HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0882.038 2006-2008
JAN-23-2008 14:51 From:TROPICAL HAWAIIAN 18089667367 To:9618912 P
Tropical Hawaiian Pr Oucts
P.O. Box 210
Keaau, Hawaii 96-,49
Phone: (808) 966--4"
Fax: (808) 966-710
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To: COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE Date: January 23, 20( tom. Z
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, HI 96720
fax no.: 808-951-8912
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From: Loren Mochida Pages. 5 r
Re: TESTIMONY FOR RESOLUTIONS 462-08 AND 463-08
PLEASE SUBMIT ATTACHED TESTIMONIES 462-08 AND 463-08 TO THE MEMBERS 0' "HE
COUNTY COUNCIL FOR HEARING ON RESOLUTIONS AT THE 28T" SESSION OF THE! HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2008 AT 8:30 A.M..
Mahalo,
comm. No. 88x.38
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JAN-23-2668 14:51 From:TROPICRL HRWPIIRN 18089667367 To:9618912 P 2
TROPICAL 2006 JAN 23 P~1 2 51
HAWAIIAN PRODUCTS
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COUN I -~/f KeaeL. Hvrali 957~9
Phone (S(E) 966-7435
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HAWAII COUNTY COUNCILFax (s(:e~ sss ~3 ,
RESOLUTION 462-08
RELATING TO IMPOSING A MORATORIUM OF GENETICALLY
MODIFIED TARO
PRESENTED BEFORE THE TWENTY-EIGHT SESSION
COUNTY OF HAWAII
January 2008
Dear Chairman Hoffmann and Council Members:
STRONGLY OPPOSE.
My name is Loren Mochida, General Manager of Tropical Hawaiian Products
in Keaau, Hawaii. THP is a processor and exporter of Hawaiian Premium papayas
to CONUS and Japan. THP represents over 60 papaya growers that provide the
transgenic "Rainbow" papayas for processing.
We are strongly opposed to Resolution 462-08, which supports S.B. 958 S.D. 1 11 D
1 to Impose a Ten-Year Moratorium on Developing, Testing, Propagating,
Cultivating, Growing, and Raising of Genetically Modified (or simply Food
Biotechnology) Taro in the State of Hawaii
In the early 1990s, papaya growers were devastated by the Papaya Ring-spot Vi-u.;
(PRV), which threatened a way of life for hundreds of farmers in Hawaii. A
transgenic papaya with virus resistance was created by the UH College of Tropical
Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) and Cornell University in New Yorlc.
These transgenic papayas were finally planted in the late 1990s as new varietii+
named "Rainbow" and "Sunup. Both of these varieties have saved the Hawaiian
papaya industry and have reestablished the grower's papaya farms. The papaya
industry and my packing plant would not be operating today if it were not for
biotechnoCogy.
JAN-23-2008 14:51 From:TROPICAL HRWRIIRN 18089667367 To:9618912 P
The taro industry should learn from the papaya industry, that curtailing test,ir..p, of
their crops could be devastating to their industry. Should a foreign pest, disease
virus enter their crops that cannot be controlled by chemicals or integrated pest
management (IPND, a new variety developed by biotechnology resistant to that
specific pest could save their industry.
People have several choices now of eating various varieties of papaya, from organic,
conventional or biotech (Rainbow) papayas. Taro farmers should also have a ch( is
of growing biotechnology crops if it means survival. Ask any Rainbow or Suwap
papaya growers.
The "Rainbow" variety has allowed the Kapoho solo variety and assisted in the
organic growers to successfully cultivate these non-transgenic papayas by
suppressing the PRV pressure in these areas, The Big Island has shown that both
the transgenic and non-transgenic papayas can be grown in the same area to
complement each other.
We urge the County Council to reject passing this Resolution restricting the
advancement of biotechnology in Hawaii. Hawaii could become the world leader
in agriculture sciences and become the driving force in the state's economy. Tha
state needs to continue to diversify its economy away from an over-reliance on
tourism.
Thank you for this opportunity to testify on this Resolution.