HAWAII ISLAND – Both sides in Hawaii’s ongoing Genetically Modified Organism debate are taking their arguments to different arenas in order to influence a favorable outcome.
Recent news articles have detailed a Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation plan to spend $400,000 on a public relations campaign “to generate support for farmers and persuade voters to support genetic engineering in agriculture.” (CIVIL BEAT: Pro-GMO Hawaii Farm Group Aims to Spend $400,000)
The plan – which will include buying time on TV during football games, radio and print ads, and other “guerrilla marketing techniques” – was announced as far back as July. Big Island Video News recorded Farm Bureau president Chris Manfredi speaking to the ag industry at the Hawaii Coffee Association Conference in Kona (below). Manfredi, who is active in Ka’u coffee farming, talked all about the plan which is now generating controversy between philosophical factions.
via VIDEO: Funding Fuels Hawaii GMO Food Fight » Big Island Video News.