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Murashige, Laura
From: Don Gerbig [drgmaui@hawaii.rr.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 11:54 AM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us.
Subject: Testimony Resolution 462 08 -
Attachments: Testimony HC Resolution 462 08 010808.doc
Please find my testimony in opposition to Resolution 462-08 for the Environmental Committee hearing
on January 8, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.
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TESTIMONY
Resolution 462-08
HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
CHAIRPERSON: Committee on Environmental Management
RESOLUTION NO: 462-08
TITLE: Resolution Supporting S.B. 958, SD 1 HD 1 Banning Taro Research
with Genetically Modified Organisms
HEARING DATE & TIME: January 8, 2008 (Tuesday) at 2:00 P.M.
HEARING LOCATION: County Council Room
Committee Chairperson and members of the committee:
My name is Don Gerbig, a retiree from the agricultural industry, a private citizen, and an advocate for
sound science and the Hawaiian agricultural industry.
I am testifying in opposition to this resolution.
Banning any research on taro is like giving up on the growing of taro in Hawaii. The second
paragraph of the resolution about there now being 85 varieties of taro from hundreds of varieties
before, accentuates the need for research. Diseases and pests are the cause of this varietal
reduction.
Over the years taro diseases and pests have caused this reduction of many taro varieties. Yes, even
pests breed and become stronger. Increasingly, these diseases and pests are becoming more
difficult to control and taro crop losses are also increasing.
This is true of other crops too. An example is the Solo Papaya variety all but killed by a virus.
Genetic engineering saved this crop in Hawaii.
There are very few organic or synthetic chemical pest control materials available to taro farmers for
the control of plant diseases and pests, like snails. Development of new pest control materials for
taro is non-existent. Therefore, plant breeding, including genetic engineering, is the only answer to
controlling the many disease and pest problems farmers have with growing taro in Hawaii.
Genetic engineering is one method of breeding for resistance to diseases and pests. The methods
used are carefully controlled during the process and overseen by at least four government agencies,
the USDA, the FDA, the EPA, and our own state Department of Agriculture, before being approved
and/or released for commercial production. This is more government oversight than we get on the
prescription drugs we might be taking.
Any and all taro research is required to preserve the future of taro farming in Hawaii, and no part of
any research program should be interfered with that offers potential benefits to Hawaii. To preserve
the future of taro growing in Hawaii, I urge you all to not pass this resolution out of committee.
Don Gerbig
6 Tulip PI., Lahaina, HI
Telephone 808-669-6463