, along with a complete session agenda. All presenters and moderators must be paid, registered
participants.
4. Forum: A less formal, more interactive session, a forum can be a panel, a roundtable session, or another structured format involving a variety of innovative facilitation methods. The moderator or facilitator guides presenters and the audience through a variety of participatory techniques. Time limit: 1-2 hours per session, with a minimum of 20-30 minutes of audience participation. Forum submissions require true audience participation that consists of more than a question and answer session. Detailed
information on how the audience will be engaged is required. We encourage creativity.
Abstracts for each presenter are not required unless requested by the forum organizer/chair. All presenters, facilitators and/or moderators must be paid, registered participants.
5. Workshop: Organizations and practitioners may submit proposals to conduct workshops before or following the conference. The host organization(s) is responsible for organizing and supporting all aspects of their training or workshop. Hawai‘i AG2017 can contribute minimal logistical support. Please contact us for details about this opportunity.
theme, available time in the program, and whether or not the content has been previously presented. All oral and poster presenters must be registered participants.
1. Oral presentation: 20 minute individual presentations (15 minute talk, 3 minutes Q&A, 2 minute for transition time). Paid registration is required for all presenters.
2. Poster presentation: This is a visual presentation that showcases your work to conference attendees. More than one participant may author a poster, but at least one of the primary authors must be a paid conference attendee.
3. Symposium: A formal moderated session with 5-6 presentations organized around a topic or theme; individual presentation time is limited to 15 minutes; moderator introduces presenters and conducts Q&A at end of session. Time limit: 2 hours per session. Abstracts for each presenter are required and due April 4 -3, 2017, along with a complete session agenda. All presenters and moderators must be paid, registered
participants.
4. Forum: A less formal, more interactive session, a forum can be a panel, a roundtable session, or another structured format involving a variety of innovative facilitation methods. The moderator or facilitator guides presenters and the audience through a variety of participatory techniques. Time limit: 1-2 hours per session, with a minimum of 20-30 minutes of audience participation. Forum submissions require true audience participation that consists of more than a question and answer session. Detailed
information on how the audience will be engaged is required. We encourage creativity.
Abstracts for each presenter are not required unless requested by the forum organizer/chair. All presenters, facilitators and/or moderators must be paid, registered participants.
5. Workshop: Organizations and practitioners may submit proposals to conduct workshops before or following the conference. The host organization(s) is responsible for organizing and supporting all aspects of their training or workshop. Hawai‘i AG2017 can contribute minimal logistical support. Please contact us for details about this opportunity.
For more information, please contact the AG2017 Conference Manager at 808.224.6444 or [email protected].