Musings: Time Will Tell

(This post has been updated to reflect the smarmy process by which this bill came into being.)

It's too bad the state Legislature has been suckered into subsidizing organic farming. Especially when it was achieved through the despicable and totally non-transparent "gut and replace" method.

I'm talking about HB 1689, which authorizes some $2 million in state tax credits for farmers pursuing organic certification and production, whether they're growing for local or export markets.

More fair would have been tax credits to help all growers comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act, which is expected to drive many small farmers in the Islands out of business.

Or if the goal is to spur local production, then support any farmer who is selling in-state.

Why should an incentive be offered only to those who have embraced a certain philosophy of agriculture?

But legislators are, after all, politicians. And it's an election year. Which means they're susceptible to the heavy pressures exerted by organic lobbying groups like Center for Food Safety (CFS). 

That's how a bill that began life as a ethanol tax credit morphed in conference committee into an organic producers' subsidy. With no public debate, no opportunity for public testimony.

Here we have yet another example of the hypocrisy expressed by the anti-GMO groups, which claim they're devoted to transparency and restoration of the democratic process while making a mockery of both. It used to be the progressive groups denounced "gut and replace." But apparently now the ends justify dirty means.

And they're totally shameless about their actions, too. Hawaii CFS director and registered lobbyist Ashley Lukens quickly issued a press release hailing the tax credits:

“Organic agriculture has a huge role to play in addressing some of the most pressing issues of our time — economic revitalization, climate change, public health and environmental protection.”

Actually, Ashley is (once again) wrong. As I noted in my report on a study by Purdue University agricultural economists:

Eliminating GMO crops in America would significantly boost greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions and have other environmental and economic impacts.

The Purdue researchers found that yields of soy, corn, and cotton would decrease, requiring some 252,047 acres of U.S. forest and pasture lands to be converted to crop production to offset the shortfall. A reduction in the export of U.S. commodity crops would also increase demand for cropland in other nations.

“Some of the same groups that oppose GMOs want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the potential for global warming," said Dr. Wallace E. Tyner, one of the study authors. "The result we get is that you can't have it both ways. If you want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, an important tool to do that is with GMO traits."

But hey, since when have facts mattered to the anti-GMO crowd? Which is why The Garden Island's coverage of any stories of this sort must include a comment from the chief charlatan, Councilman Gary Hooser:

“Kudos to the legislature for recognizing the importance of supporting local organic farmers. More and more people in Hawaii, and around the world, are choosing organically grown foods over processed factory food as a healthier alternative for both the people, and the planet.”

Gosh, he sounds an awful lot like a pitch man for the organics industry, which is a major funder of the anti-GMO movement.

Of course, there's no proof that organic food actually is any healthier for people, and the Purdue researchers proved it's not healthier for the planet. The inflated claims are all marketing hype to help folks feel better about paying a hefty premium, and to guilt moms into buying stuff they can't afford.

And please, let's not pretend that organic ingredients aren't also turned into processed food in factories. How else would you get organic Cheetos and all the rest of the highly-processed stuff that fills the “health food” stores?

Speaking of pretending, even though the organic tax credit was stuck in during the conference committee, Rep. Dee Morikawa is quoted in TGI as saying she supported the bill through the entire legislative process. How is that possible?

Shibai aside, it comes down to this: Will the promise of up to $50,000 in tax credits and cost shares actually motivate folks to take up organic farming?

Rep. Chris Lee, who caved into the CFS lobbying arm, was quick to promise all that and more:

More local jobs? Like when the organic guys run short on woofers?

Only time will tell whether all this wishful thinking turns into reality. 

In the meantime, these political shenanigans offer yet more evidence that the anti-GMO movement in Hawaii is not pono.