HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0728.026 2000-2002 Opposition to ~esolutio~ No. 236®0~
~ Resolution Supporting a Moratorium on the Release and Planting of
Genetically Modified (GM) Coffee in the District of North and South Dona
in Order to Assure and Protect the biotic Integrity and Market Value of
Pure Dona Coffee. ~FC~~,v~0~
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To: Ms. Nancy Piscchio, Chairperson ~,nry Coun~El
Committee on Human Services and Economic Development
I am Emerson F. Llantero. I am a member of the Hawaii Papaya Industry Association (HPIA)
and am testifying as a member of HPIA.
In my capacity as manager of the Papaya Administrative Committee. I have been responsible
in securing all the licensing agreements to commercialize the transgenic papaya. The
transgenic papaya varieties have been available to the market since 1998.
The commercialization of the transgenic papayas gave papaya growers and the industry a
second chance. ~l~lithout the transgenic papaya, it ~uas almost impassible to gso~u and ha~rest
~apoho Soho 'non-transgenic variety) economically. The presence o>r transgenic varieties
reduced the concentration of the virus in the fields.
Our marketing promotions have been very successful. Production and Sales increased by 11
million pounds from 1999 to 2000.
Mazketinc:
As long as we sell high quality, good looking, and very sweet papayas, consumers buy them.
There has not been a question of its being genetically engineered. Of course, the opposition
to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) will always oppose no matter what. We
concentrated on our target mazkets by educating them and by providing information for them
to embrace the new technology and the realities of the 21St century. We succeeded.
There have been negative publicities by anti-GMO people on GM products, but we proved
them wrong. Transgenic papayas are now the preferred varieties in Hawaii. Wholesalers and
distributors prefer the transgenic varieties because of its qualities.
Pollen Issue, Integrity of Seed Stocks:
The best way to be assured of the integrity of seed stock is to bag the fruit after hand
pollination. We are doing hand pollination and bagging the fruit to produce transgenic
papaya seeds for planting. Open pollination present problems as far as integrity of the seed
stock is concerned - on all produce, whether it is GM or non-GM. +tomm. No.
File No.. .
1
lief. `I'o• ~
x~f. ~a~ SEP 1 0 2002
Food Safety:
GMO papaya has been tested and approved by three governmental agencies (USDA, EPA,
and FDA) tasked at regulating GMO products. These agencies have approved and allowed
transgenic papayas to be released for human consumption without reservation. All GMO
produce have to undergo rigorous testing before their approval and release to the public.
For papayas, it took 10 years to be fully commercialized. Papaya industry was lucky that the
technology was available when they needed it. Imagine if the technology and the product
were not available then, and imagine if the industry also asked the council to have a
resolution like this.
As of today, I have not heard of a successful genetic transformation in coffee. The threat that
the GM coffee moratorium is responding to is not even imminent, what it does is to introduce
fear.
Granted, there is indeed a GM coffee, what will prevent enterprising businessmen to have a
Kona Blend with GM coffee. Will this resolution prevent that?
Granted, there is indeed a GM coffee that remedies some chronic disease problems in coffee
like the papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) in papaya, will this resolution help Kona coffee
growers who want to embrace new and available technology?
The purpose of the resolution is limiting the potential of good science and technology in
helping farmers better their lives. Once this resolution is passed, what will prevent others to
ask the council to do the same since the passing of this resolution will establish a precedent.
EMERSOleI F. LANTERO