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„SY os h4 <br /> COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII <br /> ''h,, <br /> '•'a'+~ <br /> RESOLUTION NO. 463 OS <br /> <br /> A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING H.B.1577 H.D.1 TO TEMPORARILY PROHIBIT THE <br /> <br /> GROWING OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED COFFEE FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE <br /> <br /> YEARS AND, AT THE SAME TIME, PERMIT RESEARCH IN AN <br /> ENVIRONMENTALLY SECURE FACILITY. <br /> WHEREAS, coffee is of vital importance to the agricultural economy and cultural <br /> vitality of Hawaii Island; and <br /> WHEREAS, coffees grown in Hawaii are considered specialty coffees by the Specialty <br /> Coffee Association of America (SCAA), however, genetically modified coffee is not considered <br /> a specialty coffee by the SCAA; and <br /> WHEREAS, there is a desire to maintain the unique status and market prices for coffee <br /> grown in Hawaii; and <br /> WHEREAS, cross pollination with genetically modified coffee would contaminate and <br /> affect the immediate first-generation crop, as we consume the seed of the plant; and <br /> WHEREAS, the purpose of H.B.1577 H.D.1 is to prohibit the introduction of genetically <br /> modified coffee in the Hawaii market and, at the same time, permit research on genetically <br /> modified coffee in an environmentally secure facility to protect Hawai`i's coffees from <br /> contamination caused by genetically modified organisms; and <br /> WHEREAS, the major Hawaii coffee organizations, including the Hawaii Coffee <br /> Association; Kona Coffee Council; Kona Coffee Farmer's Association; Kona Farmer's Alliance; <br /> and the Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative, all support H.B. 1577 H.D1; now, therefore, <br /> BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the <br /> Hawaii State Legislature pass H.B. 1577 H.D.l to temporarily prohibit the growing of <br /> genetically modified coffee for a period of five years and, at the same time, permit research only <br /> in an environmentally secure facility; and <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Hawaii County Council does not support the <br /> locating of any such research facility within the County of Hawaii; and <br /> <br />