HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0883.040 2006-2008
Murashige, Laura
From: Joy Gold [joy@joygoldunlimited.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 11:16 AM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Testimony for Jan 24 - 8:30 am Res463-08
Attachments: HCIA_Jan24_HICountyCouncil_CoffeeRes 463-08_adolph.doc
HCIA_Jan24_HICou
ntyCouncil_Cof...
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Please see the attached testimony for tomorrow's hearing. C Z
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Joy Gold
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Joy Gold Unlimited Cj
1136 Union Mall, Ste. 403,
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
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Ph: 808.526.3770 Fax: 808.540.0915
www.joygoldunlimited.com
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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. 463-08, A Resolution Supporting HB 1577 hdl to Temporarily Prohibit the Growing of
Genetically Modified Coffee for a Period of 5 Years, at the same time, Permit Research in an
Environmentally Secure Facility
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.
Res. 464-08 and HB 1577hdl are constructed in a way that gives the impression that allowing
genetically engineering research in an environmentally secured facility offers a compromise to a
temporary prohibition on genetic engineering research for coffee. This is not the case. The research
and development process is lengthy and costly, and must include field-testing to see how the crop
grows in a natural environment. Bringing research through lab work, greenhouse, field-testing and
commercialization can take as much as 15 years and millions of dollars. It requires a commercial end
user to invest in the product. In order for lab research to be greenhouse and field-tested, both USDA
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Hawaii's State Department of Agriculture
must approve permit applications for field testing.
The interests of some coffee growers who do not support genetic engineering as a tool are already met.
Please do not support legislation that sends a chilling message that Hawaii does not support research,
science and technology. Mahalo and thank you for the opportunity to present testimony.
Growing The Future of Worldwide Agriculture in Hawaii
www.hciaonline.com