Climate Resilient & Agricultural Innovation Hub for Women Farmers of Hawai’i County  piloting innovations and practices to achieve climate and economic resilience through support to women farmers and entrepreneurs
What it is oa facility on a parcel of agricultural land on the Big Island of Hawai’i othat will improve the quality of life for about 500 women farmers and their family members by at least a 20% increase in their self–sufficiency, food and income security and wellness oin four key areas of climate resilience: sustainable food production; renewable energy; sustainable management of soil, water and forest resources, and leadership, over a 5 year period.
o WOCAN - a Kona, Hawai’ibased not for profit that operates globally will manage the Hub through: o
-network of women farmers
o - business plan with diverse revenue-generating opportunities o - training, grants and loans for women-owned farms/businesses o - measurement of environmental and social benefits.
What it does
The Hub can showcase: o integration of traditional Hawaiian and modern technologies and practices o climate smart ag practices
Provide women farmers and entrepreneurs of Hawai’i County access to land, housing, training, agribusiness infrastructure and other assistance. Pilot innovations and practices to achieve community well-being, equity, and cohesion Explore a cooperative ownership model to be shared with other rural communities in Hawai’i and the Pacific Islands.
o carbon farming o
W+ Standard to measure women’s empowerment and certify products
o Women-led climate actions o The Hub can provide: o Agricultural land o Affordable housing o Renewable energy o Day care services o Training on climate-smart agricultural practices o Markets and marketing assistance o Skills and equipment for new climate smart technologies and practices o Leadership training and mentorship o Personal wellness support o Financial and business management training o Certification/branding
Rationale: Why Now? � Nearly 90% of the food available in Hawai‘i is imported, and the number of farms in the state is declining while the average age of farmers is increasing � Hawai’i Island seeks to increase local food production, decrease dependency on imports, diversify its rural economy, create jobs, and move Hawai‘i toward greater food selfreliance. Never has this been more important than while facing threats of climate change and pandemic viruses that disrupt supply chains and transport systems and require new skills and inputs from farmers. � Farms in Hawai’i with female producers make up over ½ of all farms, yet are mostly smaller than average. Their net cash farm income is a mere $4,713( 2017 Census of Agriculture, Hawai’i State), compared to $4,717 for all farms, forcing them to seek alternate sources of income and farm less than full time. � Many of the issues faced by Hawai’i women farmers are faced by women across the Pacific Islands as well, creating opportunities for cross learning. � Collective action by women farmers/environmental managers can address Hawai’i’s State Planning Act and its 2050 Sustainability Plan for sustainable development and climate adaptation in direct alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) #2, #3, #5, #8, and #13.
Current Challenges and Opportunities Challenges for women farmers:
Opportunities:
o Access to land
o Women principal operators increasing % (from 5% in 1995 to 14% in 2016 )
o Access to capital/credit
o Women-owned enterprises can access USDA and other US govt. set-aside budgets for women-owned businesses
o Costly housing and energy o Labor shortage o Marketing o Technical skills for climate smart agriculture practices o multiple roles for child and elderly care, etc.
o 2018 Farm Act provides dedicated funding to socially disadvantaged farmers SDFRs (83% are women of all races) o Carbon farming o W+ or Hawaiian certified products o Agri & Eco-tourism
Key team members Jeannette Gurung, PhD, forester and gender expert, Founder and Executive Director of WOCAN since 2004 - Hawai’i-based international non-profit network to support capacity building for women’s leadership and empowerment; created the W+ Standard ™ to measure, certify and monetize impacts of projects through the use of a results-based financing approach to measure women’s empowerment; co-founder of Women and Climate Impact Fund to mobilize blended financial investments for climate mitigation and adaptation projects that incorporate high levels of gender equality and women’s empowerment, using the W+ Standard to assure quality impacts. Mahina Paishon-Duarte, M.B.A. is Owner and Lead Producer of Waiwai Collective, a regenerative urban oasis, a kīpuka, for creatively growing community, culture, and commerce. As a social entrepreneur who has also led several educational and cultural organizations, her vision and mission are one and the same––to catalyze positive, lasting change for Hawaii in one generation. Lee West, Chair of WOCAN Board of Directors, has over 35 years of financial services and investing experience. Over a 19 year period from 1994 to 2013, Lee has either advised, created, seeded, or started a combined total of over 1,700 entities representing over $34bn in assets across cleantech, technology, financial services, environmental commodities, and asset management. Lee’s goal for the past 9 years is to introduce financial incentives that encourage institutional sponsors to invest directly into agricultural development and gender mainstreaming programs in developed and developing countries that directly impact women.
Retail store
Hall and Inn
Offices
Storage shed
Housing
Training Center
Day care
Agriculture land
Conservation land
Revenue model Fee for services to be offered on site: o Lodging/meeting hall for visitors and events o Residential and farm leases o
Services for farmers (i.e. day care, exercise/wellness)
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Equipment loan
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App based technologies & integration
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Marketing assistance
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Training center: climate smart ag practices; leadership, etc.
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Financial services
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Agri & Eco-tours
Grants/loans o USDA Loan Program (capital and operational loans) o NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service): grants for fencing, conservation practices o Rural Development of USDA helps build housing for farm laborers o Hawai’i based impact investors and accelerators
Deliverables/Outcomes Immediate Outputs (3-6 months) Baseline study of women farmers and their needs Feasibility study that can be shared with potential funders/investors
Intermediate Outcomes (3-5 years) Establishment of Farm and Management system (including community governance system) Skills and technologies for climate- smart agriculture accessed by women farmers
Long-term Outcomes (10 years) Positive impacts in community well-being, equity, cohesion, capacity, and empowerment Improved Hawai'i's long-term food security through self-reliant community food systems
Increased resilience of communities and families through increased income and assets, capacities and leadership opportunities for women
Increased Hawaiian cultural vitality and the application of ʻike kūpuna including the use of ʻōlelo Hawai'i and symbiotic, ancestral relationships to ʻāina
Improved long-term energy sustainability for impacted communities