For over 20 years, Hawai'i has been the global center for the open-field
testing of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's), including
pharmaceutical crops.
Over 5,000 experimental tests have been conducted
by Monsanto, Dow, Dupont/Pioneer, Syngenta and BASF that spray
chemicals on an almost daily basis on our most valuable lands.
They are
supported by tax-breaks, and beneficial relationships with landowners,
regulators and politicians. We estimate GMO companies own or lease
40,000 -- 60,000 acres that are sprayed with over 70 different
chemicals.
A new vision for Hawai'i would promote small farms that grow chemical-free produce, employ our youth and restore the indigenous ahupua'a system. Hawai'i has less than 3,000 acres of certified organic farmland, which is 0.27% of Hawaiian farmland.
Kamehameha Schools is Hawaii's largest private landowner. Despite Kamehameha's public statements about sustainability and conservation, they lease substantial amounts of land to multi-national biotech firms, including Monsanto, Dow, Dupont/Pioneer and Syngenta for GMO open field tests and seed corn production.
Kamehameha is the only institution with the land, capital and resources to reduce our food imports, that are now over 90%, and ensure that Hawai'i does not run out of food in case of natural disasters or rising oil prices.
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