As a member of Hawaii鈥檚 agricultural community, the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association appreciates the concern that Al Santoro has for the economy and our precious natural resources. However, there are several points that Mr. Santoro raises in his commentary, 鈥淗awaii鈥檚 One-Sided Love Affair with GMOs,鈥� that are not only inaccurate but reflect a narrow and misinformed view of today鈥檚 agricultural realities.

If Mr. Santoro is sincere in his desire to support environmental responsibility, sustainable agriculture, food security, basic consumer rights, and equitable taxation he should realize that organic farming is not the be-all and end-all. It is just one facet of the food production continuum. In order to revive and sustain our fragile agriculture sector, we need to embrace all farming practices 鈥� conventional, commercial and organic.

Mr. Santoro鈥檚 one-sided view of agricultural biotechnology does little to further meaningful discussion about the complexities of farming and the opportunities that exist for a vibrant agriculture industry in Hawaii. Therefore, we offer the following clarifications:

Myth: Seed producers have been given 鈥渦nregulated and unrestricted access鈥� to land with 鈥渘o oversight [and] no inspections.鈥�
Fact: As part of the most regulated industry in the nation, biotech crops undergo intense regulatory scrutiny in all aspects of their production and distribution. HCIA member companies and their crops are closely monitored and inspected by the USDA, FDA, EPA, as well as state and county agencies.

Myth: The seed industry is occupying all of the available agricultural land, and it will never return to local food production.
Fact: Seed companies own or lease approximately 25,000 acres, or 5 percent, of the available prime agricultural land in the state. At any point in time, they are only growing crops on 7,000 acres so the environmental footprint (water use, inputs, tillage, etc) is smaller compared to other agricultural operations. Seed companies are not only keeping important agricultural lands in agricultural use, but they partner with local farmers and ranchers to make those lands available for food production. Mr. Santoro only needs to look at his own gated community of Poamoho Estates to know that 鈥済entlemen farms鈥� with mansions valued at $4 million are contributing to the loss of important agricultural lands 鈥� not the seed industry.

Myth: The products of the seed industry are 鈥渘on-food commodities鈥� that don鈥檛 support Hawaii鈥檚 food security.
Fact: Seed research results are not immediately edible, but eventually grow into affordable food that feeds a global population. By 2050, a projected 9 billion mouths will need feeding, and utilizing innovative technologies is the only current method that makes achieving that a possibility. Hawaii鈥檚 food security is a concern, but global food security is a much larger one. Drought-resistant, higher yielding, and nutritionally enhanced versions of plants will save lives in coming decades.

Myth: The seed industry generates income elsewhere with subsidies from our government, and does not pay taxes.
Fact: Seed companies provide quality jobs for almost 2,000 employees in the state, making them the provider of 22 percent of Hawaii鈥檚 agricultural employment. No seed companies receive government subsidies to grow food, and the seed industry paid $13.8 million in taxes to the state last year. As the state鈥檚 largest agricultural commodity, seed companies pour $225 million into Hawaii鈥檚 economy.

Myth: GE crops will destroy our ecosystem by cross-pollinating with indigenous plants.
Fact: For cross-pollination to occur, two plants must be compatible, and there are no compatible plants where biotech crops are grown. In fact, corn, the major biotech crop in the state, cannot pollinate any of Hawaii鈥檚 native or endangered species. Remember 鈥� corn can only pollinate corn.

Myth: Agriculture consists solely of two extremes: industrial and organic.
Fact: Agriculture is a continuum of varied and mixed practices and farmers have a right to choose the methodology most appropriate for them and the crops that they grow. The Big Island鈥檚 papaya farmers, who grow GE papaya alongside non-GE papaya, are a perfect example of the possibility of co-existence. GE papaya was developed to save Hawaii鈥檚 papaya industry from the papaya ringspot virus, which nearly decimated the industry. The majority of the state鈥檚 papaya farms are small-scale, non-corporate and sustainable 鈥� characteristics that most consumers incorrectly associate only with organic farms.

For agriculture to truly thrive in Hawaii, we must accept that there is no single correct method of farming. For example, if Hawaii鈥檚 dairy farmers embraced the production of herbicide-resistant alfalfa in conjunction with the non-toxic herbicide glyphosate, then they could have affordably and safely gained independence from mainland feed suppliers and relieved themselves from the pressures of rising import costs as well as the costs of farming in Hawaii. Instead, we鈥檝e lost most of our dairy farmers. We should support organic farming, but we should not shy away from scientific advances that are capable of improving our food production capacity.

The seed sector has helped stabilize Hawaii鈥檚 agricultural economy while leaving room for smaller industries to prosper. Many seed companies have even worked to literally pave the way for the rest of agriculture by repairing rundown roads in rural areas and rebuilding the state鈥檚 failing yet crucial irrigation systems. They also lease land to owners of small farms, contribute to the research activities of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture, and support agriculture education through scholarships and non-profit involvement. If all the members of Hawaii鈥檚 agricultural community could work collaboratively, true sustainability would be in reach.

Farmers and consumers each make personal decisions about the type of food that they produce and consume, so the only solution is to do our best to create a harmonious agricultural system that accommodates everyone鈥檚 needs. As Pam Ronald, a UC Davis plant pathology professor who is married to an organic farmer, recently wrote in her Scienceblogs column, Tomorrow鈥檚 Table, 鈥淧itting farming practices against each other only prevents the transformative changes needed on our farms. Without good science and good farming, we cannot even begin to dream about establishing an ecologically balanced, biologically based system of farming and ensuring food security.鈥�

About the author: Alicia Maluafiti is the executive director of the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, a trade organization that supports the growth and development of the seed industry, agriculture and agricultural sciences in Hawaii.

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