COM 0883.018 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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GMO Position (page 2) WHEREAS, while it is recognized that the Kona Coffee Farmers Association has no regulatory authority nor scientific competence to regulate the release and development of GM crops, the KCFA may legitimately respond to the concerns of farmers and others with a stake in the future of Kona's gourmet coffee industry, and may further express such concerns to those agencies and institutions responsible for the development, permitting, oversight and regulation of GM crops. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE KONA COFFEE FARMERS ASSOCIATION, that the Kona Coffee Farmers Association opposes the introduction of genetically modified coffee plants into the state of Hawaii and requests the following: 1. A moratorium on the release of genetically modified coffee plants into the state of Hawaii until a regulatory regime has been adopted that includes extensive evaluation of genetic contamination from pollen drift and other environmental consequences and secondary ecological effects. 2. A statute, regulation, and/or rule that liability for any external costs to individuals and the environment caused by physical spillover effects, such as genetic contamination from pollen drift, must be bome by the growers, manufacturers and distributors of genetically engineered plants. 3. In conjunction with the establishment of an adequate regulatory regime as outlined in item (1) above, a requirement that genetically modified plantings to be explicitly labeled as such, and neighboring properties notified--the costs of such labeling and notification to be borne by the owner or lessee of the planted land. 4. A requirement that any coffee produced from genetically modified plants to be explicitly labeled as such at every stage of its production through to sale to provide adequate information to processors and consumers--the costs of such labeling and verification to be borne by the growers and processors of the genetically modified coffee. Ken Sheppard - President January 2007 RATIONALE BEHIND OUR POSITION Will GM Coffee grown in Hawaii affect Kona orchards? Yes, here's why... • The APHIS database (publicly available on the web) lists three projects of testing by UH. Of these, CTAHR's 'caffeine-free' plants on Oahu were destroyed in December 2000. Today CTAHR does not have any GMO coffee. HARC's are secured in a greenhouse on Oahu. In addition to these, there are GM experiments being done by Integrated Coffee Technologies (ICTI) that do not need to be listed on the database, as it only applies to field tests, not to lab work. ICTI now says it has plants ready to go into field tests in Spring 2008. Conceivably there could be more we do not know about. • Dr Bittenbender of UH reported to the HCA "If the current coffee genetic engineering program on nematode resistance advances to field testing then CTAHR and /or HARC may request a permit to test in a nematode infested field in Kona." The Kona coffee industry does not need to be consulted or notified when these field tests take place. USDA signs off on the permits for field tests, and they too have no structure in place to consult those who make their living from the crop.