HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0883.014 2006-2008
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AMC
Murashige, Laura
From: Alan Takemoto [atakemoto@hfbf.org] RE{ , i'V`E_
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 4:30 PM 7 P~ 4 28
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us JON
Cc: 'Alan Takemoto' Crw' . ,LE.
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Subject: Testimony on Reso 462 and Reso 463 r
Attachments: BI Reso Ban on Coffee Testimony.doc; BI Reso Ban on Taro Testimony.doc
To County Council Clerk,
Please find attached testimony on Reso. 462 and Reso. 463 for the hearing scheduled before the Committee on
Environmental Management, January 8, 2008, 2 pm.
Please make 15 copies and submit our testimony accordingly.
If any questions, please call me at 848-2074.
Alan Takemoto
Executive Director
Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation
2343 Rose Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96819
Phone: 808.848.2074
Fax: 808.848.1921
www.hfbf.org
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Ref. To: ftwow fi
ROIL Dote JAN 8 20
1/7/2008
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Hawaii Farm Bureau
F E D E R A T I O N
2343 Rose Street, Honolulu, HI 96819
Phone: (808) 848-2074; Neighbor Islands: 1-800-482-1272
Fax: (808) 848-1921; e-mail: info@hfbf.org
January 5, 2008
Chair Bob Jacobson
Hawaii County Council
Committee on Environmental Management
Hilo, Hawaii
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
Chair Jacobson and Members of the Committee on Environmental Management:
My name is Alan Takemoto, Executive Director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation,
which is the largest non-profit general agricultural organization, representing 1,600 farm
family members statewide.
The HFBF does not support moratoriums or restrictions on responsible, federally and
state approved genetic engineering research. It is our policy as well as the American
Farm Bureau's policy to support all growing practices and research and development for
organic, conventional and biotechnology methodologies.
We understand that Kona coffee is unique and the importance of their marketing
advantageous should be enhanced and maintained. However, we do not believe that we
should be legislating such a ban on safe research and technology that may set precedence
that will negatively impact the overall agricultural industry in Hawaii. We believe that
all methods and tools should be made available to the farmer or rancher so that they
remain competitive in the global marketplace.
Our organization believes that miscommunication and misunderstanding of the
technology has spurred concerns in the agricultural community. As such, we have
coordinated a series of farmer to farmer dialogue on coexistence between organic,
conventional, and biotechnology. We believe this process of communication and the
recognition of many commonalities between farmers have brought a bought some
positive results.
We ask that Res.463-08 be held in committee. Thank you for the opportunity to present
testimony.