HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.189 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura COL`ITY CLERK
From: David G. Rietow [david @agroresources.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 4:28 PM 2013 SEP E 0 All U: 14
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Testimony on Bills 109 and 113
Attachments: Testimony Bills 109 & 113.pdf
Attached is testimony on Bills 109 and 113
David G Rietow
885-5807
Comm. No. 3 3s. 89
Date P/PSAI
Ref. a SEP 23'201I
Ref. Date.
9/10/2013
Hawaii County Council
Committee on Public Safety & Mass Transit
Wednesday September 4, 2013 1:30 p.m.
Testimony Against Bills 109 and 113
Committee Chair Ford and Members of the Committee:
I oppose Bills 109 and 113 because any anti-GMO legislation in Hawaii County will
discriminate against our farmers and ranchers who choose to use approved genetic engineered
technology to grow safe and wholesome food and other agriculture products. These Bills also
damage Hawaii's reputation for producing some of the best crops on the planet, harms our
markets, and eventually destroy our agriculture industry.
I am pro-farming and the right to farm in the United States of America, still a free
country, under laws of and regulated by the USA and the State of Hawaii.
Hawaii's farmers and ranchers may need virus resistant GMO crops to protect Hawaii from the
next papaya virus strain, banana bunchy top virus, tomato spotted wilt and other vegetable
viruses, or the bacterial citrus greening disease that is destroying the Florida citrus industry and
may soon come to Hawaii. Furthermore, this bill will stop development of GMO ornamental
and floral crops with enhanced horticultural or disease resistant characteristics. These Bills
would prohibit livestock and aquaculture producers from efficiently growing cost effective feed
locally, requiring them to import at a higher price the exact same feeds. How will Hawaii
County farmers and ranchers compete when everyone but us has access to GE technology?
The consensus of independent scientific organizations worldwide is unanimous and can be
summed up by this statement from the American Association for the Advancement of Science,
" The science is quite clear: crop improvement by the modern molecular techniques of
biotechnology is safe."
Please vote against Bill 109 and Bill 113
Name: David G Rietow
Occupation: Farmer
City where I live: Kamuela
Additional Comments: These bills do absolutely nothing to help the people of Hawaii County
eat healthier food. If the real concern is the health of the people we should consider all of the
food that finds its way into our community. We should educate our people to eat local and not
at fast food establishments. We should encourage the development of more farms on Hawaii
island so that we import less food.