Opponents of a bill to halt genetic research on taro today said that such a ban would set back efforts to protect an important crop from existing and potential threats such as insects and diseases that have reduced taro production and could devastate the industry.

The opponents, led by UH's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, voiced their concerns at a news conference ahead of legislative hearing tomorrow on the bill.

The bill is back for consideration a year after it was shelved by a key legislative committee. Supporters of a moratorium largely consist of Native Hawaiian taro farmers who say genetic engineering of taro, or kalo in Hawaiian, is unnecessary and an affront to Hawaiian culture in which the plant is considered sacred.