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JAN-23-2008 12:39 HARC 80814865020 !16'007 HARC Hawaii Agriculture ResearcLCenter LV4N" 99-193 Aiea Heights pik, 'Sttit Aiea, Hawaii 96701 Ph: 808-487-5-INF4RN 0-40815(2040 TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HAWAJTTY ~CVU1vtCIL RES. 463-08 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING H.B.1577 H.D.1 TO TEMPORARILY PROHIBIT TI If GROWING OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED COFFEE FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS AND AT THE SAME TIME PERMIT RESEARCH IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SECURE FACILITY January 24, 2008 Dear Council Members: My name is Stephanie Whalen. I am President and Research Director of the Hawaii Agricul :a e Research Center (HARC). I am testifying today on behalf of the center, our research and suppo staff, and our members and clients. HARC STRONGLY OPPOSES RES. 463-08, supporting H.B. 1577 H.D.1 to temporarily prohibit the growing of genetically modified coffee for a period of five years and at th,e same time permit research in an environmentally secure facility which proposes a prohibi,ien on the genetically modified coffee in the state of Hawaii as unnecessary and potentially damaging to the innovative image the state has been trying to nurture for the last decade. HARC understands the marketing fear that has been generated concerning this type of resea el However, it continues to be advocates within the industry itself that keeps the link betw~e I genetic modification and Kona coffee alive. Why are they doing this? The research commul [it,, has already provided assurances that the industry will be a part of the discussion as to why-her any new coffee product advances. And as I point out later in this testimony, it takes willinj financial partners to advance research material to commercialization. The biggest problem with this anti-movement is its proponents' unwillingness to acknowledge the possibility of coexistence of all forms of agricultural production. This ;;as already been demonstrated feasible by national and international farmers and they have do re it i:1 corn. Corn is a crop that readily cross pollinates and is the subject of much of the adventii.)u~ presence concerns. Many entrepreneurial farmers see added value in having access to all mark et and use the well-understood reproductive cycle for com to control their planting, harvesting and marketing. In this case we are not talking about corn but coffee which has its own biologica. reproductive scheme. Coffee primarily is a self pollinator. Although out crossing can occiu in coffee, it should not be thought of as having the same pollen movement concerns as a com phut The point here is that where the stakeholders are willing, there are solutions. Where t',-.e) Hawaii Agriculture Research Center January 24, 2008 Pct