Petition to Stop the Genetic Modification and Patenting of Taro

MALAMA HALOA

Taro is the staple of the Native Hawaiian diet and at the core of the Hawaiian culture.  Hawaiians believe the taro plant to be sacred.  Taro, called "kalo" in Hawaiian, is central to the Native Hawaiian creation story (click here to visit HawaiiSEED.org and learn more about the history and culture of Taro).

Taro is a plant with a broad, beautiful, nutritious strong leaf shaped like a huge heart. Imagine a completely hypoallergenic, versatile, mineralized, satiating vibrant tuber with unique and starchy richness and the ability to be made into everything from pie, to “burgers” and chips, to  a smooth, purple-ish, creamy staple dish called “poi.” Even those who do not have the creation story of the taro in their heritage know that taro, in these islands that we love, is sacred. It is one of the single most well-know, important, and reliable plants in all of Polynesia, and the locals take a deep pride in its profound history.  Various names for parts of the taro plant indicate its interwoven history with the Hawaiian people: the place where the stem meets the leaf is called the piko, or navel. The stem is the ha, the breath, and the cluster of shoots (or keiki, meaning children) that surround the mother plant are called an ohana, or family.

Here in Hawaii, the growing and cultivation of the kalo plant is a tradition that stretches back for more than a thousand years.  The Hawaiians loved, honored, and cared for kalo and were in turn, as the creation story implies, fed and supported by it for generations and generations.  By tending carefully the kalo, the Hawaiians eventually cultivated more than 300 varieties by selecting the plants for certain conditions, climates, and soils and by hand-pollinating over years and years.

Why A Moratorium on GMO Taro? 

GMO taro:

• Undermines the genetic integrity of taro, sacred to the Hawaiian people;
• Threatens the taro market and livelihood of taro farmers. Taro production yields over 6 million pounds annually valued at $3.3 million.
• Threatens the biodiversity of the taro plant;
• Could cause new, unexpected problems in taro cultivation;
• Could contaminate traditional varieties of taro and take away taro farmers’ ability to choose what they grow in their lo’i; and
• Overlooks the wealth of traditional knowledge about growing taro that has been passed down through generations and generations. 

We, the undersigned, are issuing the following resolution regarding genetically engineered taro, urging our local and state officials, the University of Hawaii, and other research institutions to take action to protect the integrity of taro. We oppose the research and development of all varieties of genetically engineered taro. Specifically, we call for a statewide ban on any research or release of all varieties of genetically engineered taro. SIGN ON STATEMENT: We have serious concerns about the risks genetic engineering poses to the economic viability of agriculture in Hawai’i, to the integrity of native ecosystems, and to our public health. We support locally-based agricultural systems that create real food security for Hawai’i while protecting human health and the environment. Be it resolved that we also support the actions listed below: 1. The establishment of a “public right to know” regarding the location and nature of all experimental and commercial GMO field sites in Hawai’i 2. Labeling of all GMO foods and seeds grown in the state 3. A moratorium on the patenting of indigenous Hawaiian flora and fauna, and on the patenting of human genes taken from native Hawaiian peoples 4. The assignment of liability for any health, environmental or financial damages incurred from GMO crops to the corporations, institutions, and patent holders who developed the GMO crops, and never to local farmers and growers 5. Independent testing for GMO contamination of conventional and organic crops, to be paid for by those institutions and corporations growing GMOs in Hawai’i 6. Independent peer-reviewed studies to evaluate the short- and long-term economic, health and environmental implications of GMOs in Hawai’i; to be compared with alternative agricultural options including organic agriculture 7. The right of growers’ associations in Hawai’i to veto the field testing and/or commercial release of genetically engineered varieties of their commodity in order to protect their markets 8. The establishment of this town/community/island/county as a GMO-Free Zone 9. A minimum five-year moratorium on open-air growing and testing of genetically engineered plants and animals in the State of Hawai’i 10. Preventing contamination of a farmer’s pure non-GMO seed; and protecting a farmer’s right to save seed 11. Eliminate tax credits for Hawaii’s highly controversial agricultural genetic engineering industry

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Display in list as "Anonymous"

Sign on statement and petition provided by HawaiiSEED and supported by Na Kahu O Haloa, Hui Ho‘opakele ‘Aina, GMO-Free Oahu, GMO-Free Kauai, GMO-Free Maui, Hawaii GEAN, KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance, and hundreds of traditional farmers throughout Hawaii nei.

0-25 of 342 signatures

Number	Date	Name	Location
342	January 24, 2010	Anonymous	waianae, HI
341	January 21, 2010	Anonymous	,
340	October 21, 2009	Anonymous	,
339	October 02, 2009	debra castagnier	cowansville, QC
338	September 27, 2009		,
337	September 25, 2009	Timothy Gates	Olympia, WA
336	September 25, 2009	Timothy Gates	Olympia, WA
335	September 24, 2009	charlotte greenwood	Montreal, QC
334	September 24, 2009	Elizabeth Lerman	Highland Park, NJ
333	September 24, 2009		,
332	September 24, 2009	prescott hazeltine	meriden, CT
331	August 13, 2009	Chenin Connole	Kihei Maui, HI
330	August 07, 2009	Gregory Dahlin	Raleigh, NC
329	July 24, 2009	Noel Jones	Jacksonville, FL
328	July 23, 2009	Dawn shirota	aiea, HI
327	July 10, 2009	Alan Haggard	San Diego, CA
326	July 09, 2009	Christina Campbell	Vilas, NC
325	June 16, 2009	Skyler Shiroma	Waipahu, HI
324	June 16, 2009	Leilani Perkins	Waipahu, HI
323	June 16, 2009	Tomi Ponciano	Kailua, HI
322	June 16, 2009	Alika Young	Pearl city, HI
321	June 16, 2009	Ilikea Afong	Honolulu, HI
320	June 16, 2009	Christen Imig	Aiea, HI
319	June 16, 2009	Tim Adams	Honolulu, HI
318	June 16, 2009	Cameron Rivera	Kailua, HI

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