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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0271a.072 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1 Murashige, Laura From: Goldstein, Cindy [cindy.goldstein @pioneer.com] 1013 AUG -6 Sent: Tuesday, August 06, 2013 12:09 AM 9: To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Testimony in Opposition Bill 79 Attachments: DuPont Pioneer Bill 79_Testimony_August_2013.docx Cindy Goldstein DuPont Pioneer Industry Relations Manager, Hawaii office: 808-637-0100 ext 117 cell: 808-722-7819 This communication is for use by the intended recipient and contains information that may be Privileged, confidential or copyrighted under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby formally notified that any use, copying or distribution of this e-mail, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Please notify the sender by return e-mail and delete this e-mail from your system. 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D lu pp Government and Industry Relations Manager DuPont Pioneer Waialua Parent Seed, Kekaha Parent Seed A\ PIONEER, Kunia Research Center, Waimea Research PO Box 520 Waialua, HI 96791 Hawai'i County Council o n Hawai'i County Building 4J °c' 25 Aupuni Street c Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 c • D� Bill 79 — Relating Genetically Modified Organisms August 6, 2013 P1 .= Position: Opposed to Bill 79 Council Chair Yoshimoto, Committee Chair Ford, and members of the Hawai'i County Council, My name is Dr. Cindy Goldstein and I am providing testimony on behalf of DuPont Pioneer. We support all types of agriculture; conventional, organic and biotech. This bill has the potential to negatively impact agriculture on the Big Island in the near term and for future generations of farmers, consumers, and agriculture researchers. A number of provisions of Bill 79 would make it difficult for farmers that already face a number of challenges and high costs of production to have the array of tools available that enable farming to be stable and economically viable. The prohibitions section of the bill suggest imminent endangerment to agricultural health. The many pests and diseases that are currently found, and that may arrive as invasive species to the Island of Hawai'i have been shown to create significant and imminent danger to crops, at times spreading rapidly and posing a threat to crops. Removing tools that researchers and farmers can use as one of the ways to respond to a new pest or disease epidemic is short sighted and may lead to the loss of economically viable farming for many on the Big Island. This bill describes the current system for growing genetically engineered crops as posing a potential health hazard. This has not been the conclusion of the hundreds of peer reviewed; scientifically sound research studies that have been carried out over many years. Scientific studies build upon one another to form a body of evidence. The body of evidence of data for genetically engineered crops, and meta analysis of the large body of scientific data and studies in the US, Europe, Japan, and other nations continues to point to a strong body of evidence that growing and consuming these crops, and foods derived from these crops, are safe. The decision to issue permits for planting of transgenic organisms on farms, in greenhouses, and by research institutions is made by federal agencies and the Hawai'i Department of Agriculture, not private companies as stated in this bill. Permits are issued following assessment and evaluation of many of the factors listed as reasons for calling for the adoption of this bill. Once permits for planting are issued, there is oversight that includes inspections and additional compliance with regulatory processes. Provisions of this bill would be redundant, as current agency regulation and active oversight already address the safeguards proposed as justifications for this bill. While the precautionary principle would seem like a reasonable and practical approach to evaluate and develop sound policy, when applied, the unintended consequences are significant. Innovation and technology we use and take for granted in our daily lives would be curtailed in many ways if standards of the precautionary principle were in use. Automobiles would not be allowed considering the dangers they pose and airplanes that bring residents and visitors to the Big Island would raise concerns significant enough to call for an outright ban. There have been many large widely reported, and small but equally deadly outbreaks of Salmonella and E. coli on raw fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, meat, and other food products that would raise alarms due to impacts on children, adults and the immune compromised individuals that would disallow making these products available to Big Island consumers when scrutinized under the precautionary principle. Provisions for registration will make the affected farms and research facilities future targets for destruction of property and crops. The farmers themselves and employees engaged in work in registered facilities will be targeted for harassment and unfortunately also threatened on social media sites as we see already when people present a viewpoint in support of genetically engineered crops, and subject to harassment and as they go about their daily activities. We oppose this bill because of the many negative consequences this bill would have for Big Island farmers, agriculture researchers, consumers, and future farmers. Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in opposition to Bill 79.