REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO CREATE AN EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM TO EQUIP INTERESTED STUDENTS WITH THE NECESSARY ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGE, SKILL SET, EXPERTISE, AND ADVANCEMENT POTENTIAL IN THE FIELD OF MEAT PROCESSING.

SCR 89 is a resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Agriculture to form a working group that will develop an educational pathway at University of Hawaii community colleges for meat processing careers. It directly affects students seeking entry-level jobs in meat processing and addresses a current workforce shortage that limits local ranchers' ability to process and sell their products. The working group must create a curriculum covering food safety, animal handling, processing techniques, regulatory compliance, hands-on training, and sustainable practices. The goal is to equip students with skills needed to support Hawaii's agricultural industry and reduce reliance on imported meat.