HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.110 2012-2014 Murashige, Laura
From: Una Greenaway [una @hawaii.rr.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 10:01 AM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Bills 113 &109
Attachments: Draft 6.doc
Draft 6.doc (31 KB)
Jna Greenaway - Kuaiwi Farm
Y.U. Box 999
Captain Cook, HI 96704
808-328-8888
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Ref. Date SEP 04 2013
1
Testimony for Bills 109 & 113
From:
For Hawai'i County Council Hearing
September 4,2013
Hilo,Hawai'i
From Nancy Redfeather
Una Greenaway
Merle Hayward
This Testimony serves as a recommendation for"amending" Bill 113 "integrating" language
from Bill 109 and refining other language.
Definitions: "Genetically engineered" refers to an organism that has been modified at the
molecular or cellular level by means that are not possible under natural conditions or
processes. Such means include, but are not limited to, recombinant DNA and RNA
techniques, cell fusion, microencapsulation, macroencapsulation, gene deletion and
doubling, introducing a foreign gene, and changing the position of genes. Genetic
engineering does not include modification that consists exclusively of breeding,
conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, in vitro fertilization, or tissue culture."
Purpose: "The purpose of this article is to protect Hawai`i Island's non-genetically
modified agricultural crops and plants from genetically modified organisms and to
preserve Hawaii Island's unique and vulnerable ecosystem while promoting the
cultural heritage of indigenous agricultural practices."(New language)
Prohibition: "No open-air cultivation, propagation, or development of genetically engineered
food, feed, biofuel, or tree crops." (See Prohibition Notes below)
Exemptions: Genetically engineered (GE) papaya is exempted from the prohibition in current
and future locations. No Registry for papaya growers. (See Exemption Notes below)
Sunset Date: Cultivation of GE corn in current locations may continue for a period not to exceed
30 months. (See Sunset Notes below)
Enforcement: Violators will be fined $1000 per day. County R & D Agriculture Division
Prohibition Notes: Bill 113: Adding the words "food, feed, biofuel, or tree crops" deleting the
word "plants." This does not prohibit"use" of GE feed or GE plants in the floral industry.
Exemption Notes: Bill 113: Remove "registry" language. Genetically engineered papaya over
the past 15 years has become widespread and would be extremely difficult to eradicate or control,
and there has been substantial investment in GE papaya as the means of choice to address the
papaya ringspot virus. (PRSV)
History: Beginning in 1998 the University of Hawai'i distributed GE Rainbow Papaya Seed to
the public. Today, Rainbow Papaya is widely cultivated in commercial fields and backyards
across the Island. What does work is for farmers and home producers to understand the science
and biology of the papaya and work with that. The University of Hawai'i offers genetic papaya
testing, and non-GE seed.
Sunset Notes: Bill 113 allows GE corn but only in the current location. Bill 109 does not allow
GE Corn. Allowing one grower but no others is discriminatory. The Hawai'i Island Agricultural
Plan calls for a more"sustainable direction" for agriculture. We should be using our public seed
resources (Dr. Jim Brewbaker at UH Manoa) and our UH Hilo Professors who have published
multiple research papers on tropical feed sources to help our farms move forward in a more
sustainable direction.
Enforcement Notes: Without the need for registry, enforcement is simplified.