HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.105 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura COUtITY CLERK
4 A CLERK
From: Tim Williams [myslec @gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 8:54 AM 11113 SEP --3 PM 12t 09
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Testimony Against Bills 109 and 113
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:
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
Name: Tim Williams
Occupation: Plant Biologist
City where I live: Washington, D.C.
Additional Comments: Please don't put the brakes on agricultural improvements that are a natural
progression of the green revolution. 355. /OS
Comm. No.
Ref. To: Pl Rs∎T G
Ref. Dote SEl' U 4 2013
9/3/2013