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From: Jon Huffmaster <jdhuffmaster @gfb.org>
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2013 9:18 AM 2013 JUL 3' PH 2: 07
To: jyoshimoto @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Bill 79
Attachments: County of Hawaii, Letter,7-29-13.pdf
Dear Sir or Madam:
Please see the attached letter from Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall expressing concern
about Bill 79 currently being considered Hawaii County. Thank you for your consideration of our
views in this matter.
Thank you,
Jon Huffmaster, Legislative Director
Georgia Farm Bureau
1620 Bass Road
Macon, GA 31210
478-405-3434 (office direct)
jdhuffmaster(a�gfb.org
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FARM Georgia Farm Bureau Federation
BUREAU P0.BOX 7068•MACON,GEORGIA 31209-7068
478-474-8411
GEORGIA
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www gib.org
July 30, 2013
County of Hawaii
County Council
Committee on Public Safety and Mass Transit
RE: Testimony in Opposition to Bill 79
Dear Chairwoman Wille and committee members:
My name is Zippy Duvall, and 1 am President of the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation. I am
writing in opposition to Bill 79 which will ban the growing of genetically engineered products on
the Big Island.
While I understand that we do not reside or farm in the State of Hawaii, our organization and its
members rely extensively on the seed research that takes place in Hawaii by some of
agriculture's leading companies. These seeds will be planted in Georgia and throughout the
United States.
As farmers, we take our environmental stewardship and the seeds we grow very seriously. It is
the livelihood of farmers to care for the land and produce safe products for many generations to
come. Science and technology has helped farmers become efficient while increasing production
in order to feed the world's rising global population.
The federal government already provides extensive regulatory requirements of genetically
modified organisms (GMOs). The USDA, FDA, and EPA all work together on all aspects of
regulating GMOs from agriculture, food safety, and the environment. In addition to this
oversight, numerous independent studies have found no safety or health concerns directly related
to GMOs.
We respectively urge the Council to vote"No" to Bill 79.
Sincerely,
/-yle
Zippy Duvall, President
1620 BASS ROAD•MACON,GEORGIA 31210
Affiliated with American Farm Bureau Federation