HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0393.040 2012-2014 Murashige, Laura
From: gpn @greenpointnursery.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 6:52 PM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Testimony for Eric and Jon Tanouye
Attachments: Attachment information..txt; HFNA-CountyCouncil-Bill 113oppose 9-4-13.pdf; Attachment
information..txt; HFNA-CountyCouncil-Bill 109oppose 9-4-13.pdf; Attachment information..txt;
GPN-JT-bill113.pdf; Attachment information..txt; GPN-JT-bill109.pdf
Attachment HFNA-CountyCounc Attachment HFNA-CountyCounc Attachment GPN-JT-bi11113.pdf Attachment
nformation..txt(6... it-Bill 113opp... information..txt(6... it-Bill 109opp... nformation..txt(6... (116 KB) Information..txt(6...
GPN-JT-bill109.pdf
(116 KB)
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Comm. No. 3q 3.'10
Ref. To: H P504 7G
1 Ref. Dote SEP 2 3 2013
Hawaii Floriculture & Nursery Association
Testimony for the 9th Session
Hawai'i County Council
25 Aupuni Street, Room 1401,
Hilo, HI 96720
Wednesday, September 4th,2013
2:00pm
Regarding Bill 113—An Ordinance Amending Chapter 14 of the Hawaii County Code, by Adding a
New Article Relating to Genetically Engineered Crops and Plants
We Strongly Oppose Bill 113
My name is Eric S. Tanouye and I am the current President for the Hawaii Floriculture and
Nursery Association. HFNA is a statewide umbrella organization with approximately 300 members.
Our membership is made up with breeders, hybridizers, propagators, growers, shippers, wholesalers,
retailers, educators, and the allied industry, which supports our efforts in agriculture. In 2011 our
industry's sales were approximately 70 million in sales and of these sales approximately 60% are from
the Big Island, sales that help inject money into our local economy.
• HFNA supports science, technology, innovation and the freedom of choice and opposes
any legislation that negatively targets crops made through genetic engineering.
• Floriculture is a non-edible agriculture, the argument of whether or not GMO crops are
healthy or not does not concern our industry in regards to food safety but this bill will
limit our choice on how to improve our products.
We believe it is important to look to the future of our agriculture industry and not handicap ourselves
with laws that seek to close the door on technology. It is important that we keep finding solutions to
pest and diseases that currently attack our plants and crops. With disease and pest resistant plants we
would be able to use less herbicides and pesticides, which would lower costs for farmers and also have
a greater yield of product, allowing our sector in agriculture to improve efficiencies.
That is why we would like to request the council to Oppose Bill 113. If you have any
questions at this time, 1 would be happy to discuss them and can be reached by phone at 808-959-3535
ext 22, cell 960-1433 and email
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SupportingAgriculti.rre and Hawaii,
Eric S. anouye,!
President
Hawaii Florio?lture and Nursery Association