Residents armed with petitions and signs urged the County Council to pass a resolution supporting a bill now moving forward in the state Legislature that would place a 10-year moratorium on developing, testing, propagating, cultivating, growing and raising genetically engineered
Residents armed with petitions and signs urged the County Council to pass a resolution supporting a bill now moving forward in the state Legislature that would place a 10-year moratorium on developing, testing, propagating, cultivating, growing and raising genetically engineered taro in Hawai‘i.
The morning debate yesterday at the Historic County Building ended in a unanimous vote for a deferral after farmers and scientists exchanged information about the culturally important edible plant.
While testimony overwhelmingly urged the resolution’s passage, representatives from a large biotech seed production company and a university research institute voiced opposition to the measure.
Both sides in their arguments pointed at insufficient information about genetically modified organisms.
Critics said modifying taro’s genetic make-up to create disease-resistant varieties could ensure long-term survivability of the plant while supporters said unknown risks exist and a moratorium would provide a necessary “time out” to weigh the benefits.
Big Island taro expert Jerry Konanui presented a short film about the need to protect the sacred native Hawaiian plant for future generations. Kaua‘i produces roughly 70 percent of the state’s taro.
After serving as a proud proponent of genetic engineering “to save the world,” he said he did a complete 180 after attending conferences on the subject on the Mainland.
“What my hippie friends told me is: ‘Jerry, you need to go and educate yourself,’” said Konanui, a multi-generation taro farmer. “We don’t know if genetic engineering is good. We don’t know the risk. We don’t know the benefits. … The moratorium is not a total ban, it is a resting period.”
Pioneer scientist Sarah Styan said none of the seed companies with research fields on Kaua‘i are doing anything with taro or plan to do anything with taro, but she was there to oppose the proposed resolution.
“We don’t mandate genetic engineering is the solution,” she said, but it is a tool to be used.
University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources County Administrator Roy Yamakawa agreed.
There are definite benefits to organic farming, he said, but genetic engineering is a specific science.
“We’re trying to take technology and trying to make it useful for the people,” he said.
The risk of cross-pollination, which several farmers suggested could wipe out traditional taro varieties, is unlikely at best, Yamakawa said.
Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura said one way to address the uncertainty over genetic engineering is a 10-year moratorium, another is by establishing protocols such as highly secure labs.
“Currently, it’s in the infancy of research,” Yamakawa said, adding that industry demand will determine if studies move forward.
He pointed to some 300 Big Island papaya farmers who would not be in operation today without genetic engineering.
A similar threat to taro exists, he said, referring to phytophthora colocasiae, a fungus-like organism that impacted American Samoa taro.
But Konanui said this is more rhetoric to instill fear in consumers and farmers.
The kupuna understood the need to grow varieties — some fare well in colder waters at higher elevations and others in warmer patches at lower altitudes. One variety comprises roughly 90 percent of all taro now cultivated, he said.
More than 300 taro varieties existed when European explorers arrived on the islands, the Senate bill states. This number has fallen to roughly 70 today.
Dr. Donald Greer, who teaches at Kaua‘i Community College, did a study on taro from 2000 to 2005. She focused on its connection to culture, habitat for endangered water birds and economic sustainability.
All of the 45 farmers she worked with said the primary reason they have farmed taro generation after generation is its ability to bring families closer together, Greer told the council.
After the potential of genetically modified food was introduced a few years ago, she said, farmers have been torn over how to proceed.
It could endanger kalo farmers, their lifestyles, local ecology and spirituality, she said.
Several young taro farmers asked council to pass the resolution. They wore shirts saying “If you no work, you no eat” and waved signs saying “GE any taro, you contaminate all taro.”
GMO Free Kaua‘i spokeswoman Jeri DiPietro said she had petitions with more than 2,500 signatures supporting a ban on all genetically modified organisms on island.
“I just want to protect my own ability to eat organic food and see our island be a clean and healthy place,” she said.
Kaua‘i Taro Growers Association President Rodney Haraguchi said in his written testimony to the council that the group opposed the moratorium.
“All the taro farmers understand and are sensitive to the cultural significance of taro to the Hawaiian community, and also have reservations about GMO taro, however, they are opposed to have a law passed for 10 years restricting research which may be necessary,” he said.
Haraguchi pointed to the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources voluntarily imposed moratorium in 2005 to not genetically experiment with Hawaiian taro varieties until the Hawaiian community deems it necessary.
All sides of the issue supported concurrent legislation in the Senate that would create a taro security and purity task force. Both bills will have hearings by early April.
The task force would pull together stakeholders to discuss the future of taro in Hawai‘i.
Konanui, who helped draft the task force legislation, said the moratorium is still necessary to keep researchers from going through the back door during that dialogue.
County councils on Neighbor Islands have recently passed resolutions supporting Senate Bill 958, which calls for the moratorium on cultural reasons alone. Big Island passed its resolution Jan. 24 and Councilwoman Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho said Maui passed its yesterday.
Generations of native Hawaiians have considered taro, or kalo, a sacred plant.
“Kalo intrinsically ties the interdependency of the past, the present, and the future, the essence of procreation and regeneration, as the foundation of any sustainable practice,” the proposed legislation states. “Kalo expresses the spiritual and physical well-being of not only the kanaka maoli and their heritage, but also symbolizes the environmental, social and cultural values important to the state.”
• Nathan Eagle, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or neagle@kauaipubco.com.
