Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01VATICAN3621
2001-07-09 16:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:
VATICAN - POST WORKS TO BUILD CONSENSUS ON AG-
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 003621
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE, EUR/PD/PA
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 113/01
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO EAGR ETRD PGOV EAGR ETRD PGOV VT VTTBIO
SUBJECT: VATICAN - POST WORKS TO BUILD CONSENSUS ON AG-
SCIENCE ETHICS
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 VATICA 03621 01 OF 02 091519Z
-------
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 003621
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE, EUR/PD/PA
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 113/01
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO EAGR ETRD PGOV EAGR ETRD PGOV VT VTTBIO
SUBJECT: VATICAN - POST WORKS TO BUILD CONSENSUS ON AG-
SCIENCE ETHICS
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 VATICA 03621 01 OF 02 091519Z
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. THE VATICAN'S CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM ABOUT BIOTECHNOLOGY WAS
GIVEN A BOOST BY A JULY 5 MEETING POST ORGANIZED BETWEEN
SENIOR GOVERNMENT EXPERTS AND DR. CHANNAPATNA PRAKASH,
PROFESSOR OF PLANT MOLECULAR GENETICS AT TUSKEGEE
UNIVERSITY, ALABAMA AND MEMBER OF THE USDA'S AGRICULTURAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE VATICAN CONFIRMED THAT
IT HAS FEWER PROBLEMS WITH THE SCIENCE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY THAN
WITH THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ETHICAL ISSUES LINKED TO THE
PROCESSES. THE PROTAGONISTS AGREED THAT BIOTECHNOLOGY HAD
THE POTENTIAL TO COMBAT WORLD HUNGER BY DEVELOPING DISEASE
AND PEST RESISTANT PLANTS. VATICAN OFFICIALS EXPRESSED
PARTICULAR INTEREST IN THE PROCESSES TO INCREASE THE
NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF SOME GRAINS AND PLANTS. THE VATICAN
APPROACH TO BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIO-ETHICS IN GENERAL IS BASED
ON "REASONABLE PRUDENCE." POST ARRANGED VATICAN MEDIA EVENTS
TO FURTHER DISSEMINATE PRAKASH'S MESSAGE. END SUMMARY.
--------------
LOVE THE IDEA, BUT...
--------------
2. MEMBERS AND CONSULTANTS OF THE VATICAN'S BIO-ETHICAL
INSTITUTE, THE PONTIFICAL ACADEMY FOR LIFE, DISCUSSED THE
PROS AND CONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY WITH PROFESSOR CHANNAPATNA
PRAKASH DURING A JULY 5 MEETING ORGANIZED BY POST IN VATICAN
CITY. THE SCIENTIFIC ENCOUNTER WAS CHAIRED BY THE VATICAN'S
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 VATICA 03621 01 OF 02 091519Z
"MINISTER" FOR BIO-ETHICAL ISSUES, BISHOP ELIO SGRECCIA.
SGRECCIA WELCOMED THE OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER THE VATICAN'S
REFLECTION ON BIOTECHNOLOGY AND FROM THE START OF THE
MEETING IT WAS CLEAR THAT VATICAN PARTICIPANTS WERE, IN
THEORY, FAVORABLE TO THE BENEFITS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY,
PARTICULARLY FOR DEVELOPING NATIONS. THE SCIENTISTS DID
EXPRESS CONCERN OVER THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF GMOS AS
PRODUCTS OF DOMINEERING WESTERN MULTINATIONALS, OFTEN
LABELED AS "DIABOLICAL." PONTIFICAL ACADEMY MEMBERS
SUGGESTED THAT DEVELOPING NATIONS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED AND
ASSISTED TO DEVELOP IN-HOUSE SOLUTIONS TO THEIR FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE PROBLEMS. THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY BUT THE VATICAN DELEGATION
INSISTED ON ADEQUATE CONTROLS TO MANAGE EXTRINSIC RISKS.
PRAKASH POINTED OUT THAT IN THE US THE EPA, USDA AND FDA
KEEP CLOSE SCRUTINY ON NEW BIOTECH PRODUCTS. ALL AGREED THAT
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING IMPACTED DIRECTLY ON THE PUBLIC
PERCEPTION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND GMOS.
3. THE VATICAN DELEGATION INSISTED THAT EACH NEW BIOTECH
PRODUCT SHOULD RECEIVE A SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT AND APPROVAL.
IT REJECTED THE IDEA OF A GENERAL APPROVAL OF GMOS. THEY
ALSO CALLED FOR COUNTRY SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT AND APPROVAL.
ONE ACADEMICIAN POINTED OUT THAT ONLY 20 PERCENT OF U.S.
LAND IS DEDICATED TO AGRICULTURE COMPARED TO 80 PERCENT OF
ITALY'S. HE OPINED THAT THE RISK FACTOR IN A NEW BIOTECH
PRODUCT WAS GREATER FOR A COUNTRY LIKE ITALY THAN FOR THE
US. THE VATICAN DELEGATES SAID THEIR APPROACH TO GENETIC
SCIENCES IN GENERAL WAS GLOBAL IN NATURE AND THAT THEY
CONSISTENTLY PUT THE INTERESTS OF PEOPLE FIRST. THE MEETING
CONCLUDED WITH A WORKING LUNCH HOSTED BY BISHOP SGRECCIA.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 VATICA 03621 01 OF 02 091519Z
--------------
MEDIA COVERAGE
--------------
4. POST ARRANGED FOR DR. PRAKASH TO BE INTERVIEW BY
VATICAN RADIO. THE RECORDED INTERVIEW WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE
TO ALL ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAMS AT THE STATION. THESE
INCLUDE TRANSMISSIONS TO THE MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA, INDIA,
PAKISTAN, SOUTHEAST ASIA, AND THE PACIFIC. PRAKASH WAS ALSO
INTERVIEWED BY THE VATICAN BUREAU OF CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
(CNS),THE MEDIA ARM OF THE US BISHOPS CONFERENCE. CNS
PROVIDES SYNDICATED VATICAN NEWS TO CATHOLIC MEDIA OUTLETS
AROUND THE WORLD.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. PRAKASH'S VISIT WAS GREATLY APPRECIATED BY THE VATICAN,
HAVING BEEN PREVIOUSLY SANCTIONED BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS. PONTIFICAL ACADEMY EXPERT, BISHOP ELIO SGRECCIA,
EXPRESSED HIS SATISFACTION THAT POST HAD FACILITATED A
SERIOUS SCIENTIFIC ENCOUNTER TO FURTHER THE PONTIFICAL
ACADEMY'S REFLECTION ON THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF
BIOTECHNOLOGY. EXTENSIVE VATICAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE VISIT
AND DR. PRAKASH'S MESSAGE HAS PROVIDED A STIMULUS FOR A
POSITIVE ASSESSMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN VATICAN-RELATED
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ0426
PAGE 01 VATICA 03621 02 OF 02 091519Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 COME-00
CTME-00 DODE-00 ITCE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EXME-00
E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
OES-01 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00
USIE-00 SNIS-00 NISC-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00
SAS-00 /010W
-------------- 031051 091534Z /38
R 091602Z JUL 01
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
USDA FAS WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 VATICAN 003621
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE, EUR/PD/PA
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 113/01
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO EAGR ETRD PGOV EAGR ETRD PGOV VT VTTBIO
SUBJECT: VATICAN - POST WORKS TO BUILD CONSENSUS ON AG-
SCIENCE ETHICS
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 VATICA 03621 02 OF 02 091519Z
CIRCLES WORLDWIDE. U.S. BASED AGRICULTURAL COMPANIES HAVE
ASKED EMBASSY VATICAN FOR ASSISTANCE ON THIS ISSUE.
BIOTECHNOLOGY IS ONE IMPORTANT U.S. INDUSTRY WHICH EMBASSY
VATICAN CAN ACTIVELY AND CONSTRUCTIVELY SUPPORT WITH HOST
COUNTRY. MERANTE
UNCLASSIFIED
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE, EUR/PD/PA
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 113/01
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO EAGR ETRD PGOV EAGR ETRD PGOV VT VTTBIO
SUBJECT: VATICAN - POST WORKS TO BUILD CONSENSUS ON AG-
SCIENCE ETHICS
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 VATICA 03621 01 OF 02 091519Z
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. THE VATICAN'S CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM ABOUT BIOTECHNOLOGY WAS
GIVEN A BOOST BY A JULY 5 MEETING POST ORGANIZED BETWEEN
SENIOR GOVERNMENT EXPERTS AND DR. CHANNAPATNA PRAKASH,
PROFESSOR OF PLANT MOLECULAR GENETICS AT TUSKEGEE
UNIVERSITY, ALABAMA AND MEMBER OF THE USDA'S AGRICULTURAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE VATICAN CONFIRMED THAT
IT HAS FEWER PROBLEMS WITH THE SCIENCE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY THAN
WITH THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ETHICAL ISSUES LINKED TO THE
PROCESSES. THE PROTAGONISTS AGREED THAT BIOTECHNOLOGY HAD
THE POTENTIAL TO COMBAT WORLD HUNGER BY DEVELOPING DISEASE
AND PEST RESISTANT PLANTS. VATICAN OFFICIALS EXPRESSED
PARTICULAR INTEREST IN THE PROCESSES TO INCREASE THE
NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF SOME GRAINS AND PLANTS. THE VATICAN
APPROACH TO BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIO-ETHICS IN GENERAL IS BASED
ON "REASONABLE PRUDENCE." POST ARRANGED VATICAN MEDIA EVENTS
TO FURTHER DISSEMINATE PRAKASH'S MESSAGE. END SUMMARY.
--------------
LOVE THE IDEA, BUT...
--------------
2. MEMBERS AND CONSULTANTS OF THE VATICAN'S BIO-ETHICAL
INSTITUTE, THE PONTIFICAL ACADEMY FOR LIFE, DISCUSSED THE
PROS AND CONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY WITH PROFESSOR CHANNAPATNA
PRAKASH DURING A JULY 5 MEETING ORGANIZED BY POST IN VATICAN
CITY. THE SCIENTIFIC ENCOUNTER WAS CHAIRED BY THE VATICAN'S
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 VATICA 03621 01 OF 02 091519Z
"MINISTER" FOR BIO-ETHICAL ISSUES, BISHOP ELIO SGRECCIA.
SGRECCIA WELCOMED THE OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER THE VATICAN'S
REFLECTION ON BIOTECHNOLOGY AND FROM THE START OF THE
MEETING IT WAS CLEAR THAT VATICAN PARTICIPANTS WERE, IN
THEORY, FAVORABLE TO THE BENEFITS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY,
PARTICULARLY FOR DEVELOPING NATIONS. THE SCIENTISTS DID
EXPRESS CONCERN OVER THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF GMOS AS
PRODUCTS OF DOMINEERING WESTERN MULTINATIONALS, OFTEN
LABELED AS "DIABOLICAL." PONTIFICAL ACADEMY MEMBERS
SUGGESTED THAT DEVELOPING NATIONS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED AND
ASSISTED TO DEVELOP IN-HOUSE SOLUTIONS TO THEIR FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE PROBLEMS. THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY BUT THE VATICAN DELEGATION
INSISTED ON ADEQUATE CONTROLS TO MANAGE EXTRINSIC RISKS.
PRAKASH POINTED OUT THAT IN THE US THE EPA, USDA AND FDA
KEEP CLOSE SCRUTINY ON NEW BIOTECH PRODUCTS. ALL AGREED THAT
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING IMPACTED DIRECTLY ON THE PUBLIC
PERCEPTION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND GMOS.
3. THE VATICAN DELEGATION INSISTED THAT EACH NEW BIOTECH
PRODUCT SHOULD RECEIVE A SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT AND APPROVAL.
IT REJECTED THE IDEA OF A GENERAL APPROVAL OF GMOS. THEY
ALSO CALLED FOR COUNTRY SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT AND APPROVAL.
ONE ACADEMICIAN POINTED OUT THAT ONLY 20 PERCENT OF U.S.
LAND IS DEDICATED TO AGRICULTURE COMPARED TO 80 PERCENT OF
ITALY'S. HE OPINED THAT THE RISK FACTOR IN A NEW BIOTECH
PRODUCT WAS GREATER FOR A COUNTRY LIKE ITALY THAN FOR THE
US. THE VATICAN DELEGATES SAID THEIR APPROACH TO GENETIC
SCIENCES IN GENERAL WAS GLOBAL IN NATURE AND THAT THEY
CONSISTENTLY PUT THE INTERESTS OF PEOPLE FIRST. THE MEETING
CONCLUDED WITH A WORKING LUNCH HOSTED BY BISHOP SGRECCIA.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 VATICA 03621 01 OF 02 091519Z
--------------
MEDIA COVERAGE
--------------
4. POST ARRANGED FOR DR. PRAKASH TO BE INTERVIEW BY
VATICAN RADIO. THE RECORDED INTERVIEW WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE
TO ALL ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAMS AT THE STATION. THESE
INCLUDE TRANSMISSIONS TO THE MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA, INDIA,
PAKISTAN, SOUTHEAST ASIA, AND THE PACIFIC. PRAKASH WAS ALSO
INTERVIEWED BY THE VATICAN BUREAU OF CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
(CNS),THE MEDIA ARM OF THE US BISHOPS CONFERENCE. CNS
PROVIDES SYNDICATED VATICAN NEWS TO CATHOLIC MEDIA OUTLETS
AROUND THE WORLD.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. PRAKASH'S VISIT WAS GREATLY APPRECIATED BY THE VATICAN,
HAVING BEEN PREVIOUSLY SANCTIONED BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS. PONTIFICAL ACADEMY EXPERT, BISHOP ELIO SGRECCIA,
EXPRESSED HIS SATISFACTION THAT POST HAD FACILITATED A
SERIOUS SCIENTIFIC ENCOUNTER TO FURTHER THE PONTIFICAL
ACADEMY'S REFLECTION ON THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF
BIOTECHNOLOGY. EXTENSIVE VATICAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE VISIT
AND DR. PRAKASH'S MESSAGE HAS PROVIDED A STIMULUS FOR A
POSITIVE ASSESSMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN VATICAN-RELATED
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ0426
PAGE 01 VATICA 03621 02 OF 02 091519Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 COME-00
CTME-00 DODE-00 ITCE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EXME-00
E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
OES-01 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00
USIE-00 SNIS-00 NISC-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00
SAS-00 /010W
-------------- 031051 091534Z /38
R 091602Z JUL 01
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
USDA FAS WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 VATICAN 003621
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE, EUR/PD/PA
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 113/01
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO EAGR ETRD PGOV EAGR ETRD PGOV VT VTTBIO
SUBJECT: VATICAN - POST WORKS TO BUILD CONSENSUS ON AG-
SCIENCE ETHICS
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 VATICA 03621 02 OF 02 091519Z
CIRCLES WORLDWIDE. U.S. BASED AGRICULTURAL COMPANIES HAVE
ASKED EMBASSY VATICAN FOR ASSISTANCE ON THIS ISSUE.
BIOTECHNOLOGY IS ONE IMPORTANT U.S. INDUSTRY WHICH EMBASSY
VATICAN CAN ACTIVELY AND CONSTRUCTIVELY SUPPORT WITH HOST
COUNTRY. MERANTE
UNCLASSIFIED