A group of Moloka'i residents plans to protest the farming of genetically modified crops on the island during a community luncheon tomorrow sponsored by Monsanto subsidiary Hawaiian Research.

Hawaiian Research grows crops — primarily corn — for seed research and development on the island, generally under contract to universities or other companies. Seed research has been a part of Moloka'i's agricultural economy since 1965. Some of the fields have been used to grow genetically modified crops.

The group Hui Ho'opakele 'Aina, which previously opposed the docking of cruise ships at Kaunakakai, is stepping up its opposition to genetically modified crops on the island, said organizer Walter Ritte.

Hawaiian Research is holding a luncheon meeting for members of the community at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the Lanikeha Center in Ho'olehua to provide information about the company and introduce company officials. Monsanto Maui site manager Paul Koehler said the company is holding a similar community meeting today.

Ritte said Hui Ho'opakele 'Aina will meet in a protest rally at the Lanikeha Center before the Monsanto session starts.

"Monsanto is a threat to our island of Moloka'i. Monsanto's GMO (genetically modified organism) farming threatens our health, organic farming and our precious medicinal Hawaiian plants," Ritte said. "Their secret GMO experiments in the corn fields surrounding our town are dangerous to our lives and are unacceptable."

Koehler said the company is trying to improve its communication with the public about genetically modified plants, because "there's still a lot of questions that people have about this technology."

He said there is no evidence supporting any kind of health concern from crops genetically altered through biotechnology.

"In the work ongoing on Moloka'i and on Maui and other areas, in all the years that biotech crops have been produced, there hasn't been a single case of an itch, a cough or any illness associated with the crop — not one single case attributed to genetically modified crops causing an illness or harm to the environment," Koehler said.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.