HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.037 2012-2014 HAWAII ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION
808-969-7789
76-789 lo Place, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
hofa @hawaiiorganic.org www.hawaiiorganic.org
Toll Free: 1-877-ORG-ISLE (674-4753) COUNTY CLERK
Tuesday, May 14, 2013 COUNTY OF HAWAI't
RECEIVED
Time p a.. By
2013 Board of Re: Bill 79, mace 5 r 11
Directors
Mark Fergusson Aloha Council Members,
President
Franz Weber My name is Zach Mermel.Today I am representing the Hawai'i Organic Farming Association
Vice President (also known as HOFA).
Zachary Mermel
Secretary HOFA supports the passage of Bill 79 for the following reasons:
Norman Arancon
Keiko Bonk 1. Food production on Hawai'i Island should be moving towards more sustainable
methods of agriculture that do not rely on insecticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers.
Courtney Bruch Genetically modified crops require increased chemical use, especially RoundUp.This has led to
Hunter Heaivilin chemical residues in our food, water, soil, and air, and a host of other negatives such as "super-
Gary Hooser weeds" which are becoming resistant to the increasing amounts of poison being sprayed on
Juanita Kawamoto them.
Matthew Lynch
2. Also,there are unknown human health and environmental risks associated with GMO
Walter Ritte
crops:
David santistevan a. Seventy percent of processed foods now contain GMO's. However, GMOs have
Dr Hector Valenzuela never undergone standard testing or regulation for human safety.
Dr. Melissa Yee b. Additionally, the consequences of GMO technology are inherently
unpredictable. Inserting a single gene can result in multiple, unintended DNA changes and
mutations. Genetic contamination of other plants is already well documented. A 2009 review
of 19 studies found that mammals fed GMO corn or soy developed "liver and kidney problems"
that could mark the "onset of chronic diseases." In a recent two-year study, rats fed genetically
modified (GM) corn developed 2-3 times more tumors than rats that were fed non-GM corn.
3. lastly, as a board member of HOFA, and as a past organic crop inspector, I have
observed first-hand the economic hardships facing our local farmers here on Hawai'i Island.
Farmers wanting to market their crops as organic currently run the risk of genetic
contamination from nearby GMO crops.
Please help ensure Hawai'i's future agricultural security, and vote in favor of Bill 79.
Respectfully submitted,
Zach Mermel
Board Member and Secretary, Hawai'i Organic Farming Association
Comm. N . ' t• 31
Ref. To:11W/
Ref. Date MAY 4
Hawaii Organic Farming Association
Our Vision is to•
Create a sustainable future for Hawaii
Our i,ss on is to.
Further organic and sustainable agriculture, land care, and lifestyles in Hawaii, thus giving meaning and life to our state motto
Ca mau ke ea o ka aina l ka pono The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness".
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