HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.006 2012-2014 PI P5MTG
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Hawaii County Council 1013 SEP -3 Ml 10 3�
Committee on Public Safety &Mass Transit
Wednesday September 4, 2013 1:30 p.m.
Testimony Against Bills 109 and 113
Committee Chair Ford and Members of the Committee:
1 oppose Bills 109 and 113 because any anti-GMO legislation in Hawaii County will
discriminate against our farmers and ranchers who choose to use approved genetic
engineered technology to grow safe and wholesome food and other agriculture products.
These Bills also damage Hawaii's reputation for producing some of the best crops on the
planet, harms our markets, and eventually destroy our agriculture industry.
1 am pro-farming and the right to farm in the United States of America, still a free country,
under laws of and regulated by the USA and the State of Hawaii.
Hawaii's farmers and ranchers may need virus resistant GMO crops to protect Hawaii from
the next papaya virus strain, banana bunchy top virus, tomato spotted wilt and other
vegetable viruses, or the bacterial citrus greening disease that is destroying the Florida
citrus industry and may soon come to Hawaii. Furthermore, this bill will stop development
of GMO ornamental and floral crops with enhanced horticultural or disease resistant
characteristics. These Bills would prohibit livestock and aquaculture producers from
efficiently growing cost effective feed locally, requiring them to import at a higher price the
exact same feeds. How will Hawaii County farmers and ranchers compete when everyone
but us has access to GE technology?
The consensus of independent scientific organizations worldwide is unanimous and can be
summed up by this statement from the American Association for the Advancement of
Science, "The science is quite clear: crop improvement by the modern molecular techniques
of biotechnology is safe."
Please vote against Bill 109 and Bill 113 % 0 ,
Name: l DE.- ll1 pl d
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City where I live: l L a
Additional Comments:
Comm. No. 3 o S
Ref. To: Pj PS 04 T G
Ref. Date SEP 04 203
Hawaii County Council
Committee on Public Safety & Mass Transit
Wednesday September 4, 2013 1:30 p.m.
Testimony Against Bills 109 and 113
Committee Chair Ford and Members of the Committee:
I oppose Bills 109 and 113 because any anti-GMO legislation in Hawaii County will
discriminate against our farmers and ranchers who choose to use approved genetic
engineered technology to grow safe and wholesome food and other agriculture products.
These Bills also damage Hawaii's reputation for producing some of the best crops on the
planet, harms our markets, and eventually destroy our agriculture industry.
I am pro-farming and the right to farm in the United States of America, still a free country,
under laws of and regulated by the USA and the State of Hawaii.
Hawaii's farmers and ranchers may need virus resistant GMO crops to protect Hawaii from
the next papaya virus strain,banana bunchy top virus, tomato spotted wilt and other
vegetable viruses, or the bacterial citrus greening disease that is destroying the Florida
citrus industry and may soon come to Hawaii. Furthermore, this bill will stop development
of GMO ornamental and floral crops with enhanced horticultural or disease resistant
characteristics. These Bills would prohibit livestock and aquaculture producers from
efficiently growing cost effective feed locally, requiring them to import at a higher price the
exact same feeds. How will Hawaii County farmers and ranchers compete when everyone
but us has access to GE technology?
The consensus of independent scientific organizations worldwide is unanimous and can be
summed up by this statement from the American Association for the Advancement of
Science, "The science is quite clear: crop improvement by the modern molecular techniques
of biotechnology is safe."
Please vote against Bill 109 and Bill 113
Name: o✓Ltv4 ►2,✓� P>'[✓Z ��, z �Z
Occupation: R t>
City where I live:
Additional Comments: