The bill would require biotech companies to disclose details about their pesticide use and farmers to notify the county of any GMO crops that they are growing. It also includes buffer zones between biotech fields and public spaces to protect residents from pesticide spray. The bill has been vigorously opposed by the biotech companies operating on Kauai, including Syngenta, DuPont-Pioneer, Dow and BASF.

UPDATE: Carvalho said in a media release that he has always supported the intent of the legislation, but that the bill is legally flawed. “That being the case, I had no choice but to veto,” he wrote.

The council can override the mayor’s veto if it has at least five votes.

News is traveling fast. Nomi Carmona, president of Babes Against Biotech already posted this photo on the group’s Facebook page, warning the mayor that his veto is sure to be an issue in his reelection campaign: 

Photo: Nomi Carmona, president of Babes Against Biotech (Credit: Babes Against Biotech, Facebook page)

— Sophie Cocke