(BIVN) – The 2026 Hawai‘i Agriculture Conference was held this week on the South Kohala coast.
The event took place at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa from November 9th to November 10th. Organizers say nearly 600 farmers, ranchers, agricultural leaders, policymakers and industry stakeholders attended the event.
The two-day conference, hosted by the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawai‘i, focused on “addressing challenges facing local agriculture, strengthening Hawai‘i’s food security and exploring solutions to support the industry’s future,” the ALFH said. The event was also supported by the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.
Storm impacts were also a part of the discussion. Farmers across Hawaiʻi have been dealing with crop and property damage from recent hurricanes, as well as the Kona Low Storms earlier this year.
“The conversations and connections made over these two days are an important step toward addressing the challenges facing our agriculture community,” said conference co-chair Pomai Weigert in a news release. “We look forward to building on this momentum and turning ideas into action that supports Hawai‘i’s farmers and ranchers.”
The theme of this year’s event, “Hawai‘i Agriculture: Driving Dedication, Diversity & Diligence,” emphasized the importance of collaboration, innovation and environmental stewardship in supporting local farmers and ranchers and expanding Hawai‘i’s agricultural potential, organizers say.
