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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.069 2012-2014 E'Lle I of 1 Murashige, Laura From: Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser[psgmikilua©gmail.com] Sent: Monday, September 02, 2013 8:56 PM To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Testimony Opposing Bill 109 and 113 Attachments: Hawaii County Councilgmobills9513.docx C) CO, T d r+'t <—i w )-< rr) CD — Comm. No. 3 SS. 49 Ref. To: P/RSA/TG Ref. Date SEP b 4 1013 9/3/2013 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. 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 such as anthurium blight disease. 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 Phyllis S. Geiser Farmer Waianae, Hawaii