Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME5973
2002-12-13 11:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

U.S. SCIENTISTS DESCRIBE BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURE

Tags:  EAGR SENV ETRD TBIO EAID IT 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 005973 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCIENCE ADVISOR NEUREITER
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL
EB FOR CEKUTA AND SCHONANDER

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05973 01 OF 03 131147Z
EB/TPP/ABT FOR DEBBIE MALAC
STATE PASS USTR FOR SLOAN, NOVELLI
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS:SMCCAMMON, USDA/FAS:BLUM
USDA/FAS/ITT:EJONES
USDA/OS/HEGWOOD
STATE PASS FDA FOR EFLAMM
EPA FOR OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR SENV ETRD TBIO EAID SENV ETRD TBIO EAID SENV ETRD TBIO EAID IT ITEAGR ITEAGR
SUBJECT: U.S. SCIENTISTS DESCRIBE BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURE
BIOTECHNOLOGY TO FARMERS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, AND CLERGY

REFS: A) ROME 1965 B) ROME 3433 C) ROME 3965

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 005973

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCIENCE ADVISOR NEUREITER
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL
EB FOR CEKUTA AND SCHONANDER

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05973 01 OF 03 131147Z
EB/TPP/ABT FOR DEBBIE MALAC
STATE PASS USTR FOR SLOAN, NOVELLI
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS:SMCCAMMON, USDA/FAS:BLUM
USDA/FAS/ITT:EJONES
USDA/OS/HEGWOOD
STATE PASS FDA FOR EFLAMM
EPA FOR OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR SENV ETRD TBIO EAID SENV ETRD TBIO EAID SENV ETRD TBIO EAID ITALY'>IT ITEAGR ITEAGR
SUBJECT: U.S. SCIENTISTS DESCRIBE BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURE
BIOTECHNOLOGY TO FARMERS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, AND CLERGY

REFS: A) ROME 1965 B) ROME 3433 C) ROME 3965


1. SUMMARY: MISSION ITALY ORGANIZED IN LATE OCTOBER
PROGRAMS FOR THREE U.S. INVITED BIOTECH SCIENTISTS TO EXPAND
THE SCOPE OF SCIENCE-BASED BIOTECH DEBATE IN ITALY,
ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH, AN AREA IN WHICH KNOWLEDGE OF U.S.
BIOTECH IS RELATIVELY THIN. THE ITALIAN SCIENTISTS FELT
REINFORCED, SINCE VIRTUALLY ALL PARTICIPANTS - INCLUDING THE
NAPLES PRESIDENT OF LEGAMBIENTE, ITALY'S LARGEST
ENVIRONMENTAL NGO - AGREED THAT THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT
SHOULD PUSH AHEAD WITH INCREASED RESEARCH IN THE BIOTECH
FIELD. DR. MASSIMO PACETTI, PRESIDENT OF ITALY'S THIRD
LARGEST FARMERS' ASSOCIATION, CITED THE POTENTIAL OF
BIOTECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE ITALY'S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION,
INCREASE FARMERS' INCOMES, AND REDUCE HARM TO THE
ENVIRONMENT. CONSUMERS ASSOCIATIONS AND GREEN NGO'S
PARTICIPATED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AN EMBASSY EVENT ON
BIOTECH, SHOWING THEY ARE NOW OPEN TO DEBATE. THE PROGRAM
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 05973 01 OF 03 131147Z
ADDRESSED THE KEY MISSION OBJECTIVE - OUTREACH OF FARMER
ORGANIZATIONS FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY, ENABLING POST TO EXPAND ITS
RANGE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY CONTACTS, AND USING A POSITIVE, NON-
POLITICAL, SCIENCE-BASED APPROACH. END SUMMARY.

--------------

PROGRAM IN NAPLES
--------------


2. ON OCTOBER 22, CONSULATE NAPLES CO-SPONSORED WITH THE
ITALIAN FARMERS' ASSOCIATION (CIA) A CONFERENCE IN NAPLES TO
DISCUSS POTENTIAL AGRICULTURAL BIOTECH APPLICATIONS IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN REGION. APPROXIMATELY 100 ITALIANS FROM
THROUGHOUT ITALY ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE, INCLUDING FARMERS,
RESEARCHERS, UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS,
BUSINESSMEN INVOLVED IN THE FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY, AND
PRESS. NAPLES CONSUL GENERAL BISHOP DELIVERED OPENING
REMARKS AT THE SESSION, WHICH WAS CHAIRED BY NAPLES
UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURAL GENETICS DR. LUIGI
MONTI.


3. THE PROGRAM, DEVELOPED IN CONCERT WITH PA ROME, FAS ROME
AND THE ROME SCIENCE OFFICE, INCLUDED THREE U.S. SPEAKERS -
TWO SPONSORED BY PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AND THE THIRD BY FAS ROME.
DR. RAY BRESSAN (PROFESSOR OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AT PURDUE
UNIVERSITY) PLACED THE BIOTECHNOLOGY DEBATE IN ITS
HISTORICAL CONTEXT, EMPHASIZING BIOTECH AS A NATURAL
CONTINUATION IN THE PROCESS OF AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION THAT
HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MILLENNIA. BRESSAN STRESSED THAT
GIVEN THE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF THE HUMAN POPULATION OVER
THE PAST 150 YEARS, TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IS THE ONLY WAY
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 05973 01 OF 03 131147Z
TO ENSURE A SUFFICIENT FOOD SUPPLY WITHOUT INCREASING STRESS
ON AN OVERBURDENED ENVIRONMENT. PROF. MAARTEN CHRISPEELS
(PROFESSOR OF MOLECULAR AGRICULTURE, UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA AT SAN DIEGO) FOCUSED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF
GENOMICS AND ONGOING RESEARCH EFFORTS TO ENHANCE THE
RESISTANCE OF PLANTS USED IN AGRICULTURE. JANET CARPENTER,
A RESEARCHER AT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
POLICY, SUMMARIZED A NUMBER OF RECENT STUDIES ON THE IMPACT
OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE
EVIDENCE OF A DRAMATIC DECLINE IN PESTICIDE USE AND LOWER
PRODUCTION COSTS FOR FARMERS, FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF
BIOTECH CROPS, WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING TO THE AUDIENCE.


4. ON THE ITALIAN SIDE, PROF. FABIO VERONESI FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF PERUGIA ARGUED THAT BIOTECHNOLOGY COULD PLAY A
CRUCIAL ROLE IN "DEFENDING" THE AUTHENTICITY OF "TYPICAL"
PRODUCTS FROM ITALY'S VARIOUS REGIONS. GENETIC TESTING,
ACCORDING TO VERONESI, MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO DETECT "FAKES" -
IMPORTED PRODUCTS THAT ARE BEING PASSED OFF AS THE "REAL
THING." VERONESI'S ARGUMENT HAS GREAT RESONANCE IN ITALY,
WHERE IT IS OFTEN ARGUED THAT BIOTECHNOLOGY THREATENS TO
UNDERMINE THE HIGH-END NICHE MARKET FOR TYPICAL ITALIAN
PRODUCTS. DR. ALBINO MAGGIO, A BIOTECH RESEARCHER AT THE
NATIONAL AGENCY FOR NEW TECHNOLOGIES, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
(ENEA),DISCUSSED HIS RESEARCH IN GENETIC MANIPULATION THAT
MAKES CROPS MORE RESISTANT TO HIGH-SALINITY ENVIRONMENTS.
THE ISSUE IS ESPECIALLY RELEVANT IN SOUTHERN ITALY, WHERE
SOIL SALINIZATION IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN KEY AGRICULTURAL
REGIONS SUCH AS PUGLIA AND SICILY. FORMER AGRICULTURE
MINISTER PAOLO DE CASTRO MADE A STRONG ARGUMENT FOR

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 05 ROME 05973 01 OF 03 131147Z

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ3854

PAGE 01 ROME 05973 02 OF 03 131147Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EXME-00
E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 IO-00 ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00
NSCE-00 NSF-01 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00
USIE-00 EPAE-00 ECA-00 PMB-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00
SAS-00 /012W
-------------- 174B74 131224Z /38
P 131142Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7315
USDA WASHDC
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL NAPLES
AMCONSUL FLORENCE

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 005973

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCIENCE ADVISOR NEUREITER
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL
EB FOR CEKUTA AND SCHONANDER

EB/TPP/ABT FOR DEBBIE MALAC
STATE PASS USTR FOR SLOAN, NOVELLI
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05973 02 OF 03 131147Z
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS:SMCCAMMON, USDA/FAS:BLUM
USDA/FAS/ITT:EJONES
USDA/OS/HEGWOOD
STATE PASS FDA FOR EFLAMM
EPA FOR OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR SENV ETRD TBIO EAID SENV ETRD TBIO EAID SENV ETRD TBIO EAID IT ITEAGR ITEAGR
SUBJECT: U.S. SCIENTISTS DESCRIBE BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURE
BIOTECHNOLOGY TO FARMERS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, AND CLERGY

INCREASED BIOTECH RESEARCH, NOT ONLY IN ITALY BUT THROUGHOUT
THE EUROPEAN UNION. IN A THOROUGH OVERVIEW OF THE STATE OF
BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE EU, DE CASTRO CALLED FOR DRAMATIC
BUDGET INCREASES FOR RESEARCH. HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT
RESEARCH IN BIOTECH NOW
WOULD IN NO WAY PRECLUDE FUTURE
DECISIONS TO LIMIT THE MARKETING OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED
FOODS IN EUROPE.

5. THE AUDIENCE WAS GENERALLY OPEN-MINDED ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE ITALIAN CONTEXT. THE
PROGRAM CONCLUDED WITH A LIVELY DISCUSSION, DURING WHICH
VIRTUALLY ALL PARTICIPANTS - INCLUDING THE NAPLES PRESIDENT
OF LEGAMBIENTE, ITALY'S LARGEST ENVIRONMENTAL NGO - AGREED
THAT THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD PUSH AHEAD WITH INCREASED
RESEARCH IN THE BIOTECH FIELD. DR. MASSIMO PACETTI,
NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE FARMERS' ASSOCIATION, CLOSED THE
MEETING BY CITING THE POTENTIAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE
ITALY'S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, INCREASE FARMERS' INCOMES,
AND REDUCE HARM TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 05973 02 OF 03 131147Z

6. THE PROGRAM WAS COVERED EXTENSIVELY BY LOCAL/REGIONAL
MEDIA INCLUDING "RAI 3," "TELECAPRI," "NATIONAL NETWORK 5
STELLE," "CANALE 21," "IL MATTINO," "ANSA," "IL DENARO," "IL
GIORNALE DI NAPOLI,"AND RADIO CLUB '91." THE LEADING
NATIONAL ECONOMIC DAILY "IL SOLE 24 ORE," "LA STAMPA," AND
THE NATIONAL NETWORK "RAI 1" ALSO PROVIDED STRAIGHT FORWARD
COVERAGE.


7. THE NAPLES PROGRAM MOVED OUR AGENDA FORWARD BY EXPANDING
THE SCOPE OF SCIENCE-BASED BIOTECH DEBATE IN SOUTHERN ITALY,
AN AREA IN WHICH KNOWLEDGE OF U.S. BIOTECH RESEARCH AND
FIELD RESULTS ARE RELATIVELY THIN. CONSULATE NAPLES EXPANDED
ITS RANGE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY CONTACTS IN THE SOUTH, THUS
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR FURTHER "AUDIENCE-BUILDING" IN
FUTURE PROGRAMS.

--------------
PROGRAM IN ROME
--------------


8. BEFORE GOING TO NAPLES, BRESSAN AND CHRISPEELS MET WITH
FAO OFFICIALS, PROF. JOSE ESQUINAS-ALCAZAR, SECRETARY OF THE
COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE,
AND ANDREA SONNINO, SENIOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH OFFICER.
CHRISPEELS MADE A PRESENTATION ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK "PLANTS,
GENES AND CROP BIOTECHNOLOGY" AND ASKED FOR FAO HELP ON
DISTRIBUTING IT TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES UNIVERSITY TEACHERS.


9. ON OCT. 23 EMBASSY ROME ORGANIZED AN OPEN DISCUSSION
MEETING WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT ITALIAN CONSUMERS
ASSOCIATIONS, TRADE UNION REPRESENTATIVES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 05973 02 OF 03 131147Z
NGO'S (GREENPEACE AND WWF). THE THREE SCIENTISTS MADE SHORT
PRESENTATIONS AND A LONG Q AND A SESSION FOLLOWED. IN ROME
THE SPEAKERS MANAGED TO CORRECT FALSE IMPRESSIONS ABOUT
BIOTECHNOLOGY HELD BY MANY CONSUMERS IN ITALY. ONE SIMPLE
BUT IMPORTANT POINT THEY MADE WAS THAT BIOTECH PRODUCTS ARE
CONTROLLED BY PUBLIC AUTHORITIES IN THE U.S. (I.E. THE FDA)
AND THOROUGHLY TESTED BEFORE BEING APPROVED FOR THE MARKET.
THIS CAME AS A SURPRISE TO SOME PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, WHO
WERE CONVINCED THAT DECISIONS ABOUT COMMERCIALIZATION WERE
BASED SOLELY ON RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY THE PRODUCERS
THEMSELVES. POST BELIEVES THAT THE EVENT WAS A SUCCESS: IT
WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT POST ORGANIZED AN EVENT INVITING
STRONG ANTI-GMO REPRESENTATIVES AND ALL THE INVITED PEOPLE
CAME (A VERY RARE EVENT). MOREOVER, EVEN IF SCIENTISTS AND
AUDIENCE DID NOT CHANGE THEIR POSITIONS, THE DEBATE WAS
LIVELY AND FRANK AND LASTED FOR TWO HOURS LONGER THAN
PROGRAMMED.


10. WHILE IN ROME, EMBASSY VATICAN CHARGE ORGANIZED A
LUNCHEON FOR THE THREE EXPERTS, WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
VATICAN FOREIGN MINISTRY, THE PONTIFICAL ACADEMIES AND THE
SANT'EGIDIO COMMUNITY - A VATICAN-RELATED NGO THAT WORKS IN
CONFLICT PREVENTION AND DEVELOPMENT, PRIMARILY IN AFRICA.
CHRISPEEL'S PRESENTATION OF BIOTECH FOOD SAFETY AND THE
APPROPRIATENESS OF USING BIOTECH AS A KEY TOOL IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRY FOOD SECURITY HELPED REINFORCE THE INCLINATIONS OF
THE BIO-ETHICISTS FROM THE PONTIFICAL ACADEMIES. THIS
COMMON PERSPECTIVE ALLOWED EMBASSY VATICAN TO PRESSURE THE

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ3855

PAGE 01 ROME 05973 03 OF 03 131147Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00
DINT-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EXME-00
E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 IO-00 ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01
NSAE-00 NSCE-00 NSF-01 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01
PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00
TRSE-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00
SAS-00 /013W
-------------- 174B85 131225Z /38
P 131142Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7316
USDA WASHDC
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL NAPLES
AMCONSUL FLORENCE

UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 005973

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCIENCE ADVISOR NEUREITER
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL
EB FOR CEKUTA AND SCHONANDER

EB/TPP/ABT FOR DEBBIE MALAC
STATE PASS USTR FOR SLOAN, NOVELLI
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05973 03 OF 03 131147Z
STATE PASS USDA FOR APHIS:SMCCAMMON, USDA/FAS:BLUM
USDA/FAS/ITT:EJONES
USDA/OS/HEGWOOD
STATE PASS FDA FOR EFLAMM
EPA FOR OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR SENV ETRD TBIO EAID SENV ETRD TBIO EAID SENV ETRD TBIO EAID IT ITEAGR ITEAGR
SUBJECT: U.S. SCIENTISTS DESCRIBE BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURE
BIOTECHNOLOGY TO FARMERS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, AND CLERGY

HOLY SEE'S FOREIGN MINISTRY REPRESENTATIVE TO ADOPT A MORE
PROACTIVE SUPPORT OF THE BIOTECH FOODS FOR THE BENEFIT OF
PEOPLE ON THE DEVELOPING WORLD. THE LUNCH EXCHANGE ALSO
ENGAGED THE SANT'EGIDIO COMMUNITY AS A PARTNER ON BIOTECH
FOODS. IT IS NOW FULLY CO
MMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE USG AND
THE HOLY SEE ON HOW BEST TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP
PEOPLE, AND IS HOSTING A BRIEFING TO THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
THE EMBASSY IS ARRANGING DECEMBER 18.

--------------
PROGRAM IN MILAN
--------------


11. PROF. CRISPEELS ENDED HIS TRIP IN MILAN: HE WAS
INTERVIEWED BY "IL SOLE 24 ORE RADIO" AND THE FINANCIAL
DAILY "IL SOLE 24 ORE", AT U.S. CONSULATE IN MILAN. SCIENCE
MAGAZINE "LE SCIENZE" WILL SOON PUBLISH A REVIEW OF HIS
BOOK. PROFESSOR MIRELLA SARI GORLA, PRESIDENT OF THE
ITALIAN SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURAL GENETICS, HOSTED A WORKING
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 05973 03 OF 03 131147Z
LUNCH. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED PROFESSOR CHIARA TONELLI, DR.
ALLESSANDRO VITALE OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, AND DR.
LEONARDO VINGIANI, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF ASSOBIOTECH (TRADE
ASSOCIATION OF BIOTECH COMPANIES). A CRISPEELS' LECTURE AND
Q AND A WITH OVER 100 PROFESSORS AND STUDENTS AT THE
UNIVERSITA STATALE FOLLOWED THE LUNCH.

-------------- --------------
BIOTECH CAN REACH ITALY- BUT WE NEED TO KEEP SENDING THE
MESSAGE
-------------- --------------


12. PROF. CHRISPEELS AND BRESSAN RAISED SEVERAL POINTS
WHICH POST WILL EMPHASIZE IN FUTURE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOI
AND ANTI-GMO'S STAKEHOLDERS.

- IF ITALY BECOMES A GMO-FREE ISLAND IT WILL LACK TRAINED
PERSONNEL AND EXPERTISE TO DEAL WITH EMERGING PLANT DISEASES
AND INSECT PESTS THAT AFFECT ITS PRINCIPAL DOMESTIC AND
EXPORT FOOD CROPS.

- BIOTECH RESEARCH COULD SAVE ENDANGERED ITALIAN TYPICAL
FOOD CROPS.

- BIOTECH WILL REDUCE USE OF PESTICIDES.

- BIOTECH FOODS UNDERGO FAR MORE RIGOROUS SAFETY TESTS THAN
THOSE USED FOR NON-BIOTECH AND "BIOLOGICAL" FOODS.

- WHILE BIOTECH FOODS ARE CREATED BY INSERTING A SINGLE GENE
INTO A PLANT, TRADITIONAL BREEDING MIXES GENETIC MATERIAL IN
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 05973 03 OF 03 131147Z
A COMPARATIVELY UNCONTROLLED WAY WITH LESS PREDICTABLE
RESULTS.

- NEW GENERATION BIOTECH PRODUCTS WILL INCLUDE HEALTHIER AND
NUTRITIONALLY SUPERIOR FOOD (HYPOALLERGENIC, WITH ENHANCED
OMEGA FATTY ACIDS, OR MEDIUM LENGTH CHAINS, WITH VITAMIN A).

- THE USE OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED PLANTS TO PRODUCE
PHARMACEUTICALS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO REDUCE THE COST OF SOME
DRUGS BY 90 PCT PLACING ADVANCED DRUG THERAPIES WITHIN REACH
OF POOR COUNTRIES AND INDIVIDUALS.

- BIOTECH COULD MITIGATE THE LARGE, OFTEN NEGATIVE, IMPACT
ON THE ENVIRONMENT OF AGRICULTURE: LARGER PER HECTARE
YIELDS CAN LEAVE MORE LAND IN FOREST, REDUCE PESTICIDE
DEPENDENCE, AND DROUGHT RESISTANT VARIETIES CAN REDUCE
PRESSURE ON SCARCE WATER SUPPLIES EVEN IN ITALY.

- INCREASED WORLD FOOD DEMAND NEEDS AN INCREASED FOOD
PRODUCTION. BIOTECH OFFERS ONE OF THE MOST PROMISING WAYS TO
INCREASE FOOD PRODUCTION WITHIN PRESENT RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS
(LIMITED WATER AND ARABLE LAND).

- AS PEOPLE GET RICHER THEY TEND TO MOVE FROM A GRAIN-BASED
DIET TO A DIET RICHER IN ANIMAL PRODUCTS SUCH AS MEAT.
BIOTECHNOLOGY COULD PROVIDE THE NECESSARY QUANTITY OF HIGH
QUALITY FEEDS REQUIRED.

SEMBLER

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 05 ROME 05973 03 OF 03 131147Z

UNCLASSIFIED

>
2002ROME05973 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED