(Washington, DC) – Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) and Rep. Ed Case (HI-01) introduced the Floriculture and Nursery Plant Health Initiative Act.
The Floriculture and Nursery Plant Health Initiative Act would amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act by expanding research and extension grants to:
- Develop and disseminate science-based tools and treatments to combat plant pests and pathogens that impact floriculture and nursery crops;
- Establish an areawide integrated pest management program in areas affected by, or areas at risk of being affected by, invasive plant pests or pathogens;
- Survey and collect data on the production of, health of, and markets for floriculture and nursery crops;
- Establish area-wide integrated pest management programs in areas affected by, or areas as risk of being affected by, invasive plant pests or pathogens;
- Investigating the biology, genomics, and production systems of floriculture and nursery crops;
- Conduct research on various factors that may contribute to or be associated with resilient floriculture and nursery crop systems, and combating other serious threats to floriculture and nursery crops, including research on:
- utilizing beneficial insects, soil improvement techniques, and chemicals (organic and nonorganic) to improve the health and productivity of floriculture and nursery crops;
- breeding new varieties to maintain the worldwide market advantage of the floriculture and nursery crop industries; and
- best management practices in floriculture and nursery crop growing regions under various climate conditions.
“I am pleased to introduce this bill to expand and support research that will help Hawaiʻi’s floriculture industry thrive,” said Rep. Jill Tokuda. “Hawaiʻi’s flowers and plants are treasured around the world and are a crucial part of our economy. This bill will make critical investments in research and extension that will help sustain the industry and ensure that it remains competitive globally and a vibrant part of our Hawaiʻi economy well into the future.”
“Hawaii’s floriculture industry, including cut flowers, foliage, bedding plants and other products, has been a multi-million-dollar economic engine, in addition to maintaining diverse communities, small, often family-owned businesses, and work opportunities across our state,” said Congressman Ed Case. “But it has struggled to emerge from various challenges, including a 2014 hurricane and a 2018 volcanic eruption that devastated many of the nurseries on the Island of Hawai‘i , as well as more recently the lingering effects of the pandemic, supply chain problems, and inflation.”
“This bill first and foremost recognizes the value of floriculture as a central segment of Hawai’i and national agriculture and focuses federal assistance on its often unique components, such as increasing capacity for high-yield plant breeding. In doing so, it will contribute to not only diversifying our economy and increasing Hawai‘i exports of value-added brands but also reducing our own dependence on foreign plant product imports,” said Congressman Case.
“Hawaii has long been at the forefront of floriculture innovation, with the unique beauty of our orchids, the striking presence of our palms, and the colors of our anthuriums. But we face many challenges with invasive pests and disease.” said Eric Tanouye, President of the Hawai‘i Floriculture and Nursery Association. “This threat will likely increase due to climate change. Science is our defense, and we are in full support of Representatives Tokuda’s and Case’s Floriculture and Nursery Health Research Initiative which will assist our family-driven agribusinesses with research to ensure that our iconic products continue to thrive.”
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Rep. Tokuda: Carly Sylva-Gabrielson, (202) 374-3738
Rep. Case: Nestor Garcia, (202) 945-7189