The state House Agriculture Committee this morning passed a bill that would impose a five-year moratorium on experiments with genetically modified Hawaiian taro but would allow continued testing of Chinese varietals.

State Rep. Clifton Tsuji, D-3rd (S. Hilo, Puna, Kea'au), the committee's chairman, described it as a compromise from a 10-year moratorium that had been sought by some taro farmers and had passed the state Senate last session. The committee vote was 9 to 3.

The bill now goes to the full House for a vote and, if it passes, the bill would go back to the Senate for a possible conference committee.

Several taro farmers said today they would continue to argue for a 10-year moratorium and believe that allowing testing on Chinese taro could potentially contaminate Hawaiian taro.

Monsanto Hawai'i praised the committee's compromise as a recognition of the cultural significance of Hawaiian taro and of the scientific value of continued experimentation.