RESULTS OF SENIOR SCEINCE ADVISOR AND SCIENCE

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000044

SIPDIS

STATE FOR MADELYN SPIRNAK
USDA FOR KITTY CARDWELL


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAGR ETRD TBIO SENV TSPL GT
SUBJECT: RESULTS OF SENIOR SCEINCE ADVISOR AND SCIENCE
FELLOW VISIT ON BIOTECH ISSUES.

REF: 05 GUATEMALA 2342


1. As per reftel, the visit of Senior Science Advisor
Madelyn Spirnak and work of Embassy Science Fellow Kitty
Cardwell on educating the GOG and the local scientific
community on biotechnology use in agriculture were very
productive. One positive result was that biotechnology
legislation that lacked broad scientific input and had the
potential to be problematic for trade and research has been
put on hold for further investigation.


2. After a Congressional review of the proposed biotech
law, it was felt that too many changes were needed to simply
amendment the document. Congress instead plans to re-write
the entire piece of legislation in it 2006 session. Some
feel that a complete re-write will open the door to special
interest groups that oppose biotechnology to try and defeat
the bill. However, others are assured that the scientific
community that supports biotechnology is now better equipped
to defend its benefits and write a better legislative
proposal.

Derham