THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

40

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING INCREASED COOPERATION BETWEEN LOCAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND RETAILERS TO DEVELOP A CONSISTENT SYSTEM OF LABELING TO BETTER INFORM CONSUMERS OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS.

 

 


     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii has a strong interest in promoting diversified agriculture as a means to help our island state achieve greater self-sufficiency; and

 

     WHEREAS, the growth in genetically modified agricultural production has been swift and pervasive throughout the nation, but a quick acceptance of the new technology may pose serious consequences for the health and safety of our citizens; and

 

     WHEREAS, the terms "genetically modified foods" or "genetically modified organisms" (GMOs) most commonly refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content; and

 

     WHEREAS, the best known example of this is the use of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) genes in corn and other crops, which is a naturally occurring bacterium that produces crystal proteins that are lethal to insect larvae; B.t. crystal protein genes have been transferred into corn, enabling the corn to produce its own pesticides against insects such as the European corn borer; and

 

     WHEREAS, numerous nations, including countries of the European Union, Japan, and the Republic of China, require labeling of GMO foods; and

 

     WHEREAS, polls consistently demonstrate that seventy-two to ninety-four per cent of United States citizens support labeling of GMO foods, and a poll conducted by the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources shows that seventy-two per cent of Hawaii's residents feel that it is very important that GMO fruit be labeled; and

 

     WHEREAS, recent collaboration between independent natural foods retailers and technical consultants has resulted in a consensus-based, industry-wide system for addressing GMO contamination and a "Non-GMO Project Verified" label; and

 

     WHEREAS, local agricultural producers and retailers could benefit from a consistent labeling system to better inform consumers of the varying methods employed to develop agricultural products; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, that the Department of Agriculture is requested to facilitate increased cooperation between agricultural producers and retailers to address consumer concerns, including whether a product is GMO contaminated; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture and the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources are requested to work in cooperation with organic and natural food producers and retailers to evaluate and implement a labeling system for non-GMO products; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, the Dean and Director of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii, the Executive Director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Organic Farmers Association, the Chairperson of the Board of the Hawaii Farmers Union, the President of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Cooperative of Organic Farmers, the Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Chief Executive Officer of Down to Earth, the Cooperative President of Kokua Market, and the Manager of the Hawaii Whole Foods Market, Inc.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Genetically Modified; Labeling