In comments submitted today to the County Council of Kauai County in Hawaii, ASA urged the rejection of a proposed county ordinance that would, among other things, place a ban on the use and production of products derived from biotechnology, as well as ban the open air testing of pesticides and place stringent restrictions on the use of pesticides in certain settings. While soybeans are not cultivated commercially in Hawaii, the state is a critical research market for seed and technology providers that serve the soybean industry as well as other industries within agriculture.

“ASA urges the Council to reject Ordinance 2491 because of the negative impacts its passage would have on the ability of seed and technology companies to develop both conventional and biotechnology crops, and the resultant negative impacts on farmer access to improved seed technologies,” wrote ASA in its comments. “As you know, Kaua’i is an important year-round growing location where many of the world’s leading seed and technology companies develop and grow crops in order to expand elite seed that then is used by farmers. The restrictions in Ordinance 2491 would bring a halt to such activities in Kaua’i, thereby slowing the development of higher-yielding, pest-resistant, and more nutritious crops.”

The Kauai County Council will hold a public hearing on the ordinance at 6:30 p.m. CDT on July 31.