David Schlesinger

Genetically Modified Organisms in Hawaii: Big Island of Hawaii Bans the use of GMOS



Posted: Saturday, November 22, 2008

by
http://www.bigisland-bigisland.com/index.html

After passing through three County Council Hearings with over a hundred different testimonies, and over 1200 written letters of support from residents, a Bill to ban GMO's on the Big Island was passed unanimously on October 9th 2008. Among the supporters of the Bill were Taro Farmers, most Kona Coffee Farmers, and some Scientists from UH Hilo. Although this Bill passed unanimously, Mayor Harry Kim saw fit to go against public and council opinion and vetoed the Bill on October 30th, 2008.

On November 13th the County Council overrode Kim's veto with a vote of 7 for the bill and 2 votes against it. This bill will protect Taro and Coffee from being genetically engineered, with fines up to $1000 dollars for anyone involved in doing so.

There are many reasons why GMOS's are frowned upon by local farmers. The Coffee Farmers and the Taro Farmers have been the most outspoken.

The Coffee Farmers see a serious threat to our heritage varieties of coffee, such as Kona Coffee, that have become world renowned. If a GMO was to cross pollinate with heritage varieties then the seed stock would be forever altered. Along the same lines, if a decaffeinated GMO strain of Coffee was to cross pollinate with a caffeinated variety, it is hard to say what the outcome would be.

Taro farmers are more upset about the threat of genetic weaknesses being introduced into the DNA of Taro varieties that have been handed down for countless generations. Papayas have been susceptible to disease since the introduction, and cross pollination of GMO Papayas on the islands.

Basically what it comes down to is that farmers and scientists on the Big Island have weighed the benefits and drawbacks of GMO's and the majority of them agree that we don't need to take the risk. Our crops have supported humans here for countless generations, and it is not worth the chance of losing our heritage varieties.If you want to read a little more about this issue, check out this page posted by one of our visitors, just before Kim vetoed the Bill.

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David Schlesinger is a 33 year old married male with two sons. He is a surfer, and musician, but first and foremost a husband and father. David runs a handyman service on the Big Island of Hawaii, and is also devoloping  Bigisland-Bigisland.com  where he spends most of his online time. These articles are also published there.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by Tex Norman
 3 years 77 days ago.
47 fans.
I have concerns about genetically modified organisms, and this is perhaps a greater problem for plants than with animals. The ability for pollen to become air bourn and find its way to natural plants, is always going to be a problem. I still feel that science should be encouraged to follow this path, but extra care needs to be taken. Another problem I have is that regardless of how careful we are there is always the potential for mistakes to be made. It has happened time and time again. You gave me (a coffee lover) something to think about.
» left by straight talk
 3 years 77 days ago.
111 fans. Follow straight talk on twitter!
Yes man playing God again. Two very diverse camps one for one against. Yet, did not God say this would be a sign? Yes very definatively. Good job.
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