Hawaii Farm Grows Food Under Solar Panels (And It Actually Works)

What if solar farms could grow food too? On this Hawaii farm, crops thrive under solar panels. Take a full tour and learn how farming under solar panels actually works—and why it could change agriculture.

In this video, we tour a working Hawaii farm built on a solar panel farm, where over 30 different crops grow in shaded, carefully managed conditions. Jon Watase explains how farming under solar panels improves soil health, conserves water, protects plants from heat stress, and creates a more sustainable use of land.

You’ll learn:
🔹 How farming under solar panels works (agrivoltaics)
🔹 Why shade-loving plants thrive beneath solar farms
🔹 How this model could expand local food production in Hawaii
🔹 What crops grow best under solar panels
🔹 Why this could be the future of sustainable agriculture
🔹 This video explores agrivoltaics, solar farm agriculture, and innovative farming techniques that maximize land use while supporting renewable energy.

Whether you’re interested in sustainable farming, renewable energy, or innovative agriculture, this Hawaii farm offers a powerful glimpse into what’s possible.

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00:00 Farming Under Solar Panels Explained
01:06 Experimental Crops & Research Trials
02:14 Permaculture & Soil Health
04:41 How the Farm Started
05:26 Why Plants Thrive Under Solar Panels
07:40 Harvesting & Pruning Techniques
09:10 Natural Pest Control with Companion Plants
11:46 Trap Crops, Flowers & Soil Health
13:12 Unique Fruits & Seed Saving
14:36 Sweet Potatoes & Propagation
16:32 Why Solar Farms Are Perfect for Agriculture
17:47 How Farmers Get Access to Solar Land

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Discover how an innovative agriculture initiative combines food production with renewable energy. This `agrivoltaic farming` system maximizes land use, utilizing `poultry manure` from a local egg company to create `organic fertilizer` for crops. It's a powerful example of `sustainability` and local food growth for our community 🫶

📌 NOTE: We use incorrect Hawaiian spelling on this channel to help these videos show up in search 🫠