HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0882.040 2006-2008
Murashige, Laura
From: Joy Gold [joy@joygoldunlimited.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 11:15 AM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Testimony for Jan 24 8:30 am - 462-08
Attachments: HCIA_Jan24_HlCountyCouncil_TaroRes 462-08_Helm.doc
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HCIA_Jan24_HICou
ntyCouncil_Tar...
Please see the attached testimony for the hearing.
Thank you,
Joy Gold m
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President C;] T!
Joy Gold Unlimited
1136 Union Mall, Ste. 403
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 -p r%
Ph: 808.526.3770 Fax: 808.540.0415
www.joygoldunlimited.com
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Ref. To:
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Hawaii Adolph Helm, President-Elect
Crop 19 Hua'ai Road, PO Box 339
Improvement Hoolehua, Hi 96729
Association Phone: (808) 567-9421
Res. 462-08, A Resolution Supporting SB 958hdl to Impose A 10-Year Moratorium on Developing, Testing,
Propagating, Cultivating, Growing and Raising Genetically Modified Taro in the State of Hawaii, January 8, 2008
Environmental Management Hearing
Hawaii Island County Council
January 24, 2008, 8:30 am Position: Oppose Resolution
Chair Hoffman, and Members of the Hawaii Island County Council:
My name is Adolph Helm. I am a Molokai resident and Project Manger of Dow Agro-Science, an HCIA
member company. The HCIA represents seed production and research facilities operating in Hawaii for
nearly 40 years. We represent five member companies that farm an estimated 8,000 acres on four islands,
valued at $97.6 million in operating budget (2006/2007 HASS). We are proud members of Hawaii's
diversified agriculture and life sciences industries.
The HCIA does not support legislating a moratorium on taro or any other agricultural crop grown in Hawaii.
We stand firmly on the 1,000's of science-based and peer reviewed studies and 3,400 scientists around the
world that attest to the safety of agricultural biotechnology. (The Safety of Agricultural Biotechnology study
listing is available upon request) Plant research using this technology is not only safe but has the advantage
of being more efficient. It requires significantly less time to produce new cultivars and is more precise than
traditional plant breeding. As a result, varieties can be developed which are more productive and better
adapted to local needs.
We affirm and respect the cultural meaning of Hawaiian taro and firmly believe that the Hawaiian
community must lead the discussion of the future of Hawaiian taro, and Hawaiian taro research and
education programs. We believe all farmers should be able to freely choose their preferred growing
methods, which could include using the tools of modern biotechnology as one way of improving plant
varieties.
Passage of legislation like this one sends a strong policy message that Hawaii is not in support of
science and technology. It undermines future investments and growth potential for the seed crop
industry in Hawaii, and further growth and responsible use of agricultural biotechnology as a 213`
Century tool for farmers. We believe that this is exactly what lies at the heart of SB 958sdl and similar
measures like HB 1577hdI. In a Feb. 14, 2007 Honolulu Weekly article, Nancy Redfeather, a Kona coffee
grower and longtime opponent of genetic engineering, is quoted as saying that, "This session is shaping up to
be historic" because they anticipate Hawaii may be the first state in the nation to ban a genetically engineered
crop. More recently, in routed emails about the January 16, 2008 Opening Day Rally, it is clear that
protesters cloaked under the guise of preserving and protecting taro have a larger agenda of stopping
federally approved and federally and state regulated commercial genetically engineered crops. Yet, these
same protesters did not support SCR 206, a vehicle that seeks to bring together researchers, taro farmers and
others to begin discussions about the preservation and protection of taro in Hawaii.
We respectfully ask the Hawaii Island County policy makers to question the motive behind Res. 462-08 and
SB 958sdl, and question what is accomplished and for whom since it is our understanding that taro growers
have an agreement with the UH-CTAHR that genetic engineering research will not go forward until further
discussions with the taro growers. Mahalo and thank you for the opportunity to present testimony.
Growing the Future of Worldwide Agriculture in Hawaii
www.heiaonline.com