2004 articles

Looks like more dirty crop tests will get pushed into the Third World - even in Hawaii they can be challenged and stopped.
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Lawsuit Threatens Genetic Drug Crops' Future In Hawaii
Legal Action Calls For Identifying Secret Locations
July 27, 2004
http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news/3583244/detail.html

HONOLULU -- Even though they are far from winning in court, opponents of genetically altered drug crops have succeeded in shutting down the industry in Hawaii.

Experiments to alter sugar cane and corn to produce life-saving drugs began last year in Hawaii at eight mostly-secret sites.

This research at Kunia is not into potential human drugs. All drug crop field tests in Hawaii stopped within months of lawsuits claimed the crops threatened the environment and food supply.

The companies said their crops are harmless, but fear what would happen if the lawsuits revealed their locations.

"Whether there are going to be demonstrations; whether people are going to attempt to pull out the existing plants; that means millions of dollars in research could be lost," attorney for biological agriculture companies, Margery Bronster, said.

"They do have alternative means to keep these sites secure. They just don't want to spend the money on it. So, under those circumstances, I certainly have no sympathy," attorney for research opponents, Paul Achitoff, said.

The federal government Monday asked Judge David Ezra to throw out this lawsuit, saying since all the companies have pulled out, there is nothing here for the federal government to regulate. However, Ezra said if he does that that might encourage the companies to bring a controversial crop to Hawaii. Then when someone files a lawsuit, just pull it out and plant it somewhere else.

If Ezra allows the lawsuit to continue, it could be years before the companies resume research in Hawaii.

"We end up having a bump in the road that just further impedes and delays making these medicines available," Bronster said.

"Companies like Dow Chemical, Dupont Monsanto; they can invest in security instead of putting the public at risk," Achitoff said.

The federal government said it's not sure if it will issue new research permits even if the companies want them.