Funding sought for research feed mill - HAWAII - The Oceanic Institute is seeking a $4 million grant from the state as part of its effort to build a research feed mill on the Big Island, reports The Honolulu Advertiser.

Research done at the facility would help farmers produce feeds more cost effectively for the livestock, poultry and aquaculture industries. Feed costs often constitute the largest single expense for those industries in Hawaii.

The funding being sought by the Institute would be added to $3.7 million already raised for the proposed research feed mill in Hilo.

Some of the research done at the facility would look at ways to make use of existing agricultural waste products from the sugar cane, pineapple and macadamia nut industries.

"The lack of low-cost feeds is a severe impediment to profitability in both the livestock and aquaculture industries here in Hawaii," said Kevin Hopkins, a professor and Interim Director of the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center at the University of Hawaii-Hilo. "Our mechanism to reduce feed costs is to utilize local agricultural products and byproducts within our feeds."

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