Strategies for Collaboration and Leveraging of Resources in the Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Education Grants Program

Andrew G. HashimotoCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human ResourcesUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Hawaii Agribusiness Education, Training & Incubation Program

AETI Program Objectives and Scope

Objective 1

Develop needed work force through upgraded agriculture, agribusiness and entrepreneurship education and training programs

Objective 2

Develop agricultural entrepreneurs and agribusinesses in Hawai‘i’s rural communities

Program Scope•Collaborative, statewide, multi-island effort•Education and training at multiple UH campuses•Coordinated agribusiness workforce development (integrated training and retraining)•Community focused, business oriented•Leveraging public-private partnerships to advance agribusiness development

Maui CC

Hawaii CCUH Hilo

Kauai CC

UH ManoaKapiolani CCHonolulu CCLeeward CC Windward CC

With emphasis on Native Hawaiians and underserved populations, UH Consortium engages Hawaii’s K-12 students on benefits of agriculture and higher learning

Consortium delivers diverse curriculum that provides knowledge, skills, and experiences to successfully contribute to the agribusiness community

Graduates of the Consortium, with knowledge and opportunities to succeed, transition into existing businesses or create new ventures

Consortium’s business incubator nurtures new ventures and assists existing businesses to reach next level of success

Environment is created for agribusinesses to give back to the community by providing input on curricula, internships, mentoring new ventures, and providing financial support

University of Hawaii SystemAETI Model

Examples of Collaboration and Leveraging of Resources

• Shared leadership

• Recruiting and retaining students and curriculum articulation

• Identifying potential agribusinesses, growing agriculture, community impact

• Collaborating and leveraging resources with government and business

Shared Leadership

• Principal Investigator rotates among campuses

• Quarterly meetings of Project Directors

• Develop consensus on project outcomes

• Develop consensus on project budget

Consortium-wide Student Recruitmentand Retention, and Curriculum Articulation

• Supporting K-12 education through Career Pathways Program, teacher retraining, and sponsorship of field days.

• Establishing Consortium-wide recruitment and internship effort.

• Developing core courses across multiple Consortium programs.

Articulated and Coordinated Programs

• Sustainable agriculture and ecosystems

• Biotechnology and bioproducts

• Nutrition and culinary arts

• Agribusiness and entrepreneurship

Identifying Potential Agribusinesses

• Green Growers – Expand tomato production and develop value-added tomato products

• Hoku International – Grow vanilla and develop vanilla-based cosmetic products

• Maui Lavender – Grow lavender and develop lavender-based products and agritourism destination

Growing the Agriculture Industry

• Maui Food Technology Center – Establish food technology center, focused on developing value-added products utilizing local agriculture products

• Kilohana – Working with Kauai CC to start farmers market for education, training, and agricultural sales channel

Community Impact

• North Shore Distribution Facility – Establish centralized processing facility to serve agribusinesses on the North Shore of Oahu

• Kaua’i Papaya Processing Facility – Reopen papaya deinfestation facility and farmland to revive the papaya industry on Kauai

Collaborating and Leveraging Resources with Government and Business

• Working with Alaska on the Agricultural Development in the American Pacific project, and Sun Grant Initiative

• Establishing an Agribusiness Incubator Facility with the State Legislature and Dole Foods

AETI Programhttp:www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/agincubator