HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0728.062 2000-2002
09/24/2002 14:37 BO8-637-1611 PIONEER HI-BRED INTL PAGE 01
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Se terrlbex 24 2002
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Fax To: lH[awaii County Council
F`ax 808-961-89X2
From: Michaell~upe~ `
.r_:____.:a
fie: Resolution No. 236-02 ~ -
Testimony attached
Pages: 3 (itz~ciudau~g cover page}
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09/24/2002 14:37 808-637-1611 PIONEER HI-BRED INTL PAGE 02
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'I'ESTIl~IfOl~ ~E~® Tl~i~ CCB IEEE ON
~UIVIAN RES®URCES & ECO~BOIO'I~C ID~VE1l,O~l~1mT'I`
J€~AV4'~ COUN'I"3~ COU CIIa
Ztesolutaon No. 236-02 (IDr ft 2)
Related t®a Itesolntl®n Sapp rt~g a
lO~Ioratoriuza~ on the Release and Planting of enetically I'.a~gineered
Coffee ia~ a i~istrlcts of North and S®aath Kona in Car er to F`ra~teet ~e Iliotic Integrity
and l~ar?ket Value of lure Ko a C;®ffee
Septe~nbet° 25, 2002
Chairx:aara Arakaki and Members of the Connmittee: i
My oa~,e is 1Vlichael Rupert and I am speakitag on behalf of he JEladvaii Crop fxnpzovement
Association (1"ICLA), which represents seed production and esearch facilities operating i.ti
l~awaii. The kfCIA is comprised of eight meznber coynpayli s that faxnx aai estianated 8,000 acres
on four islands. CIA, member companies employ approx' ately 1000 workers, including full
tune professionals, full-time regulars anal temporary seaso~a~1 employees. Seed crops grown ixi
Hawaii now ranl~ second {behind nursery crops) in fihe state ~n divezsified agriculture with a
value of over $35.8 million in 2001-
Our association stxazxgly opposes Resolution No. 236-02 (I3~aPt 2) for the following reasons:
Cpenetically-modified crops (ClbfO's} are highly ~!egulated by the United States and
other g®verntnents. The approval process is rdgorous and takes ~natay years, requiting
the ixsteraction of numerous Iaederal and State agences (e.g. l1P,A, FDA, USDA, a~;d
I-IDOA). TZesearchers must obtaizt pezxzaits prior tot c 7CXtove~iie~it and release into the
envizorut~ent of these plants. fihe permit process all ws the State or any individual to
review and cor~s'tent upon the coxtditions of the pe 't prior to granting the permmit. A
perrrait may (or may not) be issued after reviewing a l aspects and conditions of the
permit.
• A moratorium would be confaasing anal! redutrdan since ~e protocols are already in
place that allow for tlae approval or dasalaproval f peranats for genetisail~'-modified '
crops.
• Over tb.e last 25 years, millions of acres of geneti. Icy effiglneered cr®ps leave keen
grow with rro observed harnafaal e'ects oxa the evirora~esrt. ~ fact, these crops caax
mctalce a significant contribution by alleviating the ne alive impact that agriculture can
have on the environrnezat (through reduced pesticide applications).
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09124!2002 14:37 808-637-1611 PIONEERIHI-BRED INl'L PAGE 03
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• 7Clae benefits ®f biotechra®1®gy hive been widely a lusted. and to cl~te there xs mo
scienfafle ev~ldence tts c®aatx~dlct ~.ese bem.e~t~. T ere have been rto scientiftcally
documented cases where genetically ezlganeered crop have haa~aed huxz~sras or anirrzals
that have consvzxaed thens, provided the normal pros dares for preparhag and cotasucning
them as foods have been followed.
The establishment of a rnoratoriursa by the bJ[awaii Gounty Cy~uncil would not further increase the
level of protection for the T~.oz~a cof#'ee isldustry, but would ~Cher have a chilling effect on other
industries in the agricultural sector that rely upon biotechnology.
Any support for this bill could greatly harm other establishe agx~cultural entities in the state.
~Ve urge you not to consider ft,esolution IVo. 236-02 (Da~aft in arty form. Thanl~ you for the
opportua~ity to testify on this ley issue.
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Sincerely,
1~Iichael Ii,upert
Presidez~t,lTICIA
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