Activists destroyed acres of cornfields at a small farm in Italy, after a local farmer admitted to planting two fields of genetically modified corn of MON810. The MON810 seeds are modified so that the corn produces a chemical that kills the larvae of the corn borer, a devastating pest. While European Union rules allow this particular seed to be planted, Italy requires farmers to get special permission for any genetically modified crop.

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The Hawaii Crop Improvement Association (HCIA) recently honored House Speaker Calvin Say and Rep. Clift Tsuji, chair of the House agriculture committee, for receiving the 2010 BIO Co-Legislators of the Year award. The lawmakers were recognized by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) for their leadership and support of the agricultural biotechnology industry in Hawaii.

HCIA nominated both Speaker Say and Rep. Tsuji for the prestigious national achievement award that is given to state and Congressional public servants for their commitment to advancing biotechnology and promoting the public’s health and well-being. The awards are traditionally given to recipients at the annual BIO International Convention, which was held this year in Chicago.  Speaker Say and Rep. Tsuji were unable to attend the convention in May to receive their awards. HCIA presented the awards to the lawmakers last week during a luncheon held in their honor at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel.

Luncheon attendees praised Speaker Say and Rep. Tsuji for their longstanding leadership and support of agricultural biotechnology.

“Speaker Say and Rep. Tsuji have been vocal proponents of agricultural biotechnology, its economic and fiscal contributions to the state, and the potential of genetically engineered crops to help feed the world,” said Fred Perlak, HCIA president.  “For the good of the state, both of these individuals have worked effectively and tirelessly to minimize policies that might negatively impact this vital industry.” Hawaii’s $200 million seed crop industry leads the state’s agricultural biotech sector and employs nearly 2,000 residents on the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, and Maui.

The Hawaii Crop Improvement Association is a membership organization that supports the growth and development of the seed industry, agriculture and agricultural sciences in Hawaii.

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HCIA members with BIO Co-Legislators of the Year Award recipients (from left) Fred Perlak, president, HCIA; Laurie Goodwin, president-elect, HCIA; Speaker Calvin Say; Adolph Helm, HCIA; Rep. Clift Tsuji

The Hawaii Crop Improvement Association recently honored House Speaker Calvin Say and Rep. Clift Tsuji, chair of the House agriculture committee, for receiving the 2010 BIO Co-Legislators of the Year award. The lawmakers were recognized by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) for their leadership and support of the agricultural biotechnology industry in Hawaii. HCIA presented the awards to the lawmakers during a luncheon held in their honor at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel.

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Hawaii State Representative Clift Tsuji, who currently serves as Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, discusses Hawaii’s unique agricultural challenges and the opportunity for GMOs and organics to coexist. Representative Tsuji was selected as a 2010 BIO Legislators of the Year in recognition of his leadership and support of the agricultural bioscience industry.

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) recently announced its selection of Hawaii State Representatives Calvin Say (20^th District), who serves as the Speaker of the House, and Clift Tsuji (3^rd District) as BIO Co-Legislators of the Year in recognition of their leadership and support of the agricultural bioscience industry.

Speaker Say and Rep. Tsuji will receive the awards during a luncheon today held by the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association in honor of their tireless efforts to minimize policies that would negatively impact the agricultural biotechnology industry in Hawaii.

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A new USDA report revealed more American farmers continue to choose genetically engineered (GE) crops over their conventional counterparts. The USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) report, Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S. was released July 1, 2010 and summarizes the extent of adoption of GE crops by American farmers since their introduction in 1996.

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A new research strategy and partnership for Feed the Future, a federal initiative that addresses global hunger and food security, will establish the Norman Borlaug Commemorative Research Initiative between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

Outlined by Secretary Hillary Clinton, Secretary Tom Vilsack and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, the Borlaug Initiative will utilize the USDA’s research agencies, increasing the agency’s relevance and impact on addressing problems and opportunities faced by both U.S. farmers and small farmers in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

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With a $100,000 gift, Monsanto Company has established the Monsanto Scholarship Fund in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Their goal is to support the education of students interested in the plant sciences, including plant biotechnology and biological engineering. The scholarship award can be used for costs associated with attendance including tuition, books, fees, and supplies.

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On July 13, European Commission will formally propose giving national and local governments the discretionary power to decide whether to grow biotech crops. This new policy aims to overcome hurdles  that that have blocked the market for biotech seeds in Europe for years. The proposal is predicted to open up markets in countries where governments are favor growing and trading biotech products, while countries where the products are unpopular, can maintain a ban.

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“Consumer Perceptions of Food Technology,” a newly released report from the International Food Information Council (IFIC)  found that an overwhelming percentage of consumers will favor foods that are produced through biotechnology based on environmental benefits and sustainable agricultural practices.

It found that while overall consumer awareness of food biotechnology use remains low, as more consumers learned more about the benefits to animal health, food quality, and environmental impact, more than half of the consumers had a favorable impression of animal biotechnology use.

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