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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.141 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1 Murashige, Laura From: Glenn Sako [gsako @rhomac.com] Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 11:51 AM To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Cc: Randy Cabral Subject: Testimony Opposing Bill 109 and 113 Attachments: Testimony.docx Please include my testimony opposing Bills 109 and 113. Thank you, Glenn T. Sako Operations Management Associate Royal Hawaiian Orchards, LP. 928-8049 The information transmitted, including any attachments, is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited, and all liability arising therefrom is disclaimed. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer. C-) Cti W 0 c r 3 ('1 N - Comm. No. $5. /4 / Ref.To: t/PSN fG Ref. Date SEP 0 4 20!3 9/3/2013 Hawaii County Council Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Committee on Public Safety and Mass Transit Wed. September 4, 2013 at 1 :30 pm Bill 109 Related to the Restriction of Genetically Modified Organisms Bill 113 Related to Genetically Engineered Crops and Plants Position: Opposed to Bill 109 and Bill 113 Committee Chair Ford, Committee Vice Chair Wille and members of the Hawaii County Council, My name is Glenn Sako and I am providing testimony in opposition to Bill 109 and Bill 113. I am concerned that the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) opponents are not fully educated on what is GMO and that passing either bill will have a far greater impact on Hawaii's environment than the use of a GMO crop. I would like to use genetically engineered "Rainbow" papaya as an example. The "Rainbow" papaya owes its resistance to the horrendous Papaya Ring Spot Virus (PRSV) because of the incorporation of the coat protein gene of Tobacco Mosaic Virus that the papaya plant is able to express. This coat protein prevents the PRSV from attacking the papaya plant for it is essentially inoculated against the virus, just as you are inoculated against polio. I have heard GMO opponents express their concerns that mulching GMO plants will contaminate Hawaii's water supply with GMO "chemicals". If I took the non-GMO "Kapoho Solo" papaya, sprinkled it with Tobacco Mosaic Virus and mulched the papaya plants. Would that contaminate our water supply with GMO "chemicals"? That is the same thing as mulching the "Rainbow" papaya plant. There are no GMO "chemicals" to be released. I am involved in Hawaii's agriculture and proud of it. Hawaii has the best climate in the world for agriculture, but we do not do enough to protect it. The State has cut the Plant Quarantine positions that will allow invasive insects and diseases to slip into the state and establish themselves here. Visitors can smuggle in plants and animals that will raise havoc to our ecosystem. Outlawing research, development and production of the GMO crops and livestock in Hawaii will lead to greater contamination of our environment. Farmers will have to spray more fungicides, insecticides, miticides and other chemicals to protect their crops. Any residue will generate a lot of negative publicity and call for a ban on pesticides. Has anyone tried to feed their family on crops grown without pesticides? It is very difficult. The agricultural industry is under a lot of pressure in Hawaii. It lacks support from the government and yet the State talks about increasing agricultural production. People want to live in a green state, but complain to the Health department if they smell chicken manure or some dust gets on their vehicle. Removing the work on GMO and the use of the crops will be worse for the island and state than allowing it. I oppose bills 109 and 113 because of the many negative consequences this bill would have for Big Island farmers, agriculture researchers, consumers, and future local farmers. Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in opposition to Bill 109 and Bill 113.