THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            11
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF INITIATIVES TO FACILITATE THE
    GROWTH OF HAWAII'S BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY.


 1        WHEREAS, Hawaii's economic base can be diversified and
 2   strengthened through the development of its biotechnology
 3   industry which generates high paying jobs and high value
 4   products; and
 5   
 6        WHEREAS, Hawaii must establish a niche where it can
 7   maintain an advantage in the competitive and growing
 8   biotechnology industry; and
 9   
10        WHEREAS, favorable climate and ocean conditions make
11   Hawaii one of the world's premier sites for marine and
12   agricultural biotechnology research and product development;
13   and
14   
15        WHEREAS, Hawaii's strategic geographical location and
16   culture can facilitate the global marketing of biotechnology
17   expertise and products; and
18   
19        WHEREAS, there are many highly-regarded institutions in
20   the State that can contribute their expertise, knowledge, and
21   resources to develop a strong biotechnology industry in Hawaii,
22   such as:
23   
24        (1)  The University of Hawaii College of Tropical
25             Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), which is
26             internationally recognized for its agricultural
27             biotechnology research, including floriculture, plant
28             tissue culture, and genetically-engineered caffeine-
29             free coffee and disease-resistant tropical fruits;
30             and
31   
32        (2)  The University of Hawaii School of Ocean and Earth
33             Science and Technology (SOEST), which is
34             internationally-recognized for its eminence in ocean
35             sciences and is a candidate for designation by the
36             National Science Foundation as a Marine Bioproducts
37             Engineering Center;

 
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 1   
 2   and
 3   
 4        WHEREAS, several biotechnology companies have emerged in
 5   the State, including Neugenesis, Integrated Coffee Technologies
 6   Incorporated, Aquasearch, Cyanotech, and Mauna Kea
 7   Nutraceuticals, and major multinational corporations, including
 8   Monsanto, Cargill, Novartis, and Dekalb Genetics Corporation
 9   which conduct plant genetic research in Hawaii; and 
10   
11        WHEREAS, the international accounting firm of Ernst and
12   Young has estimated that the current world market for
13   biotechnology is $170 billion; and 
14   
15        WHEREAS, the Department of Business, Economic Development,
16   and Tourism (DBEDT) and CTAHR have concluded that the
17   biotechnology industry has the potential for rapid growth over
18   the next decade and can be a major new industry for Hawaii; and
19   
20        WHEREAS, DBEDT, CTAHR, and the Department of Agriculture
21   (DOA) have sponsored a highly successful agriculture and marine
22   biotechnology conference that featured international, national,
23   and local specialists in biotechnology research and industry
24   development; and 
25   
26        WHEREAS, a coordinated and concerted effort involving
27   government agencies, academia, and the private sector is
28   necessary for the State to succeed in establishing a
29   significant biotechnology industry; now, therefore,
30   
31        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
32   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 1999, the House of
33   Representatives concurring, that DBEDT work in conjunction with
34   the University of Hawaii, CTAHR, SOEST, DOA, and appropriate
35   private sector firms to develop strategies and coordinate
36   initiatives to facilitate the growth of Hawaii's biotechnology
37   industry; and 
38   
39        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawaii
40   coordinate its programs involved with biotechnology research
41   and development to enhance recognition of the programs and to
42   facilitate industry development efforts; and

 
 
 
 
 
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                                  S.C.R. NO.            11
                                                        
                                                        


 1   
 2        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DBEDT, in conjunction with the
 3   agencies listed above, is requested to submit a report of the
 4   actions and efforts taken to facilitate the growth of Hawaii's
 5   biotechnology industry to the Legislature no later than twenty
 6   days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2000; and
 7   
 8        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
 9   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of DBEDT,
10   the Director of DOA, the President of the University of Hawaii,
11   the Dean of CTAHR, and the Dean of SOEST.
12 
13 
14 
15                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________