2024 Hawaii Agriculture Conference Announces Registration Opens: Maui Now

Registration is now open for the 2024 Hawaii Agriculture Conference – AG2024 – to be held November 7-8, 2024 at the Hawai’i Convention Center.

This well-attended statewide event brings together local and national leaders in agriculture and food production to share ideas and trends in an ever-changing industry. AG2024 is hosted by the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawai’i, in cooperation with the Hawai’i Department of Agriculture, and lead sponsor Ulupono Initiative.

The theme of this year’s conference is ““Building COMMUNITY through Hawaiian Agriculture” demonstrates how Hawaii’s agricultural system is a dynamic, interconnected network that serves as a cornerstone of the community’s overall well-being. The previous Hawaii Agriculture Conference, held in 2022, brought together over 600 industry members.

Early registration for this year’s conference is available for $350 through September 18, after which the regular registration fee is $400. Late registration after October 24 is $450. Middle school, high school, undergraduate and graduate students, as well as their teachers and advisors, can register for $200.

The conference plays a critical role in ensuring food security, providing essential ecosystem services, promoting economic diversification, and fostering a deep sense of responsibility (mālama) towards the environment. In light of recent global and local challenges, there is a new recognition of agriculture as an integral part of the fabric of our community. The resilience and growth of this sector depends on the collective efforts of a wide range of stakeholders, including producers, landowners, policymakers, and consumers, as well as many other ancillary actors.

Together, these groups must work collaboratively to build a sustainable agricultural system that not only feeds the community, but also enhances the broader ecosystem in which it exists.

“AG2024 comes at a critical time when the strength of Hawai’i’s agricultural system is more critical than ever,” said Diane Ley, president of the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawai’i. “Our agricultural community is about more than growing crops; it’s about supporting food security, preserving our environment, and driving economic diversification. By coming together—as producers, landowners, policymakers, and consumers—we can build a resilient agricultural sector that nourishes our community and strengthens our connection to the land and to each other.”

Other sponsors of this year’s conference include American Ag Credit, Corteva Agriscience, Bayer, Germinate By HIplan, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Lydgate Farms, Mahi Pono, Meadow Gold, Nutrien AgSolutions, Young Brothers and the Swette Center For Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University.

The list of speakers will be published at a later date. To learn more about AG2024 or to register for the conference, visit http://hiagconference.org.