“We have to compete on quality; we will never be able to compete on price.”—Ken Love, President of Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers Association. Food quality encompasses many aspects including appearance, flavor, shelf life and nutritional content. Nutrition Farming is a method of growing food which is based on supplying plants with optimal nutrition for maximizing their potentials. Hawaii farmers can use this quality marketing edge to compete against cheaper, imported foods.

Please describe your innovation?

Nutrition Farming is a new paradigm in farming which goes beyond traditional organic farming methods by focusing on improving the nutritional content of foods. Data from analyses of Nutrition-Farmed foods compared to USDA food nutrient composition tables show up to 5-fold increases in vital nutrients such as calcium, zinc and copper (see one example attached). Improving the nutritional content of produce is accomplished with comprehensive soil and plant tissue analyses, along with applications of precise types and amounts of organically-approved fertilizers. This innovation in farming results in healthier plants which exhibit naturally increased pest and disease resistance, decreasing the need for potentially toxic chemicals. Foods farmed for nutrient quality also have better flavor and longer shelf lives than their counterparts with lower nutrient levels. Nutrition Farming consequently provides benefits for Hawaii’s farmers, marketers, consumers and the environment.

What is the problem or situation that your innovation seeks to address?

This project addresses issues of sustainable agricultural and economic development, consumer health, and food self-sufficiency. Much of Hawaii’s agricultural land has been depleted of vital nutrients largely due to unsustainable farming practices used for decades on some of our best agricultural lands to raise sugarcane and pineapple. The vital nutrients are needed for plant health and consumers’ health. Rural communities wish to remain agricultural while creating economic opportunities for their residents. This project will: (1) teach farmers and gardeners how to produce higher quality foods in their own growing plots, (2) demonstrate measurable differences in food quality, and (3) create a clear marketing edge for farmers, thus encouraging more farming and more agricultural job opportunities. Approximately 14% of Hawaii residents receive food assistance. This project addresses food security, hunger and health by helping communities provide their own higher quality foods.

What effort have you made to test out your new idea?

Nutrition Farming has been practiced successfully in Australia and the mainland USA. Nutri-Tech Solutions in Australia has taught thousands of farmers and consultants how to grow better higher quality foods with Nutrition Farming methods. The results have been so impressive that the Australian government now reimburses farmers for the majority of the cost of seminar attendance. Mainland USA farmers using this type of growing system market their produce for up to 10 times the price of their competitors'. On a local level, Kohala farmer Peter Risley has implemented the methods with great success, selling out each week at the Hawi farmers’ market. A local survey of 100 people revealed that 98% prefer Nutrition-Farmed produce to other local produce, with 93% willing to pay more for it. Interest in purchasing Nutrition-Farmed produce has been expressed by Island Naturals food stores owner, Russell Ruderman, Four Seasons Executive Chef James Babian, and the nationwide company, Whole Foods.

What is particularly noteworthy or novel about your innovation?

Nutrition Farming offers an innovative, clear marketing edge for Hawaii-grown produce while directly impacting some of the most pressing issues affecting our state--economic and agricultural sustainability, health, food security, and environmental concerns. USDA databases confirm that nutrient levels in produce have fallen as much as 70% in 70 years; this is due to unsustainable changes in agricultural systems which can be resolved with Nutrition Farming. This project, which starts with training for local farmers, could expand to a multi-million dollar boost to the agricultural economy of the entire state. This expansion will equate to more employment opportunities, increased food production for local use and export, and higher quality foods for the health of Hawaii's residents. Nutrition Farming in Hawaii could spark the interest of agricultural leaders around the world, changing world agriculture to embrace higher quality, sustainable food production on a broad scale.

What impact do you expect your innovation will have on the problem or situation described in the previous question?

Resolution of the afore-mentioned issues literally starts from the ground up. Farmers will be trained how to sample soil for analyses and apply amendments in their own growing plots. The farmers and the community will see differences in the growth, quality, and nutritional content of produce from amended versus unamended plots. This will drive interest in production and marketing of Nutrition-Farmed foods. Expansion of production means more jobs and more local high quality food availability. Wholesale and retail marketers will appreciate the clear marketing edge provided, as well as the increased shelf life. Consumers will enjoy enhanced flavors, textures and extended shelf life. Consumption of nutrient-rich produce will result in more complete nourishment, decreasing incidence of disease and enhancing quality of life. Our environment will also benefit from decreased erosion, greater water-use efficiency, and decreases in toxic chemical applications which pollute air, soil and water.

What other community partners will you need if your innovation is to scale beyond your organization?

Expansion of the project to include farmers across the state will involve training instructors who can do the hands-on work in the various communities. More funding will be needed to pay the instructors and cover the various expenses of, for example, lab fees, equipment and amendments. This farmer training and verification of efficacy on their own farms is a crucial step to generate interest and kick start the change-over to the improved farming methods. Additional scientific research to further prove the efficacy with statistically-relevant replications in various locations with various crops will be beneficial. Quantifying various phytonutrients, determining the extent of disease and pest resistance, measuring environmental impacts, and measuring human responses will all help to further refine and promote Nutrition Farming. Support from organizations and institutions involved with agriculture, including the government and universities, could also prove beneficial.

Why are your organization, partners, and key personnel suited to take on this project?

This project is a team effort by Dr. Jana Bogs, Timothy Lloyd, and Eric Bonnici with fiscal sponsorship provided by the North Kohala Community Resource Center (NKCRC). Dr. Bogs is a nutritionist (BS) turned horticulturist (PhD) with the mission of improving food nutritional quality using environmentally-sound methods. She performs Nutrition Farming research and works with growers to improve their crops. Dr. Bogs has presented her work in several public venues, including the Hilo Sustainability Forum and TedX Hilo. Tim Lloyd (BSci) has worked with farmers across the Big Island for many years promoting sustainable farming techniques through hands-on seminars. Eric Bonnici is an e-marketing specialist on the Big Island. He helps businesses effectively market their products and services. NKCRC,a 10-year-old non-profit, helps strengthen the community through fiscally sponsoring community improvement projects such as Nutrition Farming. NKCRC currently sponsors 71 projects in North Kohala.