10-06-2013, 06:09 PM
GMO coffee and GMO kalo (taro) have been banned in the County for some time. My sense is that GMO coffee was banned as growers feared potential problems with exports. GMO kalo was banned due to its spiritual significance to native Hawaiians.
Some GMO corn is grown up Hamakua way, by and for the dairy.
GMO papayas were allowed from the 90s on because Ringspot Virus had demolished the Oahu papaya industry in the 50s, and it was destroying the Big Island industry as well. It was a question of GMO papayas or NO papayas for export. And they're being grandfathered in, at least in early versions, but with restrictions, such as safety margins around the farms.
Mostly what this bill, IF passed, will do is ban the GMO Seed business from the Big Island. It's nearly a $250,000,000/yr business on the other islands. Seed companies such as Syngenta like growing agricultural seed in Hawai'i because they can get 3 crops, sometimes 4, in a year.
Some GMO corn is grown up Hamakua way, by and for the dairy.
GMO papayas were allowed from the 90s on because Ringspot Virus had demolished the Oahu papaya industry in the 50s, and it was destroying the Big Island industry as well. It was a question of GMO papayas or NO papayas for export. And they're being grandfathered in, at least in early versions, but with restrictions, such as safety margins around the farms.
Mostly what this bill, IF passed, will do is ban the GMO Seed business from the Big Island. It's nearly a $250,000,000/yr business on the other islands. Seed companies such as Syngenta like growing agricultural seed in Hawai'i because they can get 3 crops, sometimes 4, in a year.