EDITORIAL
Hawai'i cannot afford bad name in biotech

Hawai'i is a rising star in the biotech industry of genetically altered foods. There are literally hundreds of experimental crops in the state.

So it's unwelcome news that the Environmental Protection Agency is finding fault with the genetically modified corn crops of Mycogen on Moloka'i and Pioneer Hi-Bred on Kaua'i.

A consumer group has charged that nearby corn crops — many of which are sold around the globe — are threatened with contamination by unapproved, genetically modified pollen.

Both companies counter that their practices are safe and that their field test experiments meet EPA standards.

We hope they're right, because it would be a shame if the industry lost its credibility over some careless moves, or if Hawai'i lost its appeal as a hub for experimental crops.

The practice of genetically altering crops is viewed by some as the wave of the future in agriculture. A report by the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy, a nonprofit research group, found that eight varieties of genetically modified crops added about $2.5 billion in overall value to American agriculture through higher yields and lower costs of production.

The experimentation can enhance the flavor, size or color of fruits, vegetables and grains and make them resistant to drought, pests and disease.

And it's not limited to food. According to a report by Advertiser business writer John Duchemin, Hawai'i has one experimental corn crop designed to produce human hormones that fight herpes.

But genetically altered crops, amid all their ramifications, make a lot of people nervous, including some scientists, environmentalists and policy-makers. Some call them "Franken-foods," fearing that poorly controlled genetic modification could harm the environment and public health.

The industry is still very much on shaky ground as far as public perception is concerned. That's why companies that grow experimental crops in Hawai'i can't be too careful.

Thus far, Hawai'i's isolation and temperate climate have made it a fertile ground for experimental crops. Any abuses would send giant ripples through our Islands and the biotech industry.