COM 0883.039 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Hawaii Coffee Growers Association P.O. Box 37, Kualapuu, Hawaii 96757 Michael Conway, Board Member Ph: 808-622-3206 To: Council Chair Pete Hoffman Hawaii County Council From: Michael Conway representing The Hawaii Coffee Growers Association Subject: Res. 463-08, A Resolution Supporting HB 1577 hdt to Temporarily Prohibit the Growing of Genetically Modified Coffee for a Period of 5 Years, at the same time, Permit Research in an Environmentally Secure Facility January 24, 2008 Hearing Position: Oppose Chair Hoffman and Members of the Council, I am a Board Member and past Vice President of the Hawaii Coffee Growers Association (HCGA), a statewide organization representing approximately half of 8,200 planted acres of coffee grown in Hawaii. We are a grower-based organization, with coffee farms on Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and the Big Island. The Hawaii Agriculture Statistics Service reports that in 2006/2007 coffee farm value is expected to be $30.3 million, down 19% from a record high of last season. In addition to the high cost of land, water, labor, export transportation and niche marketing, Hawaii's coffee growers are faced with overcoming serious economic pests such as the coffee leaf miner, coffee berry borer, root knot nematode and diseases such as mildew and rust. Among the strategies used to combat pests and diseases is gene manipulation in which coffee plants are developed to resist or tolerate these maladies. Genetic research usually requires 5-10 years of laboratory studies followed by several years of field testing. Without the ability to evaluate field plantings laboratory studies are virtually meaningless. There is a general misperception that all of Hawaii's coffee industry opposes responsible genetic engineering research and development. This simply is not true. HCGA believes the coffee industry must have the latitude to conduct sensible research into all forms of agriculture without restriction. We support responsible genetic engineering research and development for plant breeding, pest management, and disease resistance. Those who adopt a zero tolerance, or even restrictions on the full cycle of research, which includes federally and state approved field-testing, play on the fear of the unknown and fear of change. Some of the pest challenges mentioned above are currently undergoing genetic engineering research. For example, root knot nematode research inserts a rice gene into a rootstock to encourage nematode resistance. A coffee plant is then grafted onto the nematode resistant rootstock. The only pollen produced would be from the non-transgenic coffee plant graft. One need not look far to see the successes and potential of biotechnology in Hawaii crop research. Following their introduction nearly a decade ago, the Tropic Fire Anthurium and the Rainbow papaya are widely accepted in the State and exported to offshore markets. HCGA is available to provide you with more information about growing practices, which include existing best practices for the separation of organic and conventional coffee growing and marketing. The addition of transgenic coffee best practices is very much in line with sound agricultural practices. We ask that you defer this resolution. Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony on this far- reaching resolution.