HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.113 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
From: Russell Nagata [rtnagata @gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, May 13, 2013 8:53 AM 2013 MAY 13 A I
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Bill 79
Dear Hawaii County Council Members.
1 am Dr. Russell T. Nagata and I am the t`niversity of Hawaii at Manoa. Cl AHR. Hawaii
County Administrator. Prior to assuming the County Administrator position, I worked for the
['niversity of Florida as a plant breeder of lettuce and turfgrass which included research in
classical plant breeding and genetically modifying lettuce through targeted gene insertion. I wish
to comment on County Council Bill 79 as a private citizen, and not as an employee or
representative of the I'niversity of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture and 1 luman
Resources.
'Mere is much talk on contamination of crops through GMO pollen, but the facts are that
contamination by foreign pollen is a constant threat in many of the crops whether conventional
or genetically modified by targeted gene insertion. Cross pollinated crops evolved this
mechanism to reduce the possibility of inbreeding depression, characterized by the accumulation
of recessive deleterious gene characters. The process of creating a (iMC) plant is not verb
different that creating a new cultivar through classical breeding techniques. Herbicide and pest
resistance has been developed through classical breeding as well as through genetic engineering
methods. the goal in either case is to increase food and fiber production.
Much of the debate also concerns the safety of crops developed through genetic engineering
processes. Resistance to pest and disease has been selected for by humans since the development
of agriculture. Selection of resistant plants. accelerated after the I900's with the development of
the science of plant breeding and genetics. (iene splicing is another tool that plant breeder
employ to create resistant plants as tissue culture was before it. Plants are known to he a virtual
chemical factory as many herbalists can attest too. Do we know the effects of all of these
chemical compounds on human health? We know more about the effects of the Bt toxin and
I2PSPS inhibitor (reason fir gylphosate resistance) than other naturally occurring resistant
factors. We can choose to cherry pick -facts"" to support a particular point or we can base our
decisions on the best possible science.
The greatest threat to agriculture in Hawaii is not what Bill 79 implies_ namely genetically
modified crops contaminating the environment and our food supply. it is the dozens of invasive
species that annually reach our island paradise and settle in. If any money should he spent. it
should he on preventing more alien invaders from calling Hawaii home, many of which makes it
more difficult to grow food crops in Hawaii and moves us further from attaining the goal of food
self sufficiency.
Thank you for considering my testimony.
Russell T. Nagata, PhD
alumnus of Hilo I ligh School, lJniversitā of Hawaii at Manoa and University of Florida.
Comm. iN
Ref. To:
Ref. pate AY 14 201 _
5/13/2013