By John Duchemin
Advertiser Staff Writer

A stiff fine and an apology could save the day for the Hawai'i genetic crop research business, an industry whose credibility has been severely tested by a series of screw-ups.

The fine comes courtesy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which slapped agricultural company Pioneer Hi-Bred with a $72,000 fine after Pioneer broke rules involving its management of experimental genetically modified corn crops.

The apology comes from Pioneer, a division of DuPont, which after months of denials finally 'fessed up this month to the latest in a series of mistakes. Pioneer admitted it didn't tell the EPA about initial tests that showed one experimental corn crop had been contaminated by pollen from another genetically modified crop.

The tests eventually proved false, but Pioneer waited until after it had figured that out to tell the EPA, despite rules that required Pioneer to report any tests that show contamination immediately. The EPA responded with the largest fine in the agency's history of regulating genetically modified crops.

Those tests only were done as a result of earlier Pioneer mistakes. The EPA last year determined that Pioneer had planted genetically modified corn in the wrong place and too close to other corn crops. While Pioneer would admit no wrongdoing, it paid more than $9,000 in fines, agreed to quarantine the corn in question and test other crops.

Now the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investigating Pioneer because the EPA tests turned up contamination in another plot of corn.

Pioneer apologizes, insists that nothing dangerous has happened and promises to rethink its methods. In truth, if the company is smart enough, it could improve under the tough love of the regulators. But for now Pioneer's actions reflect poorly on gene-based agricultural research.

This could have unfortunate side effects for the Hawai'i agricultural biotech business, which is one of the only non-tourism, technology-driven industries to gain a long-term presence and semblance of critical mass. Three major multinational agriculture companies — Dow, Monsanto and DuPont (through Pioneer) — have set up shop, hired dozens of scientists and field workers, and applied for more than 1,000 research site permits to grow genetically modified corn in carefully controlled plots. They come to Hawai'i because of the wonderful, isolated, U.S.-located, year-round growing climate.

The presence of so many big biotech companies is an obvious boon for high-tech Hawai'i, offering one of the few examples that another industry aside from tourism can thrive here. The state generally has welcomed the development of the research centers, despite occasional vocal protests from the organic farming communities and environmental activists.

But if the companies keep getting fined — Dow also was dinged for $8,800 last year — the welcome could grow thin. Too many Frankenfood stories — more often based on rumor and hyberbole than fact — circulate to be totally comfortable with Big Farm doing food experiments right next door.

If genetically modified corn can supposedly kill butterflies (untrue but reported); if rogue strains could escape to become weeds (possible, and also reported); if harmful man-made defects may someday appear in the food supply (widely feared and definitely over-reported) — can anyone blame the people of Hawai'i if they are uneasy at the secret fenced-off fields of corn, their ears and tassels covered with plastic, that share the island with some of the world's rarest plants and animals?

Pioneer and the others have recognized that it is their duty to educate their Hawai'i neighbors on why their genetic research is not to be feared. Now that Pioneer has been fined more than $80,000 for environmental infractions, its duty becomes doubly urgent. Not only must they convince people that genetic research is good, they also have to show they've cleaned up their act.

If they fail, and Hawai'i residents end up resenting their presence, high-tech Hawai'i could pay the price.

Reach John Duchemin at jduchemin@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8062.