Source: Honolulu Weekly
Filling the space left by pineapple and sugar, a new plantation economy–based on experimental seed corn–has taken root. But why take up precious acreage where we could be growing food?
Hawaii is the world’s leading producer of genetically engineered (GE) seed corn, which is now our state’s number one crop, according to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA), but few citizens fully understand what this means. The issues surrounding corn seed encompass everything from the labeling of foods containing GE ingredients (currently not required in the US) to land and water rights and local and organic food production. The voices in this story are diverse and not always in agreement, but the common denominator for all is that a working vocabulary is needed for this complicated evolution in agriculture, so that all citizens may address it with an informed dialogue.
Read More: Boss GMO
Cartoon by Bob Moran
