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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.166 2012-2014 Page 1 of I COUNTY CLERK Murashige, Laura CTT'.!!' ✓ '_{ ` .4�J From: Goldstein, Cindy [cindy.goldstein @pioneer.com] 2013 SEP 10 AM II: 12 Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 12:35 PM To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Testimony opposed Bills 109 and 113 Attachments: DuPont Pioneer_testimony opposed_Bill 109 and 113_Sept 3.docx Testimony attached for Sept 4th hearing. Opposed to the bills. Cindy Goldstein DuPont Pioneer Industry Relations Manager, Hawaii office: 808-637-0100 ext 117 cell: 808-722-7819 "ibis communication is for use by the intended recipient and contains information that may be Privileged, confidential or copyrighted under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby formally notified that any use, copying or distribution of this e-mail, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Please notify the sender by return e-mail and delete this e-mail from your system. 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D --G-0 Off- Government and Industry Relations Manager DuPont Pioneer Waialua Parent Seed, Kekaha Parent Seed g 4 " Kunia Research Center, Waimea Research PO Box 520 Waialua, HI 96791 Committee on Public Safety and Mass Transit Weds 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, Council Chair Yoshimoto and members of the Hawaii County Council, My name is Dr. Cindy Goldstein and I am providing testimony on behalf of DuPont Pioneer. We support all types of agriculture; conventional, organic and biotech. Bill 109 and Bill 113 have the potential to negatively impact agriculture on Hawaii Island in the near term and for future generations of farmers, ranchers, dairies, consumers, and agriculture researchers. Both of these bills would dramatically limit the tools available to local farmers and ranchers who are already facing a number of challenges and high costs of production. These proposed measures would further destabilize local agriculture and create more hardship, lessening a farm's economic viability. Bill 109 would require Hawaii Island farmers to destroy genetically engineered crops that are grown commercially on millions of acres in the US and around the world. There is much talk about supporting local agriculture, yet this bill creates a competitive disadvantage for farmers, taking away options for Hawai'i Island farmers that are available and used by farmers and ranchers in other states and countries. Forcing local papaya farmers, ranching, dairy, and horticulture operations to destroy their crops is bad policy that directly harms local agriculture. Creating policies that take away a technology that has allowed farms to survive the devastating Papaya Ringspot Virus is not sound and is in direct contradiction of goals to support and expand economically viable diversified local agriculture. Bill 113 calls for prohibitions, registration requirements, and penalties that are short sighted, making it more difficult for farmers to thrive and seriously threatening future opportunities for local agriculture. The many pests and diseases that are currently found, and that may arrive as invasive species to the Island of Hawaii create significant and imminent danger to crops. In recent times we have seen the introduction of new pests that spread rapidly, posing an economic threat to many local farming operations. Removing tools that researchers and farmers can use as one of the ways to respond to a new pest or disease epidemic is overly restrictive and may lead to the loss of successful and viable farming for many on Hawai'i Island. Provisions for registration will make the affected farms and research facilities future targets for destruction of property and crops. The farmers themselves and employees engaged in work in registered facilities will be targeted for harassment and unfortunately also threatened on social media sites as we see already. When a viewpoint in support of genetically engineered crops is shared we now see recent cases where people are subject to harassment and threats as they go about their daily activities. No threat to health and safety has been shown as a result of growing genetically engineered crops. This has been the conclusion of the hundreds of peer reviewed; scientifically sound research studies that have been carried out and published over many years. Scientific studies build upon one another to form a body of evidence, consistently reaffirming the track record of safety for genetically engineered crops and food ingredients. The body of evidence of data for genetically engineered crops, and meta analysis of the large body of scientific data and studies in the US, Europe, Japan, and other nations continues to point to a strong body of evidence that growing and consuming these crops, and foods derived from these crops, are safe. The US Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Department of Agriculture already regulate genetically engineered crops and carry out active oversight. Provisions for registration and containment of genetically engineered crops included in these bills are unnecessary given regulation and oversight that already exists. Our advisors have indicated that this bill raises serious legal questions and may be preempted by existing state and federal law. Registration and containment inhibit research and create burdens that do nothing to support the needs of farming and horticulture operations. We oppose Bill 109 and Bill 113 because of the many negative consequences for Hawai'i Island farmers, ranchers, dairies, agriculture researchers, consumers, and future farmers. Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in opposition these bills.