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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0271.584 2012-2014 Page 1 of 2 Murashige, Laura COUNTY CLERK From: trkahua @aol.com COUNTY OF HAWAII Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 6:43 AM 2013 NAY 11$ PH 2= 30 To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Oppose Bill 79 Hawaii County Council Committee on Public Safety & Mass Transit Tuesday, May 14, 2013 9:00 a.m. RE: BILL 79 Relating to the Prohibition of Genetically Modified Organisms Committee Chair Ford and Members of the Committee: My name is Herbert M "Tim" Richards III DVM. I am a 3rd generation North Kohala rancher and the immediate past President for the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council. Currently I am the President and General Manager for Kahua Ranch Ltd. (The Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc. (HCC) is the Statewide umbrella organization comprised of the five county level Cattlemen's Associations. Our 130+ member ranchers represent over 60,000 head of beef cows; more than 75% of all the beef cows in the State. Ranchers are the stewards of approximately 25% of the State's total land mass.) As a rancher and veterinarian I Strongly Opposes Bill 79 prohibiting Genetically Modified products from being propagated, cultivated, raised or grown on the Island of Hawaii. This Bill wants to restrict and regulate the use of GMO technology and associated propagation though it would allow for the use of the products in our country derived from propagation elsewhere. There are many examples of the value of GMO technology helping our society. Close to home is our papaya industry saved by this. Almost as close are the over 100,000 diabetic patients in our state treated daily with insulin derived from GMO technology. (In the early 1980's using GMO technology, DNA was inserted into E.coli bacteria and a pure form of human derived insulin became available. This replaced the less pure animal derived insulin. Today globally almost all insulin used is derived via this technology.) As we look to the future with advancements in medical research, it is highly probable genetic therapy may become commonplace. It would appear this Bill could also restrict that in our county. There is no rational science based reason to limit the growing or consumption or use of GMO products. The Growing and consumption of GMO crops is one of the most regulated industries in the United States, regulated by the FDA, EPA and USDA, despite what this bill mistakenly asserts. All types of farming &ranching should be recognized and supported; Natural, organic, conventional and cutting edge (including GMO, or other science advanced forms). Market demand, not government regulation, should direct and dictate both the type of agriculture and any label requirements. Choice should be left up to the individual. Thank you for your time. Aloha, Ilerbert M "Tim" Richards III DVM Comm. No. 02 Z1. �4Z Ref.To: P/PS'M IC Ref. Date JUL 0 2 2011 5/14/2013 Page 2 of 2 Kahua Ranch Ltd PO Box 837 Kamuela, Hawaii 96743 8088824646 Thank you Thank you Aloha, Herbert M "Tim" Richards III, DVM Kahua Ranch Ltd. P.O. Box 837 Kamuela, Hawaii 96743 808 882-4646 5/14/2013