Project will study pesticide impacts

Kauai County and the state will fund joint fact-finding to examine possible health and environmental impacts associated with the use of pesticides on genetically modified crops, according to a county news release last week.

"The Department of Agriculture and the County of Kauai will answer questions and concerns that the community has about agricultural practices and pesticides usage," state Board of Agriculture Chairman Scott Enright said in a voicemail Thursday. "It’s the type of work that should have been done before (Bill) 2491 was conceived."

After a contentious debate, Bill 2491, which regulated pesticides and GMO, became an ordinance in 2013, but it was challenged by seed companies.

In August, U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren invalidated the ordinance, saying it was pre-empted by state law, but nonprofit groups have appealed the judge’s decision.

The county Office of Economic Development and the state Department of Agriculture will each contribute $50,000 toward the project. It’s expected to start in January and be completed in 12 months.

Once a facilitator is selected, nine individuals who are experts in agriculture, environmental health, epidemiology, toxicology, biostatistics and medicine will be selected to voluntarily serve in the joint fact-finding group to gather pertinent data, according to Kauai County.