Three board members joined the zoom call at 3:30, Eric Weinert, Chantal Vos and Ken Ogawa. This was not a quorum so no official motions were made or business conducted.
The financial statements were circulated to the Board. The incomes statement indicated that the 2022 dues collected covered the expenses so that the organization is essentially running at break ever. As the office was closed there are limited on going operating costs. The largest expenditure in 2022 was to SHAC for $5,000 which allows a 10 to 1 marketing leverage. The Balance Sheet shows approximately $70,000 in cash. There are no outstanding liabilities or receivables, and the seed inventory is now zero. The 2021 tax return done by Carbonaro CPAs is nearly completed and will be filed in September.
HPIA currently has 72 paid members including one associate member, and 4 handlers.
At the request of HPIA, the University of Hawaii began a project to make Rainbow Seeds. They have already made approximately 30 pounds of seed. They are working out the last minor details of the contract but will sell seeds on the Big Island to HPIA for $90 per ounce. This is really a back stop for emergency use and not intended to be a continuing supplier Rainbow seeds. They expect to produce another 30 pounds over the next two years. The members in attendance suggested putting out a bid to private growers or companies to produce seed for HPIA. No motion was made as there was no a quorum.
Update of the China deregulation for transgenic papaya:
The first step is to get a Bilateral Phytosanitary Agreement between the US and China. This involves a pest risk assessment. A list of pests was given to the USDA three years ago but no progress was made. It is up to China, once they have this list to get back to the US about pests of concern. Our point of contact for the US is: Matthew T. Messenger, Ph.D., Deputy Director for Asia and the Pacific Islands , Trade Director for China, U.S. Department of Agriculture, APHIS PPQ Phytosanitary Issues Management. This whole process can take decades to do and having a good working relationship with the importing country is essential. Given the current trade and political relationship between the US and China, it is unlikely that this process will move expeditiously. In any case, having a company in China that wants Hawaii Papaya will help and that is the first step that is required before HPIA will pursue moving Hawaii papaya to China, The three year permit that allowed Hawaii to sell transgenic papaya to China has expired. (because there was no Bilateral Phytosanitary Agreement in place no fruits were ever shipped) The Ministry of Agriculture in China has said that the permit cannot be extended and that the whole process must begin anew starting with the application. It is unclear what new scientific studies would be required, and the cost is estimated to exceed $500,000. John Hu and Marissa Wall who were instrumental in obtaining the 3 year permit stated that our ship has sailed and the necessary contacts in both China and Hawaii are no longer available.
SHAC promotions for 2022 are just getting underway and include $35K for Retail Promotions in Calgary and Edmonton Canada and $45K for consumer awareness focusing on contests to win Hawaii Papaya, getting email contacts for future newsletter and social media engagement. The RFPs should be out in the next week. These monies must be spent in 2022.
The meeting adjourned at 4:10. The next board meeting is scheduled for November 11, 2022.