252 Keoni Lee - Why the islands of Hawaii with 10 million tourists a year are the perfect and challenging place for a regenerative revolution

A conversation with Keoni Lee, CEO of Hawaii Investment Ready, about having to import massive amounts of food, inputs, fuel, etc., being at huge risk from climate disruptions and climate change and much more.

Why do we need to take systems change lens into investing? You can’t focus on single solutions and hope that the massive global food and agriculture system will change. Hawaii, with 1,4 million people and 10 million tourists visiting each year, have to import over 90% of its food. Nowhere that is more current than on islands: they are usually far from mainlands, have to import massive amounts of food, inputs, fuel, etc. and are at huge risk from climate disruptions and climate change. 

Look for instance at the Archipelago of Hawaii, which used, before western contact, to produce enough food for 1 million people and, now with 1,4 million people and 10 million tourists visiting, has to import over 90% of its food. Learn more on how investing with a systems change lens in food and agriculture looks like in Hawaii.

Have you ever wondered about the complexities of achieving food security in a region heavily dependent on imports? We take a closer look at how the legacy of plantation agriculture, the rise of GMO seed production, and the impact of regulatory frameworks play a significant role in Hawaii's journey to food sovereignty. Keoni shares insights on how the Investment Ready Program is spearheading this evolution, with their innovative accelerator program and research project focused on food systems.

Finally, we discuss the power of collaborative funding in Hawaii's food system transformation. We highlight the success story of the Hawai'i 'Ulu Cooperative, which is championing the regeneration of indigenous crop production. We also deep-dive into the types of infrastructure investments that could pave the way for a more food-secure and sustainable Hawaii. 

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