Where are these experiments being conducted?

Unfortunately, we do not know where genetic engineering field sites are located, or even what tests are being conducted on our islands. The reason for this lack of knowledge is that genetic engineering companies are allowed to keep information about what they are growing and where they are growing it secret from the public, and they avidly defend this secrecy. The companies assert that there is no public right to know if we are driving past these experimental plots on the way to work and school, or if they border our farms and gardens.

Although there is no public right to know which field trials are being conducted on our islands or where, the US Department of Agriculture does keep a database of the permits they grant for field releases of genetically engineered crops. While the information on the database does not list which permitted crops are currently being grown, which island they are on, or much of the information about what these crops contain, it is amazing to see what is listed here. You can find out which companies or institutions have applied for the permits, what crop is being engineered, and some information about the genes that are being manipulated. The datatbase can be found at:

http://www.nbiap.vt.edu/cfdocs/fieldtests1.cfm.

To look up Hawaii field releases:

Step One of the search process, check "All Field Releases."
Step Two, check the "Locaion" box. Then click "Continue to Last Step."
Step Three, select "Hawaii." Then you can select a date range you'd like to see, or sort the records in a number of other ways. When you've chosen the search you'd like to conduct, click, "Display to Screen."

In the list displayed, you'll see the letters "CBI" repeated over and over. This stands for "Confidential Business information." This means that the companies will not disclose the information in that field. Scanning the list of genes that have been inserted into these experiments, you will see corn that is being engineered with jellyfish genes, sugarcane with human genes, and many other astounding experiments. Given the nature of tehse experimental tests, we believe the people of this state have the right to know more information about the trals being conducted in Hawaii.

Unfortunately, we cannot find out any more specific information about the location of the crops permitted other than the fact that the permits were issued for the
state of Hawaii. If you would like for there to be a public right to know which genetically engineered field trials are being grown on Kauai or in your neighborhood, please call our local elected officals and state legislators and urge them to grant a public right to know about the location and nature of genetically engineered crops being grown on our island.

CLICK HERE for a directory of local elected officials.

CLICK HERE for the contact information for the State Department of Agriculture's Plant Quarantine Branch, which oversees genetic engineering field trials in the state.

Find out more:
	What is genetic engineering?		How is genetic engineering different from traditional crop breeding?
	What crops are being genetically engineered?		Who is doing genetic engineering? Why are they doing it?
	How are these crops regulated?		What impact will genetic engineering have on Hawaii's farmers?
	How do genetically engineered crops and foods affect our health?		What effect will genetic engineering have on Hawaii's environment?
	Where are these experiments being conducted?		What are pharmcrops?