HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.137 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura
From: Richard Manshardt[manshard @hawaii.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 11:44 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Testimony AGAINST Bill 109
My name is Richard Manshardt. I am a professor and plant geneticist in CTAHR at UH Manoa.
I have 30 years of research and teaching experience in crop sciences at UH, including conventional crop
breeding and development of virus-resistant, genetically engineered (GMO) papaya varieties for Hawaii
growers. I am providing testimony on my own behalf, not officially presenting the position of CTAHR
or UH on this bill.
I respectfully oppose Bill 109.
The stated purposes of this bill are basically 1) to protect the Big Island's biological and physical
resources from damage from biotechnology, 2) to maintain the Big Island as a biodiversity and genetic
resources reserve, and 3) to prevent biotechnology from harming populations of pollinating bees.
The presence of genetically engineered crops presents no new influence on any of these three concerns
that isn't also a factor regarding the non-engineered crops already being grown on the Big Island. Bill
109 serves only to reveal the lack of public awareness of what genetic engineering and agriculture in
general is all about.
The council needs to consult with experts in the areas of agricultural science and production, in addition
to individuals or organizations with narrow objectives, in order to better inform itself. In the meantime,
Bill 109 needs to be removed from consideration.
Richard Manshardt
Professor, Tropical Plant & Soil Science Dept
University of Hawaii at Manoa
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Comm. No. 3 8'S /37
Ref. To: 1/Ps'M7G
Ref. Date SEP 44 2013
9/3/2013