PONTIFICAL UNIVERSITY STILL ENGAGED ON BIOTECH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000062 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/WE (LARREA), EB/TPP/ABT (SPIRNAK), EB/TPP/ABT/BTT (JBOBO) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: VT PREL PHUM EAGR SOCI TBIO SUBJECT: PONTIFICAL UNIVERSITY STILL ENGAGED ON BIOTECH REF: (A)05VAT514, (B)VAT15, (C)04VAT3810, (D)03VAT4874, (E)03ROME5205 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) A pro-biotech conference was held at the Regina Apostolorum Atheneum in Rome last week. Two of the three speakers were scientists working in the field of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) and the third was the Cabinet Chief for the Italian Ministry of Environment and Land Protection. The conference focused mainly on GM rice and corn although other crops were discussed. Scientists working in the fields of bioethics and/or GMOs made up the vast majority of the audience and actively participated. While this does not indicate a change in the official posture of the Holy See on this subject, it is worth noting that a Vatican-affiliated institution continues to push for biotech. End summary. -------------- Cancelled Speaker Disappoints -------------- ¶2. (U) The Vatican-affiliated Regina Apostolorum Atheneum sponsored a conference March 27 promoting the use of GMOs, with a focus on GM rice and corn. Monsignor Giampaolo Crepaldi, the scheduled speaker from the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (the nominal lead on the issue at the Holy See) cancelled his appearance, but speakers and commentators from Italy, China, and Regina Apostolorum itself covered a variety of perspectives, delivering a strong pro-biotech message to an audience of students, media representatives, and scientists. -------------- Unexpected Italian support for biotech -------------- ¶3. (U) Professor Bao Rong Lu of China, Professor Francesco Sala of the University of Milan, and Professor Paolo Togni of the Ministry of Environment and Land Protection made strong cases for biotechnology; in both GMO food and other commercial crops. Togni even went as far as to criticize his fellow Italians for their short-sightedness about biotechnology and its future, making the claim that "87% of Italians are worried about GM plants, but only 3% of those who are worried about them know why." (Comment: Togni's comments are surprising for a GOI official. The GOI, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, has been a consistent foe of GM crops. End comment.) Sala covered the standard arguments for biotechnology and cited the work of Sabina Khoza, a farmer from South Africa and a speaker at Embassy Vatican's biotech conference in 2004, as an example of someone who has had great success with Bt maize. His discussion also covered the EU law which allows the sale of GM foods, when properly labeled, but not their cultivation, noting that while Italy is included under this legislation, there are no GM foods being grown or available in the retail chain. It is assumed that some GM products are utilized in Italy by caterers, restaurants, and hotels. -------------- Balanced argument from China -------------- ¶4. (U) Professor Bao Rong Lu discussed projects underway with GM rice in China, and talked about Iran's success in this field. He said Iran has Bt rice available commercially for its consumers, which is one of China's goals. According to Lu, part of the problem with Bt rice cultivation in China is the numerous varieties of wild rice that are genetically similar to commercial varieties. This could lead to cross-pollination and gene flow that would make wild varieties impervious to pesticides and herbicides. While he is clearly pro-biotech, he included examples of what could go wrong and explained the measures that are taken to prevent these things from happening. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) This event was notable as a sign of continuing engagement on GMO food issues by a Vatican-affiliated institution. Regina Apostolorum, run by the Legionaries of Christ, a fast-growing, conservative male religious order, has been an ally on GMO food since the beginning of Post's efforts on this issue in 2001. It boasts an active faculty of bioethics with which we have partnered for several initiatives, including conferences and guest speakers events (reftel d). Particularly effective is moral theologian Fr. Gonzalo Miranda, Dean of the School of Bioethics. Miranda presented a theological framework VATICAN 00000062 002 OF 002 for GMO food at Post's 2004 conference (text available at www.vatican.usembassy.gov),and was a featured speaker at the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace's conference on biotech food that broke new ground at the Vatican on the subject (reftel c). Father Paolo Scarafoni, rector of the university, moderated this event, urging attendees to look at genetically-modified plants from an objective, scientific point of view. While opportunities for progress on the issue may be few and far between in the near future, Post will continue to work with Regina Apostolorum and others to find openings where we can. ROONEY