HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0728.060 2000-2002 ~Iv~oaii I~'~y~ In~us~ry ~ss~~iti®n
~®x X37, P~h®a, ~I 96773
Ph®Ine:603-96~sE699 ~~x:306-966-9200
Charman Arakaki, ~ v_______._
minty Counci6
Thank you for this opportunity to again address the Council on Resolution 236.
Although the Papaya Industry supports the Coffee Industry in their quest to maintain
their extraordinary image and market value, sere believe this resolution is the ~nerong
approach to their goal, and in fact ensill potentially damage the papaya industry through
negative publicity on an important part of agriculture: nevv variety breeding programs.
do believe that participation in the University's proposed forum of November 23 in Kona
vmill help resolve the problems this resolution seeks to address.
I believe this resolution, by singling out transgenic crops, e~rill lend this council's credibility
to call into question not only transgenic coffee, but papayas, bananas, pineapples, corn,
and other commodities mho have, unlike coffee, identified specific industry needs, and
pursued cutting edge technology to solve disease and other production problems.
There are no transgenic coffee plants at this time in 6~a~n+aii. even if they have no flaws,
they will be a long time corning. The papaya industry spent many years from the stage
the coffee researchers are at nova, going through field trials. ®btaining licenses,
producing seed, and distributing planting material to grovmers vvh®se livelihood depended
on their quick adoption of the nevv technology. ABong the vvay, USDA, SPA, and PDA,
carefully looked at the nev4+ varieties to assure they a~rere not substantially different from
other papayas. Nevv coffee plants e~eill not be allornted to be comrrserciali~ed if they
contain allergens, or other characteristics that make them in any vsay dangerous.
Positive action on this resolution o~vould tend to lend credence to negative myths of a~?hat
this ne~av, precise agricultural breeding technology can do.
I do believe the coffee industry has a right to protect their special variety, but taste is at
risk from any variety, other than Guatemalan, planted next door. Just as the papaya
industry learnesi that the variety o~rners have enormous control over how, e+vhere, and
under that restrictions transgenic plants may be planted, coffee groomers should be
negotiating with the transgenic coffee developers to meet their concerns, perhaps not
allots planting in Kona, eliminate pollen drift, and protect the Kona coffee image and
market. This should be a contractual agreement, and not a council resolution.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Delan Perry,
President
Co~< N'®.
File No.
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