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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.128 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1 Murashige, Laura From: Chris Manfredi [cmanfredi©kaufarmandranch.com] Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 11:11 AM To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Testimony Bill 109 Attachments: KFB Bill 109 testimony 9_3_13.pdf Aloha, Please find testimony attached in opposition to Bill 109. o C") Thank you, can _tea Christopher A. Manfredi ` ---1 Ka'u Farm Bureau t,► PO Box 1109 95-4968 Mamalahoa Highway ; Na'alehu, Hawaii 96772 N Phone: 808-929-9550 Fax: 808-929-9555 03 — Cell: 516-526-5010 cmanfredi(a�kaufarmandranch.com Comm. No. 3 85. l'Q 8 Ref. To: P/irJ AI IC Ref. Date SEP 0 4 2013 9/3/2013 Ka'u Farm Bureau PO Box 1109 Naalehu Hawaii 96772 808-929-9550 September 3, 2013 Re: Bill 109 Relating to Genetically Modified Organisms Aloha Chair Ford and members of the Committee on Public Safety and Mass Transit, Ka'u Farm Bureau is member of Hawaii Farm Bureau, with a network of more than 1,900 members statewide. We assist and advocate for agricultural producers as our community transitions from a plantation system to a more resilient and diversified one. As an organization of local farmers and ranchers-we believe in supporting all forms of agriculture. As modern producers we understand that we need all available tools to grow resilient and sustainable industries in Hawaii. Ka'u Farm Bureau has previously written to this committee about this issue in testimony offered for Bill 79 and Bill 113. In it we asked that a working group be formed that includes all stakeholders, including organic and conventional local farmers and ranchers, the scientific community, business leaders, State, County and Federal policy makers and regulators and the Farm Bureau; the largest agricultural advocacy organization in the state and the nation. We asked that this working group report its findings to the County Council annually for every year of its existence, to examine evolving science as it emerges and to make recommendations on the impacts of legislation concerning transgenic organisms. Chair Ford, since you represent the District of Ka'u on the Council, we would have appreciated some communication from you prior to introducing legislation that, if passed, will have an impact on our members. We would prefer that the Council spend its time solving genuine problems of high unemployment, the high cost of doing business in Hawaii County, marketing, transportation, and food and energy security. There are numerous studies that indicate that transgenic crops are safe. These researchers include the American Medical Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, The National Academy of Sciences, Food Standards of Australia and New Zealand, the French Academy of Science, The Royal Society of Medicine, the European Commission, The Union of German Academics of Sciences and Humanities and the Academies of Science of Brazil, China, India and Mexico. This legislation implies that there is a health risk, yet no scientific information to that effect is cited. In the absence of scientific data to the contrary, we are concerned that this legislation is in response to a manufactured crisis that is dividing the agricultural community,thereby weakening it. This legislation is flawed in that it claims its purpose as to "Protect human, animal and plant life..." yet exempts all "genetically modified organisms for human consumption..." under the definition of 'Use'. The exemption for human consumption invalidates the stated purpose of the legislation, invalidating it in its entirety. Ka'u Farm Bureau also has concerns about the registry contemplated by this legislation; how the information is shared and used, and the purpose thereof. This information will be part of the public record may be used to target the registrants for eco- and eviro-terrorist activity. We respectfully request that you do not pass Bill 109. Rather, take the time to examine the issues in a deliberate way with the benefit of peer reviewed studies that focus on purported health risks and benefits of transgenic crops and all the impacts this legislation represents. Thank you for the opportunity to offer testimony on this important issue. With Aloha, Christopher Manfredi President