HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.618 2012-2014 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAI I
RECEIVED
Time By fQ-
July 2, 2013 Date -1t7.10
Testimony in Opposition of Bill#79(Prohibiting of Genetically Modified Organisms)
Dear County Council of Hawai'i,
Aloha, my name is Ross Sibucao. I'm representing myself and the Hawaii Papaya Industry
Association, also known as the H.P.I.A. . I currently serve as the President with this being my 1St
year!. Some history and facts about the H.P.I.A. It's a non-profit organization that was founded
in the late 1970's. It was established to serve as a hub for the industry to network the farmers,
processors, R& D, government, consumers, and marketing all together.
The H.P.I.A. endorses all types of Papaya farming methods whether it's organic, conventional,
or GMO. It's made up of 70+ small family farms statewide,with majority being on the Big
Island, and an ample amount of non-grower members. The Papaya industry production is made
up of 85%being GMO and 15%being Non-GMO.
So when you hear claims where growing Non-GMO papayas is impossible on this island, it's so
untrue. Whether its reasons of cross-pollination or whatever myths it may be. Fifty percent of my
family's production is part of that 15%. And we've been doing it since the introduction of the
Rainbow papaya(back in 1998) with no reported case of cross-pollination. But do keep in mind
we take a BIG risk as a farmer to grow Non-GMO for the demanding market,knowingly we can
loose 50% of our crops in less than a year if we get an outbreak with the papaya ringspot virus.
Ok, a little more about a myself. I was born and raised on the Big Island. I spent the whole 30
years of my life on this island. I grew up in Pahoa and later moved to Keaau later graduating
from Waiakea High School. Thereafter,went on to further my education by attending the Hawaii
Community College in Hilo. I earned to 2 tech degrees, 1 in Electrical Installation and
Maintenance and another in Automotive Mechanics.
Six years ago,I decided to make a change in my career, from Repairing cars on a daily basis TO
becoming a full-time, bona fide 2nd generation Papaya farmer. Ever since I was at the age of 10,
I was able perform duties that of a farm worker that's present day. I could drive a standard farm
truck, I could drive a tractor, I could harvest, I could plant,I could identify hermaphrodite plants
from female plants, I could fertilize accurately, I could do almost everything BUT drive on the
highway. Farm life taught me a lot. I've learned how to work THE land that I was born and lived
on,at a very young age. So I consider myself as a true Local boy!
Now with the introduction of Bill#79. I feel like it's a slap to my face. After all these years of
me dedicating a big part of my life to farming and feeding the people safely, now Council
Members want to introduce Bills to Ban GMO?? Farming is hard enough in the field itself.
Please don't make it harder for us by taking away our tools. Comm. Na._)�•
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Ref. /
Ref. Dote
I and the Hawaii Papaya Industry Association STONGLYoppose Bill#79. Its just a badly written
Bill! Yes, some say we,the Papaya industry, is grandfathered or exempted from the Bill. But it
can never be accepted to pass by any form or amendments .
Bill #79 reinforces the negative stigma that the Anti-GMO groups already have created with
misinterpreted information about the Rainbow Papaya. They should be ashamed of themselves.
This stigma affects our current marketing efforts local,domestic, and foreign. Tell me,how do
we sell our produce to foreign markets when the VERY county which the crop is grown in,
wants to BAN the Technology that developed that crop?? Its very detrimental to our industry.
It's sending a very Bad message to the world. We're saying GMO is bad but please buy our
product.
Rainbow papaya went through almost 15 years of research and testing to prove it was safe for
the environment and for the consumer. Work was done by local scientists!
Luckily it was approved just in time when the outbreak of the Papaya Ringspot Virus in Puna
was at its peak,putting almost 60%of the industries growers out of business. Scary right?
At that time I was a teenager who was terrified, scared, a bag of mixed emotions. I thought
about how something that my father passionately loved doing, which was farming be taken
away from him. The Rainbow papaya gave my father and my family,a second chance at
farming.
You see, Council Members,this Bill puts me and my industry at the front line of this crossfire.
We feel, we're fighting a fight that's not our fight. This Bill is written where the Papaya industry
becomes collateral damage. We do nothing wrong and have nothing to apologize for. And I'm
tired of defending myself as a farmer!
To conclude my testimony. The virus-resistant Rainbow papaya is the first ever, locally
developed GMO fruit that proved to the world that Bio-technology works! It's a flagship fruit
for the state. It saved an industry that almost fell to the devastation of the Papaya Ringspot
Virus. Is Bio-technology the answer for everything?No. Is Bio-technology important? Yes.
Should Bio-technology research be continued in this county? Yes!
With that said, the Papaya industry wants other industries such as the floral,the ranchers,the
banana growers,All of Hawaii's Ag industries, to able to experience the benefits of Bio-
technology if needed. You see, research and testing takes time as I stated earlier. It may take
years for a GMO produce to be approved. And Hawaii is a place where both plants and
pests/disease thrive. So to have research be available for any new forms of pest, diseases, or
viruses that may arise we will be well prepared.Now that's what I call food security! We need
to keep the agricultural industry viable, attractive,and secured for the Next generation of
Farmers that'll be feeding the people! Young,Next generation Farmers are a dying breed. Lets
work on encouraging more,not discouraging.
So please, Vote NO! On Bill#79
Mahalos,
Ross Sibucao
President, Hawaii Papaya Industry Association
Independent Grower