Corn growing where sugar was once planted, across Kaumuali'i Highway from Kukui Grove Center, is not only at the center of Lihu'e, but at the center of controversy over whether or not genetically modified organisms (GMOs) belong on Kaua'i or in Hawai'i.
While representatives of Pioneer Hi-Bred International say the GMO corn planted near Kukui Grove Center and at other places on Kaua'i is entirely safe and allows farmers around the world to use less pesticides and enjoy higher yields, as the corn is bred to resist certain pests, officials with GMO Free Kauai and other entities feel GMO corn in the soil may be an accident waiting to happen.
The GMO Free Kauai people worry that the GMO crops planted on Kaua'i either can or have already gotten loose from their field borders, and may or have already unintentionally cross-pollinated with other crops.
They are also concerned about potential dangers to human health, and environmental and economic impacts, according to Mark Query, an arborist (person who works with trees) and three-year member of GMO Free Kauai.
"There's really not enough known about environmental impacts, human health impacts, and yet it's growing around us," he said.
Dr. Cindy Goldstein, business and community outreach manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., said last week that the corn growing in the field leased from leaders of Grove Farm across from Kukui Grove Center has been genetically modified.
"The corn across from Kukui Grove is Bt corn," Goldstein said. "One of the characteristics found in many genetically-engineered corn and cotton plants is resistance to insect pests."
"A gene called the Bt gene has been integrated into some of Pioneer's corn hybrids," Goldstein said. "This gene provides resistance to a specific group of insect pests, and has allowed farmers to greatly reduce the use of pesticides to control the European corn borer, a major pest on corn crops, and in Hawai'i it provides control of the corn ear worm," she said.
"It has a gene that is found in commercial corn seed, and confers insect resistance. This is a characteristic that is in many commercial corn hybrids, and many farmers chose to plant this seed with insect resistance," she added.
"Some of the corn seed produced on Kaua'i is genetically modified. The seed grown across from Kukui Grove is part of our parent-seed operations," Goldstein explained.
If that GMO is safe to eat, and safe for the environment, where is the data to support those assertions? Query asked. "If they think their products are safe," why not lead the charge for labeling of foods containing GMOs? he said.
Samples of soil, insects and animals which may eat the GMOs, or absorb them, should be taken, and the results made public, he added.
"The seed produced from those plants is used to combine two parents in order to produce the hybrid corn seed sold by Pioneer to farmers in the U.S. and around the world."
Leaders at Grove Farm leased the land to officials at Pioneer in order to have the land across from Kukui Grove Center remain "green and attractive," Goldstein said.
Query said the endangered state bird, the nene, feeds on young grasses, and corn is a young grass.
Nene have been seen near the Pioneer fields in Lihu'e. Have any studies been done to gauge impacts on the state bird? he asked.
"I don't think it's that valuable to our economy, and we don't really need it," said Query, who lives in Waimea close to Pioneer and Syngenta fields, and has friends and neighbors who work for both companies.
He said many of the field workers he has spoken with have no idea about potential health risks, and that it is wrong to already have the industry established here, so much a part of the economy and society, when there are more questions than answers, he said.
No environmental impact statement was ever required, and there are many questions about the "basic science" of GMOs that have not yet been answered.
"We plant a number of small fields on Kaua'i. Some are in more populated areas, some in less trafficked areas," Goldstein said. "As in many places, Kaua'i has seen urban areas expand she said.
"In the past, sweet corn and sugarcane have been grown in the area. In this case, the land owner had a desire to keep the area green and attractive," she continued.
"Compared to having weeds growing in an abandoned sugarcane field, the area is productive and, at the same time, providing green space in an urban part of the Garden Isle. Agriculture has been part of Kaua'i's past, and it is part of Kaua'i's future, keeping agricultural lands in production and green spaces green in rural and more urban areas of the island," Goldstein said.
"Pioneer is in the business of producing seed for farmers in the U.S. and around the world. We produce many different kinds of seed, because the farmers that will plant the corn hybrids and the sunflower and soybean varieties we work with here in Hawai'i live in a wide range of climate conditions with different types of diseases and insects," she said.
"The parent seed produced by Pioneer on Kaua'i for corn hybrids is planted in separate fields to meet our seed-purity standards for keeping different parent-seed lines separated.
"Large and small farmers in the U.S. and in nations around the world chose to plant Pioneer corn hybrids and other Pioneer seed versus other seeds available," Goldstein said.
"Growers recognize the benefits of the various seed options available today, and appreciate the importance of biotech seed.
"It is growers' demand for quality seed that goes back to why the corn plants are grown on Kaua'i.
"Crops developed using the tools of biotechnology have allowed farmers to reduce their use of pesticides to control insect pests. This benefit has been realized by not just large farm operations, but small family farmers in China, India, and other nations that have directly benefited from growing Bt crops through reduced need for pesticides."
A pair of separate fields across the highway from Kukui Grove Center are about a half-acre and eight acres, respectively, she said.
"To manage pests (in the Kaua'i fields), we use a strategy called 'IPM,' or 'integrated pest management.' With IPM practices, pest populations are regularly monitored, and control is based upon need at a particular time," she said. "If we noticed that rats were present, we would monitor the population and control them in the same manner as a homeowner would.
"Integrated pest management involves the use of many methods to control pests, including beneficial insects and biological control of pests," she explained.
"The mission of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. on Kaua'i is to produce high-quality seed that will enable our customers, farmers in the U.S. and around the world, to create an improved, sustainable lifestyle for their families.
"Pioneer seed is technology that yields, providing high yields and good economic return to our customers," Goldstein said.
"Pioneer has been producing seed on Kaua'i since 1968, with a commitment to living the 'long look,' our company philosophy that is the basis for long-term success," she concluded.
- Paul C. Curtis, associate editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@pulitzer.net. Andy Gross, business editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or agross@pulitzer.net
