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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Testimony Presented before the <br /> <br /> Committee on Environmental Management <br /> of the <br /> Hawai'i County Council <br /> January 8, 2008 <br /> <br /> by <br /> <br /> Susan C. Miyasaka, Interim Hawaii County Administrator <br /> College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources <br /> University of Hawai'i at Manoa <br /> <br /> <br /> Relating to Comm. 882 (Res. 462-08): A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING S.B. 958 S.D.1 <br /> H.D.1 TO IMPOSE A TEN-YEAR MORATORIUM ON DEVELOPING, TESTING, <br /> PROPAGATING, CULTIVATING, GROWING, AND RAISING OF GENETICALLY <br /> MODIFIED TARO IN THE STATE OF HAWAI'I <br /> <br /> Chair Jacobson, Vice Chair Ford, and Members of the Committee: <br /> <br /> My name is Susan Miyasaka, and I serve as Interim Hawaii County Administrator of the <br /> UH Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR). This <br /> testimony is presented from the perspective of the Interim Hawaii County Administrator <br /> of CTAHR and the Principal Investigator on the research project to genetically engineer <br /> Chinese taro for increased disease resistance. It does not represent the official position <br /> of the University of Hawai'i. <br /> I am pleased to provide testimony against Resolution 462-08 that supports Senate Bill <br /> 958, SD1, HD1, a bill currently before the Hawaii State Legislature. SB958, SD1, HD1 <br /> proposes a ten-year moratorium on developing, testing, propagating, cultivating, <br /> growing, or raising genetically engineered taro. <br /> <br /> I respectfully oppose Resolution 462-08 and SB 958, SD1, HD1. <br /> <br /> CTAHR recognizes and respects the cultural significance of Hawaiian taro. CTAHR <br /> scientists have no plans to genetically engineer Hawaiian taro, and CTAHR has agreed <br /> not to pursue research to genetically engineer Hawaiian taro without first obtaining <br /> community input on a case-by-case basis. <br /> <br /> However, the broad moratorium proposed in SB 958, SD1, HD1 applies to all taro <br /> varieties, not just Hawaiian taro. The moratorium would bring to a halt the ongoing work <br /> of CTAHR researchers to assess whether the introduction of disease resistance genes <br /> from rice, wheat, and grape into a Chinese taro variety, 'Bun Long', will improve its <br /> resistance to fungal pathogens that cause diseases such as taro leaf blight. Leaf blight <br />