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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0271.770 2012-2014 Page 1 of 2 Murashige, Laura From: TAKEMOTO, ALAN (AG/2111) [alan.takemoto @monsanto.com] Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2013 11:27 AM To: vpoindexter @co.hawaii.hi.us;jyoshimoto @co.hawaii.hi.us; Dennis Onishi; n gilagan @co.hawaii.hi.us; zkern @co.hawaii.hi.us; bford @co.hawaii.hi.us; dkanuha @co.hawaii.hi.us; keoff @co.hawaii.hi.us; mwille @co.hawaii.hi.usoo C Cc: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us = Subject: Monsanto testimony opposing Bill 79 Attachments: Bill 79 Monsanto testimony.County of Hawaii.docx r, Aloha Committee Chair Ford and council members: tsi - Thank you for allowing me to testify before the council committee yesterday. I have attached my written testimony in opposition to Bill 79 as I was unable to provide this to the staff earlier. If you have questions, please feel free to call me at 808-685-8371. Mahalo, Alan Below are additional resources for your information: Health &Safety: • "...no adverse health effects attributed to genetic engineering have been documented in the human population." The National Academy of Sciences, http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record id=10977 • "No effects on human health have been shown as a result of the consumption of such foods by the general population in the countries where they have been approved." World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/ • "...no scientific evidence associating GMOs with higher risks for the environment or for food and feed safety than conventional plants and organisms." European Commission review of 50 studies on the safety of biotech crops, http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release IP-10-1688 en.htm • "Bioengineered foods have been consumed for close to 20 years, and during that time, no overt consequences on human health have been reported and/or substantiated in the peer-reviewed literature." American Medical Association, http://www.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/csaph/a12- csaph2-bioengineeredfoods.pdf Hunger, Growing More Food,Global Impact of Biotechnology: • www.fao.org • www.bio.org/media/press-release/use-biotech-crops-increases-farmer profits-and-environmental- sustainability • www.isaaa.org Comm. o -'7 I. 11O Ref. To: PS MT�.- Ref. Dote L�� 7/3/2013 Page 2 of 2 Environment: ...reduced pesticide spraying by 1.045 billion pounds (an 8.9% reduction) and, as a result, decreased the environmental impact associated with pesticide use on these crops [as measured by the indicator the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ)] by 18.1%. www.bio.org/media/press-release/use-biotech-crops-increases-farmer-profits-and-environmentalsustainability About Monsanto: • Monsanto Company: www.monsanto.com • Our commitment to how we do business, the Monsanto Pledge: www.monsanto.com/whoweare/Pages/monsanto-pledge.aspx • Our latest Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report: www.monsanto.com/SiteCollectionDoclunents/CSR_Reports/2011-csr.pdf • Our commitments to helping make agriculture more sustainability: www.monsanto.com/whoweare/Pages/our-commitment-to-sustainable-agriculture.aspx • Our efforts to help fight rural hunger: www.monsanto.com/whoweare/Pages/fighting-rural- hunger.aspx • Philanthropy and the Monsanto Fund: www.monsantofund.org/ • Our issues and answers section: www.monsanto.com/newsviews/Pages/Issues-and-Answers.aspx • The Monsanto blog: www.monsantoblog.com 7/3/2013 MONSANTO HAWAII TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY AND MASS TRANSIT COMMITTEE July 2, 2013 TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION TO BILL 79 Chair Ford and members of the committee: My name is Alan Takemoto, Community Affairs Manager for Monsanto Hawaii. I have been involved in many of the agricultural issues facing Hawaii farmers and ranchers for over 18 years. I have worked for the Hawaii Farm Bureau as Executive Director and a member on numerous agricultural task forces and committees addressing issues such as land, water, irrigation systems, market development, labor, transportation, county and state agricultural water rates and real property tax issues. These issues affect all farmers and ranchers in Hawaii, including the Big Island. Monsanto is an agricultural company that has about 1,000 local employees that work to support their families in Hawaii. What we do in Hawaii is simply increase seed production from one packet of seed to one pallet. Hawaii's year round growing environment allows us to have 3 to 4 crops per year versus 1 crop cycle else where. I am proud to work for Monsanto as they understand and are sensitive to the agricultural issues in Hawaii and abroad. Monsanto's entire business is based on farming and how we try to support that effort both locally and globally. Monsanto's very own Dr. Robert Fraley was named a 2013 World Food Prize Laureate for the research he pioneered in plant biotechnology and its application to advance breeding and crop improvement techniques in agriculture. The World Food Prize was created in 1987 for individuals who are contributed landmark achievements in increasing the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. Food security and sustainability is important to all of us in Hawaii. Monsanto has been actively engaged in the agricultural community to that effect by supporting organizations such as the 4H Livestock Program, FFA, Farm Bureau, and the UH —CTAHR. We have also supported local students and teachers by providing scholarships and grants to those who are interested in agriculture and science related programs. On our Kunia land on Oahu, we have partnered with the Hawaii Agriculture Foundation that established an Agricultural Park that has about 18 small farmers that produce food crops. We provided not only the land, but we cleared and prepped the land, provided irrigation, security, and shared fueling station to ensure the success of the farmer on this property of ours. This is true action toward food security and support of local farming. I would like to also take this opportunity to address rumors and misinformation about Monsanto's plans on the Big Island. Monsanto is not actively searching for or planning operations on the Big Island. We do not own land or have any operations on the Big Island either. We are only located on the islands of Oahu, Maui, and Molokai. We invite all council members, staff and those who wish to learn more about who we are and what we do in Hawaii to come and tour our farm. We welcome dialogue and transparency to those that are willing to have a respectful and open conversation about agriculture and biotechnology. Agriculture Biotechnology is safe. The USDA, FDA, and EPA all oversee and regulate agricultural biotechnology. Bill 79 is based on faulty rumors, assumptions and falsely implies that biotech crops are somehow dangerous. In truth, biotech crops have been grown by farmers and consumed by the general public for nearly 20 years, with no associated health issues. Studies have shown that ag biotechnology has resulted in significant economic and environmental benefits for farmers and communities. Monsanto continues to find solutions to increasing the farmer's production, increasing yields, and improving efficiency on the farm while using less land, less water, and less input. For these reasons, we respectfully ask that you oppose Bill 79. Thank you. Alan Takemoto Monsanto Hawaii Community Affairs Manager For your information, below are additional references: Health &Safety: • "...no adverse health effects attributed to genetic engineering have been documented in the human population." The National Academy of Sciences, http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record id=10977 • "No effects on human health have been shown as a result of the consumption of such foods by the general population in the countries where they have been approved." World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/ • "...no scientific evidence associating GMOs with higher risks for the environment or for food and feed safety than conventional plants and organisms." European Commission review of 50 studies on the safety of biotech crops, http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release IP-10- 1688 en.htm • "Bioengineered foods have been consumed for close to 20 years, and during that time, no overt consequences on human health have been reported and/or substantiated in the peer- reviewed literature." American Medical Association, http://www.ama- assn.org/resources/doc/csaph/al2-csaph2-bioengineeredfoods.pdf Hunger, Growing More Food, Global Impact of Biotechnology: • www.fao.org • www.bio.org/media/press-release/use-biotech-crops-increases-farmer-profits-and- env ironmental-sustainability • www.isaaa.org Environment: ...reduced pesticide spraying by 1.045 billion pounds (an 8.9% reduction) and, as a result, decreased the environmental impact associated with pesticide use on these crops [as measured by the indicator the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ)] by 18.1%. www.bio.org/media/press-release/use-biotech-crops-increases-farmer-profits-and- environmentalsustainability About Monsanto: • Monsanto Company: www.monsanto.com • Our commitment to how we do business, the Monsanto Pledge: www.monsanto.com/whoweare/Pages/monsanto-pledge.aspx • Our latest Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report: www.monsanto.coin/SiteCollectionDocuments/CSR Reports/201 1-csr.pdf • Our commitments to helping make agriculture more sustainability: www.monsanto.com/whoweare/Pages/our-commitment-to-sustainable-agriculture.aspx • Our efforts to help fight rural hunger: www.monsanto.com/whoweare/Pages/fighting-rural- hunger.aspx • Philanthropy and the Monsanto Fund: www.monsantofund.org/ • Our issues and answers section: www.monsanto.com/newsviews/Pages/Issues-and- Answers.aspx • The Monsanto blog: www.monsantoblog.com