U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Representative Jill Tokuda have introduced the Tropical Plant Health Initiative Act, with support from Senator Brian Schatz and Representative Ed Case. The bill aims to increase research and grant funding to address pests and diseases that threaten tropical plants such as coffee, macadamia trees, mangos, and vanilla in Hawaii.
“In Hawaii, and many other states across the country, we rely on growing and exporting tropical plants to boost our economies,” said Senator Hirono. “Conducting research to protect and maintain crops—such as coffee, macadamia nuts, mangos, and vanilla—is crucial in order to understand and mitigate any threats posed to these plants. I’m glad to join my colleagues in the Hawaii Congressional delegation in introducing this legislation to bolster our tropical agriculture and support our local farmers and producers.”
Representative Tokuda highlighted the importance of these crops for Hawaii’s culture and economy: “Tropical crops like kalo, ulu, coffee, bananas, and macadamia nuts are more than economic lifelines for Hawaii’s farmers and small businesses. They are the foods we share, the traditions we carry, and a vital part of who we are as communities,” she said. “That’s why Senator Hirono and I introduced the Tropical Plant Health Initiative Act, to protect these crops from pests, climate change, and disease, and to safeguard our communities’ future.”
The proposed legislation would give priority to applications for USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grants related to tropical plant research. It would also create dedicated funding streams for projects focused on research and development as well as integrated pest management. These measures are intended to provide targeted federal support for initiatives that improve the health of tropical floriculture and nursery crops—sectors considered essential for Hawaii’s agricultural industry.
The full text of the bill is available online.
