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JAN-23-2008 12:38 HARC 8084965).20 ::-'0'17 the gene, to successfully transfer selected plants to potting material, to test the material to determine effectiveness and stability of the inserted gene, and finally, to safely detenniniz effectiveness and stability under field conditions. In the early stages to set up a system, a researcher practices with different plant purls of seve-,,I varieties and an easily recognized gene--like color or fluorescence. The regrowth process can take several months and years can be dedicated to trying to reduce this time lag. Decades have passed in the development of systems for some of Hawaii's crops. Because of the exploit.. r9 nature of this part of the process it may be financed through public funds. For the most pz:r, research on minor crops is done by the public sector: colleges, universities, or non.l:rotit research centers funded by foundations or competitive federal grants. Commercialization Assume the research community has developed a new plant. Before this plant bea;me, commercially available industry/farmers have to be willing to go through any intelle- tt a l property licensing process if applicable, and any applicable regulatory process before a ne n *nt will progress further. This is what is commonly referred to as technology transfer: from i i. research community to the user community, and is applicable to all new products developed rot just agriculture. It is not uncommon for products for any economic sector to be dropped ai it is stage. The reason for this is there needs to be some compelling economic outcome assoc al NI with a product to justify its adoption. The present national agricultural grant system focuses ci basic research of wide and/or regional applicability and not on the commercializatio 3 of individual products. Private sector involvement and resources are requirec'. for commercialization. The point here is that just because there is research on a particular product does ant meant that it will end up as a commercial product. This is as true for an agriculture product :r; well as for any other product in our society. For Hawaii for genetically modified plan s, the affected industry sector will have to step up to the plate just like the papaya indust:-i, did. If they do not step forward to participate in the later stages of product develop o.er4, intellectual property right's acquisition and deregulation, there will be no comm.-cial product. HARC, a non-profit scientific organization, cannot support this proposed legislation becaus, tlir system for product development and commercialization as it already exists addresses tl t- concerns raised, making the proposed legislation, which this resolution supports, unnecessai3. "Thank you for this opportunity to provide comments for your consideration. RES 462-08-January 24, 2008 100e 3 Hawaii Agriculture Research Center