We all know the economics of coffee farming in Hawaii. We are the only non-third-world country producing coffee. The only place with fair wages, U.S. land prices and operating costs. If some terrible pest or disease should wipe out our heritage crop, GM-coffee could not help us because it would not sell at that high niche price. We cannot survive on a lower price for our coffee.
-Christine Sheppherd President Kona Coffee Council 2002
Why keep coffee GMO Free?
- The coffee-growing industry in Hawaii is one of the most successful agricultural industries in our state and needs protection.
The Kona coffee industry has roots that go back 150 years for the residents of Kona and Hawaii. Statewide coffee production is valued at well over $200 million- Field trials and commercial plantings of GMO coffee endanger Hawaii’s Coffee industry, exposing it to contamination through cross pollination
- Bees that pollinate coffee can travel a radius of 3 miles.
- When GMO field trials occur in a region, GMO contamination often follows. Long Grain rice was contaminated in 6 states in the United States as a result of field trials that were NOT a result of commercial plantings.
- Contamination can happen as a result of just one field trial.
- In light of this, the California Rice Advisory Board ruled that GMO rice trials would not be allowed within 400 miles of the rice growing region in California.
- Field trials in Hawaii would create the immediate perception of GMO contamination.
- The crucial Japanese and European export markets reject GMOs.
- GMO contaminated coffee, particularly Kona Coffee, cannot be marketed as a Specialty Coffee.
- This special status allows it to command one of the highest price points
- GMO coffee field trials conducted in the open air are imminent. In March of 2007, during the CPC committee hearing in the Hawaii State House, Dr. John Stiles of Integrated Coffee Technologies testified that he will have coffee trees ready for open air field trials within 12-18 months
- Viable Alternatives to GMO coffee exist. Here in Hawaii, there already exists a root-not nematode resistant coffee rootstock. They have also discovered a naturally decaffinated coffee.
- In 2004, the statewide coffee industry rejected GMO coffee, writing a letter to the Department of Agriculture stating their position that they did not want GMO Coffee commercially grown or field-tested in Hawaii. Details.
There is now a bill before the Hawaii State legislature placing a five year moratorium on the outdoor planting and outdoor field trials of GMO coffee in the state of Hawaii. More
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