COM 0882.009 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TARO FARMERS VOICES: The legislature has been told that "taro is weak" and needs the technical assistance of genetic engineering to strengthen it against existing and potential taro diseases "just in case" something happens. Taro farmers and poi millers do not want GMO taro. Conventional cross-breeding is a sound method for improving taro quality and disease resistance. Caring for the water and the soil will improve taro health. WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF GMO TARO: Hawaiian Culture: Kalo (taro) is Haloa, elder brother to the Hawaiian people. Genetic manipulation is inappropriate in this relationship. Contamination: Potential for contamination through the traditional practice of huh (taro tops) exchange is high; threat of contamination through pollination exists. It is impossible to distinguish between GMO and non-GMO huli in the field. The tightest field protocols have failed to prevent contamination world-wide. The negative economic impacts of an "accident" are far-reaching. Economics: Marketability: Kalo is a hypo-allergenic food GMO taro jeopardizes that reputation in the poi market and its use in HawaPi's health and wellness industry. Maintaining HawaiTs taro purity and security is critical to farmer economic survival and Hawaii's reputation in global markets. Sustainabiliry: Resource sharing, particularly huli (taro tops for planting), is a major part of the cultural tradition of taro farming; particularly for subsistence growers, family and farm economics are often dependent on it. GMO taro would end the practice of sharing because of the threat of contaminated huli. For some farmers it could mean the loss of additional exchange resources such as salt, fish, game meat, assistance in the field, and more. It would also take away farmers' control over the quality and purity of their product Taro farming produces a great deal of food with minimal fossil fuel resources; something we can't afford to lose. Health: The leaves, stem and cone of two are highly nutritious. Genetic engineering has the potential to change the nutritional make-up of the plant and its purity as a food. GMO taro includes the presence of portions of rice and wheat genes. No rigorous evaluation of these changes has been done. For those with allergies to these gluten foods, the results could be life threatening. Even a single incident at a hotel ld'aa could have significant repercussions in the tourist industry. Bkxhvershy: The hundreds of Hawaiian taro cultivars once present in the islands provided a biodiversity which protected the crop from island- or state-wide loss. Many of these varieties have disappeared. Others number so few that they are the equivalent of an endangered species in the agricultural world. As the center of highest taro cultivar biodiversity in the Pacific, and the world, every precaution should be taken to protect its purity and security. The threat of contamination by GMO taro threatens this rich biodiversity and the future of our food security. Education and the Visitor Industry: Every year thousands of students go to the taro patch; farmers, parents and visitors do not want to be exposed to GMO crops or foods. Kalo and the lifestyle of taro farming is one of the reasons why visitors come to Hawaii. GMO taro threatens our very roots as a unique place in the Pacific. WHY 15 THERE ATARO SHORTAGE? A lack of water (dewatered streams) and low water flows that are too warm promote high rates of disease and fungal growth that impact crap productivity. The invasive apple snail accounts for as much as 18-25 percent of crop loss annually (the snail would not distinguish between a GMO or non-GMO plant in its attack on taro). Major flood events, such as those that occurred in March of 2005 can take up to two years or more to recover from. A lank of affordable land, increased production costs and lack of people to carry on the work (new farmers) contributes to declines in taro and poi availability.