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<br /> JAN-04-2008 09:39 HARC 8082.866')20 F,0C,2 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> HARC Hawaii Agriculture Reses rehx,G,ep~r <br /> 99-193 Aiea Heights Drive, .3001-? E <br /> <br /> <br /> k1VLAJ Aiea, Hawaii 96701 ~ 10 2 <br /> Ph: 808-487-5561 /Fax2~01 6-%20CCt i <br /> r~ <br /> TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HAWAII COUNTY MWAI COMMMEE <br /> ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT <br /> RES. 462-08 <br /> <br /> A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING S.B. 958 S.D.1.H.D.1 TO IMPOSE A TEN-YEAR <br /> MORATORIUM ON DEVELOPING, TESTING, PROPAGATING, CULTIVATING, <br /> GROWING, AND RAISING OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED TARO IN THE <br /> STATE OF HAWAII <br /> January 8, 2008 <br /> <br /> Dear Committee Members: <br /> <br /> My name is Stephanie Whalen. I am President and Research Director of the Hawaii Agriculture <br /> Research Center (HARC). I am testifying today on behalf of the center, our research and suppoil <br /> staff, and our members and clients. <br /> <br /> HARC strongly opposes Resolution 462-08, supporting S.B. 958 S.D.1 H.D.I. which proposes <br /> a 10-year moratorium on genetically modified taro in the state as unnecessary. The research <br /> community has already agreed to limit research in this area with respect to Hawaiian taro, but <br /> most significant is that the process to commercialize an engineered plant requires grower <br /> commitment and involvement and most importantly legislative financial support. <br /> Please recall the commercialization of Hawaii's transgenic papaya. This was only accomplished <br /> because the industry went to the state legislature seeking financial support for the transfer of this <br /> technology. Funds were needed to acquire a license to use the technology. Today, not only xe <br /> significant funds needed for this purpose but also to navigate the more onerous regulatory <br /> process that has evolved for this technology. <br /> <br /> All crops in Hawaii are considered specialty (minor) crops. The private sector : as no economic <br /> incentive to commercialize transgenic specialty crops as their volume sales de not warrant the <br /> investment. Commercialization of specialty transgenic crops in Hawaii will not occur without <br /> financing by the public sector agencies. <br /> Very few research projects ever make it into the commercial marketplace. This is a well lviown <br /> fact. Technology transfer, no matter what the product, is extremely expensive and risky. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> RES 462-08-January 8, 2008 Pug, I <br /> Hawaii Agriculture Research Center <br />