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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.165 2012-2014 Murashi9e, Laura From: David Case [casedavids @gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 12:19 PM To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND MASS TRANSIT (HAWAII FARMERS UNION TESTIMONY - BILLS 109 & 113) Attachments: LTR HFUU SUPPORTING BILLS 109 & 113 9-3-2013.docx; LTR KONA CHAP SUPPORTING BILLs 109 & 139(GMO CROPS) 9-3-2013.docx LTR HFUU LTR KONA CHAP 'PORTING BILLS 10SUPPORTING BILLS.. Aloha Ms. Carroll-- Please, find the testimony of the Hawaii Farmes Union and its Kona Chapter for tomorrow's Committee meeting on the above referenced bills. Mahalo, David Case C-, %RJ `a_n ( ) `'„ on cp 7—< `c, rn Comm. No. .3 SS. !tog Ref.To:, O/P3Alm Ref. Date S E P 2 3 2013 1 Hawaii /011444\ Farmers Union M1LOV L.N , Hawaii Farmers Union United rAmi Alcul ft rr Bios Istand.M.W4liolokisizOiduhita04 HAWAII FARMERS UNION UNITED 1768 Kalawi PI. Wailuku Maui HI 96793 The Honorable J. Yoshimoto, Chair September 3, 2013 Hawaii County Council TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILLS 109 & 113 RELATING TO GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS Aloha Chairman Yoshimoto and Council Members Vincent Mina President Maui I am writing as the President of the Hawaii Farmers Union United (HFUU) in formal support of the position taken by our Kona Chapter in favor of Bills 109 and 113 to regulate GMO cropping in Hawaii County. ,iron Russel As the Kona Chapter's letter notes, HFUU does not oppose GMO research, provided it is Vice-President properly done to prevent contamination of non-GMO crops. Both of these Bills appear to Maw cover that contingency. I will not repeat the concerns about litigation and the future of the rapidly growing organic agricultural economy that the Kona Chapter raises, except to say HFUU alerted the Council to these issues in its June 29 testimony in favor of Bill 79. )i d ta HFUU also supports the systematic implementation of "regenerative" or sustainable <„,,eturt'y k,r,r agricultural practices that return as much or more organic matter to the soil as is produced from it. GMO crop varieties developed to encourage the use of herbicides run counter to these practices. In discouraging GMO cropping these Bills will support more sustainable, regenerative practices in Hawaii County. Ray Maki Treasurer The Hawaii Farmers Union United stands behind its Kona Chapter in support of both of Kauai these Bills. We urge the Hawaii County Council to adopt one of them. Mahalo, HAWAII FARMERS UNION UNITED ;awn Leavey Member Vincent Mina, President Oahu The Hawaii Farmers Union advocates for the sovereign right of farmers to create and sustain vibrant and prosperous agricultural communities for the benefit of all Hawaii through c000eration.education and legislation. Hawaii Farmers Union 'U Hawaii Farmers Union United Big lsland•Maui•Moiokai•Oaku•Kauel, KONA CHAPTER HAWAII FARMERS UNION UNITED P.O. Box 5436 Kaiiva-Kona HI 96745-5436 The Honorable J. Yoshimoto, Chair September 3, 2013 Hawaii County Council TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILLs 109 & 113 — RELATING TO GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS Aloha Chairman Yoshimoto and Council Members, I am writing again on behalf of the Kona Chapter of the Hawaii Farmers Union United ("HFUU Kona") in support of proposed County legislation restricting growing of GMO crops in Hawaii County. We previously supported Margaret Wille's Bill 79 that has been withdrawn, revised and reintroduced as Bill 113. Councilwoman Ford has also introduced Bill 109 that would ban growing of all GMO crops in Hawaii County except in carefully controlled research programs. HFUU Kona supports both Bills. As we noted in our Bill 79 testimony neither HFUU, nor its Kona Chapter oppose GMO research as long as it is properly conducted to prevent GMO contamination of other crops. Our first concern with any legislation is the effect it will have on the hundreds of small-scale, family farms that are the heart and soul of Hawaii County's farming economy. Many of these farms grow certified organic crops selling into high value markets that require continued organic certification. The science behind GMO crops is now being debated and is therefore by definition "debatable." It is uncontested, however, that if GMO crops contaminate organic crops, the organic crops lose their organic certification and the markets on which organic farmers and those who process and sell their products depend. ,,J'=Ickharci It is well established that the market for organic agricultural products is growing at about 17% annually, where cosurer the rest of the agricultural economy is stuck at 2% to 3%. HFUU Kona supports both of these Bills, because either will protect Hawaii County's family-run organic farms and Hawaii County's future as a participant in the growing organic agricultural market. Finally, perhaps with the exception of papaya, GMO crops have not been developed to produce increased iro! Beck crop yields or nutritional value. But there is one thing that they do produce—litigation. GMO seed her companies can and have sued farmers for even unknowingly producing GMO seed when a non-GMO crop is contaminated with GMO pollen. Farmers are also suing seed companies whose GMO products have contaminated non-GMO crops denying them foreign markets. GMO crops could therefore produce growth for at least one segment of Hawaii County's economy—lawyers. �'bhn In 2008 Hawaii County passed an outright ban on GMO cropping of taro and coffee. As with coffee and taro, nber Hawaii County should act now to protect the economies of all of its crops. Either of these Bills will do that, so the HFUU Kona Chapter supports both of them. Mahalo HFUU KONA CHAPTER Weber ;.kaeY David Case, President The Hawaii Farmers Union advocates for the sovereign right of farmers to create and sustain vibrant and prosperous agricultural communities for the benefit of all Hawaii throuoh cooperation.education and leaislation.