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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0385.192 2012-2014 Murashige, Laura From: gpn©greenpointnursery.com Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 6:52 PM To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Testimony for Eric and Jon Tanouye Attachments: Attachment information..txt; HFNA-CountyCouncil-Bill 113oppose 9-4-13.pdf; Attachment information..txt; HFNA-CountyCouncil-Bill 109oppose 9-4-13.pdf; Attachment information..txt; GPN-JT-biIl113.pdf; Attachment information..txt; GPN-JT-bill109.pdf :j Jr- •r.j Attachment HFNA-CountyCounc Attachment HFNA-CountyCounc Attachment GPN-JT-biII113.pdf Attachment information..txt(6... il-Bill 113opp... information..txt(6... it-Bill 109opp.,. information..txt(6.., (116 KB) information..txt(6.., MNa GPN-JT-bill109.pdf (116 KB) o Green Point Nurseries, Inc. Ph: 808-959-3b35 gpn @greenpointnursery.com O :7)-.G 1C) 1'r7 — Comm. No. 38`S' /9a Ref. To: P/PSM f�• 1 Ref. Date SEP 2 3`2013 is"Att, Hawaii Floriculture & Nursery Association Testimony for the 9th Session Hawai'i County Council 25 Aupuni Street, Room 1401, Hilo, HI 96720 Wednesday,September 4th,2013 2:00pm Regarding Bill 109—An Ordinance Amending Chapter 14 of the Hawaii County Code, by Adding a New Article Relating to Genetically Engineered Crops and Plants We Strongly Oppose Bill 109 My name is Eric S. Tanouye and I am the current President for the Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association. HFNA is a statewide umbrella organization with approximately 300 members. Our membership is made up with breeders, hybridizers, propagators, growers, shippers, wholesalers, retailers, educators, and the allied industry, which supports our efforts in agriculture. In 2011 our industry's sales were approximately 70 million in sales and of these sales approximately 60%are from the Big Island, sales that help inject money into our local economy. • HFNA supports science,technology, innovation and the freedom of choice and opposes any legislation that negatively targets crops made through genetic engineering. • Floriculture is a non-edible agriculture,the argument of whether or not GMO crops are healthy or not does not concern our industry in regards to food safety but this bill will limit our choice on how to improve our products. We believe it is important to look to the future of our agriculture industry and not handicap ourselves with laws that seek to close the door on technology. It is important that we keep finding solutions to pest and diseases that currently attack our plants and crops. With disease and pest resistant plants we would be able to use less herbicides and pesticides, which would lower costs for farmers and also have a greater yield of product, allowing our sector in agriculture to improve efficiencies. That is why we would like to request the council to Oppose Bill 109. If you have any questions at this time, I would be happy to discuss them and can be reached by phone at 808-959-3535 ext 22,cell 960-1433 and email eric4/_rcen.ointnurscr corn. Supp sting griculti re and Hawaii, Abp./+1 S. anouy; President Hawaii Floric Iture and Nursery Association a3 {;,t.;i8i I is ;'I?.'ti 11u : :i id \1.11'', r\ ;`1 ∎)C1,11l()n • 1'.t}. iik)\ 4 3))() • 110, I • Ph.