www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

Both scientists and Native Hawaiians want to save the sacred taro plant from
an uncertain future, but they strongly disagree on whether genetic
modification is the answer, April 2007.

Native Hawaiians believe the taro, which is used to make the starchy food
poi and revered as an ancestor of the Hawaiian people, should not be
tampered with. Taro, tall and broad-leafed, rise from paddy-like patches
around the islands, and the purplish poi, a glutinous substance avoided by
some, is an essential ingredient at Hawaiian luaus.

Researchers say the only way to protect the taro plant from spreading modern
plant diseases is to insert resistant genes from rice, wheat and grape
crops, altering the basic structure of the plant.

State lawmakers have stalled a bill sought by many Hawaiians that would have
placed a statewide moratorium on genetic modification of taro for 10 years.

"How bad do things have to get before those who are anti-genetic
modification will admit that taro needs help?" asked Susan Miyasaka, a
researcher at the University of Hawaii-Hilo, who has been testing Chinese
taro breeds. "The taro farmers are having trouble making ends meet."

About 50 protesters who gathered at a rally at the state Capitol on Friday
said they don't want the so-called help that scientists say they can
provide.

They question whether genetic modification will be any more effective than
traditional crossbreeding techniques, and they worry that genetically
modified crops could contaminate their Hawaiian taro breeds.

For some of the demonstrators, the issue about preserving the purity of the
taro rather than the scientific merits of genetic modification.

"What we're really angry about is that the biotech industry has turned this
into a genetic modification issue," said Hawaiian activist Walter Ritte.
"This is about us protecting our family member."

According to Hawaiian legend, the cosmic first couple gave birth to a
stillborn child, Haloa, from whose gnarled body sprang the broad-leafed
plant whose roots are ground into poi. The Hawaiian people, it is believed,
came from a second brother, making the plant part of their common ancestry.

Since ancient Hawaiian times, taro yields have dropped from 48,000 pounds
(22,000 kilograms) per acre to 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms) per acre,
Miyasaka said. Her research with preliminary tests has shown that her
genetically modified Chinese taro is resistant to leaf blight, and she hopes
to begin greenhouse trials soon.

The University of Hawaii has agreed not to do research on Hawaiian types of
taro, and it will be careful to prevent their experimental taro from
breeding with native varieties, said Stephanie Whalen, president and
director of the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.

But scientists see no harm in continuing taro research.

"Just because you have research and development doesn't mean you're going to
commercialize," Whalen said. "If they don't want it, nothing will happen."

[www.iht.com]