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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0728.028 2000-2002 September 9, 2002 Councilwoman Nancy Pisicchio Chair, Human Resources and Economic Development Committee Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 Re: RESOLUTION 236-02 relating to a Moratorium on the release and Planting of GMO Coffee ,etc. Public Hearing Tuesday Sep 10, 1:30PM Council Chambers Honorable Chair and Members of the Committee: My name is Paula Helfrich and I am President of the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board. During the last ten years, Hawaii and particularly the Island of Hawaii has undergone a tremendous transformation from plantation monocrop agriculture to a diverse and dynamic multicrop/product base that has been the fastest growing sector of the ``new" economy currently valued at approximately $2.3 billion statewide. This diversity has depended on the open collaboration and participation of agricultural organizations, academic experts, producers and processors eager to engage in new and expanding markets, new crops, products, services, good science and shared knowledge. In general, the very best successes have been enabled by the most open and inclusive partnerships. We are most disappointed to see the content of this Resolution, which seeks to impose a Moratorium on a crop variety not yet established, presumes regional patents on non- native existing cultivars, offers "assurance and protection of biotic integrity" which is not validated by scientific resources, and suggests control of market values of a "pure" product which has recently proven impossible to evaluate and enforce, with serious consequences to the statewide coffee industry. We are heartily in favor of informed and well-managed crop production, high-value niche marketing, thorough and methodical product grading, and overall support from all sectors of the community for expanding agricultural endeavors on all fronts. Certainly, the coffee industry is a major contributor, both for the high-value "Kona Coffee" niche retail markets, offering high-grade AND lower-value products, as well as island- and state- wide coffee production, processing and marketing. Artificial quarantines such as proposed in this Resolution may not provide the relief intended and warrant further review and consideration. Comm. No. • File No. iltef. ~`o~ ~~e~ We believe that the resources of the newly established Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, the Coffee Research Center, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, and expertise within the state Department of Agriculture can provide valuable facts and information on this issue prior to any further consideration of this measure. We respectfully urge a full and fair discussion of scientific facts and accurate production and marketing statistics in order to provide full understanding by all parties. Thank you for the opportunity to submit these comments. Yours sincerely, Paula Helfrich President.