POLAND: SENIOR ADVISOR FOR AGRICULTURAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 WARSAW 000107

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/NCE DKOSTELANCIK, MSESSUMS DEPT FOR E, G; EB
FOR MSPIRNAK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO SENV ETRD EAGR KSCA ECIN PL
SUBJECT: POLAND: SENIOR ADVISOR FOR AGRICULTURAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY SPIRNAK'S MEETINGS WITH GOP OFFICIALS AND
ACADEMIA

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION


1. (SBU) Summary. Senior Advisor for Agricultural
Biotechnology Madelyn Spirnak visited Warsaw on November 29
and 30, 2005 to discuss the USG position on genetically
modified organisms (GMO's),with GOP officials, members of
the academic community, and the media. While the current GOP
and much of Polish society express serious concerns about
transgenic plants, these attitudes appear to reflect the
perceived European view on the subject, and are not based on
negative experience or scientific data. Spirnak was
encouraged by some ministerial employees' and professors'
positive views of genetic engineering, though this was
tempered by the message that much work would be needed to
reverse mainstream negative opinion. One conclusion in
particular was very clear: The GMO issue is currently driven
by public opinion, and political and social tactics are
necessary to win over decision makers and the public.

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Views from the Academy of Science
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2. (SBU) Spirnak first met with six scientists and experts
whose research deals with plant genetics. This discussion,
like Spirnak's others, focused on genetically modified
plants, not animals. All of the scientists present lamented
the fact that several years ago Polish society accepted the
idea of GMO's, but that now 70% of the Polish public rejected
them as potential sources of food and for use in agriculture.
Furthermore, the scientists expect no change in this
attitude in the near future. In their opinion, GMO advocates
must focus on the potential benefits to consumers, not to
producers, in swaying public opinion.


3. (SBU) The scientists also said that a new law governing
GMO's is currently being considered in Parliament, and that
all future approaches to the issue must reflect EU policy and
also the general EU attitude on the subject. One scientist
noted that part of the opposition to GMO's in Poland stemmed
from the fact there is no starvation in Polish society, so
why introduce transgenic food crops? On the other hand,
Poles do not oppose the use of GMO's in medicine, because
this leads to cheaper drugs. The scientists reasoned that a
campaign focused on the potential lower cost of foods made
with GMO's would resonate with average Poles. The group also
pointed out that GMO's are generally produced and marketed by
large corporations. This fact does not play well with the
Polish public, and especially with small farmers, who are
wary of large corporations encroaching on a market that is
perceived to be traditionally within the domain of small
business.

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The Ministries: Neutrality Among the Experts, Public Opinion
Reigns
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4. (SBU) Spirnak also visited the Ministries of Environment
and Agriculture for the GOP view. In Environment, Acting
Deputy Director of Environmental Protection Anna Liro
(previous IV program participant) stated that science plays
the central role in the run up to policy formulation in the
lower levels of the Ministry, but that ultimately the
Minister, when issuing statements and decisions, takes
opinion and politics into consideration. Liro also stressed
that Poland's focus in the area of GMO policy is
harmonization with the EU. In fact, the GOP is currently
drafting legislation to bring Poland into EU compliance in
the areas of labeling and traceability. Included in this
legislation is language stating the GOP officials must
develop coexistence regulations. The legislation, which
requires Parliamentary approval, is still working its way
through administrative clearances. Liro could not predict
when the legislation might finally be sent to Parliament.


5. (SBU) In the Ministry of Agriculture, Spirnak met with the
new Undersecretary of Agriculture responsible for
biotechnology, Lech Rozanski. Rozanski stressed that Polish
public opinion is against the use of GMO's, and that the GOP
must yield to public opinion, Therefore, the GOP is
contemplating regulations that might be even more stringent
than current EU versions, including bans on both food
(including use in processed food) and feed. Rozanski went on
to explain that Polish food products are viewed in the EU as
healthy and natural, and are competitive in their current
state. Use of GM seeds could threaten this perception, and
thus Poland's place in the market. When Spirnak and Embassy
Agricultural Counselor noted that such an approach would be
of great concern to the U.S. and would be contrary to EU as
well as WTO commitments, Rozanski backed off and said that
Poland must comply with EU and international commitments
(Note: Rozanski softened this message further at a subsequent
meeting that Agricultural Counselor attended).


6. (SBU) Rozanski also explained that several months ago
Poland submitted a letter to the European Commission
requesting EC approval for a two-year moratorium on the
import and planting of 16 GMO seed varieties that for
agronomic reasons can not be grown in Poland. The GOP is
still waiting for an answer in this matter.

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Informed Polish Students Voice Concern, But No Visceral
Opposition
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7. (U) Spirnak made a presentation at the highly regarded
Warsaw Agricultural University (SGGW),the institution that
trains many of Poland's future leaders in agriculture and
agricultural policy. The lecture was very well attended (by
100 students approximately) and the SGGW students were very
familiar with the issues surrounding GMO's. During the Q&A
session, students were cautious but not overtly opposed to
GMO's. They asked questions that covered topics ranging from
food safety and GMO's to the potential for GMO producing
countries to "dump" food into the EU market. In general, the
students seemed to approach the subject objectively, although
they have obviously been influenced by the overriding
negative European attitude toward GMO's.


8. (U) Spirnak's second lecture took place at the American
Studies Center at Warsaw University. Approximately 20
students and faculty attended the lecture. Again, the
students did not openly object to the idea of consuming GMO's
but did reflect the typical European mistrust surrounding the
issue. They asked about the purpose of altering the genetic
structure of food, in what is essentially a "if it's not
broken don't fix it" argument that is commonly made in Poland.

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Root Causes of the Opposition
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9. (SBU) Spirnak discussed the lack of Polish public support
for GMO's during a meeting with Robert Gabarkiewicz, Monsanto
Representative. Gabarkiewicz said that 10% of Polish farmers
produce 80% of the food consumed in the Polish market. These
farmers support GMO's because they lead to higher crop yields
and greater profits. However, the 90% of Polish farmers who
produce 20% of the food are adamantly opposed because they
are reliant on (or seeking to qualify for) EU funds under the
Common Agricultural Policy. These farmers run very small
scale operations and see the more tangible value of subsidies
outweighing the longer-term benefits of GMO's. Since this
segment of the Polish population numbers in the millions,
their potential votes are a strong driver of policy
decisions. Gabarkiewicz also stated that soybeans are
imported into Poland each year, mainly from Argentina and
Brazil, for use in the feed industry. These beans are
certainly genetically modified, so there are GM products that
regularly enter Poland for feed use.


10. (SBU) Spirnak's last meeting was with Slawomir Zagorski,
a reporter from Gazeta Wyborcza, the newspaper with the
largest circulation in Poland. Zagorski, also the paper's
Science Editor, lent a sympathetic ear to Spirnak, and
recounted that he had written a story on GMO's recently,
following a visit to the U.S. sponsored by the Department of
Agriculture. In the aftermath of publication, Zagorski was
accused of being an "agent" for Monsanto who had taken bribes
to write a story portraying GMO's positively. Although he is
still interested in the subject, he explained, he simply can
not write another story on GMO's right now, given the deeply
negative public reaction to his last story.

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Summary: Fact, Fiction, and Reversing Public Opinion
-------------- --------------


11. (SBU) Two themes emerged during Spirnak's visit, one
concerning Polish society and the other the Polish
government. First, most of the Polish public not directly
involved in agriculture or politics does not really feel a
strong attachment to either side of the GMO argument. The
average Pole takes a mildly negative view of GM food, but
this attitude seems to have percolated up from certain
segments of the Polish countryside, and from anti-GMO
interest group activity throughout Europe. While they have
no firm experience on which to base their opinions, many
Poles simply believe that GMO's are ptentially dangerous and
that they are unnecessary. They believe there is already too
much food crop production in the EU, and that GM food
products simply can not compare to their "natural"
counterparts in terms of taste and nutritional value. We
also heard continually that people can live with choice, but
want to know through labeling if they are consuming GM
products.


12. (SBU) Second, it was clear that experts in the ministries
approach the GMO issue using science as their principal tool.
On the other hand, their superiors, those at the policy
level, grant greater weight to public opinion. This is
troublesome since the current government was elected with
overwhelming support from small farmers in rural Poland and
this voting bloc is traditionalist in worldview. These two
facts indicate that a significant portion of voters will
likely remain opposed to GMO use in Poland, at least until
commercially beneficial GM seed is available to Polish
farmers.


13. (SBU) Given discussions within academia and with other
pro-biotech actors, our strategy to influence a more positive
public attitude toward bioengineered crops should focus on
consumer benefits and the positive effects GMO's could have
in reducing the costs of food and medicine. Our efforts also
should focus on the positive environmental impact GMO's
provide via reduced pesticide and herbicide use and
encouraging reduced-till practices. In the days ahead, it is
vital to work with the GOP officials to prevent the
imposition of a proposed two-year moratorium on GM seeds and
to influence the drafting of future coexistence and liability
regulations, with the hope of ensuring that they are not so
restrictive as to prevent the commercial use of GM seed in
Poland. The gradual introduction of GM crops for feed use
(in contrast to direct human consumption) could eventually
soften public opposition to other GMO uses. Imported GM
feeds already are being used in Poland, thus this bridge has
already been crossed.


14. (U) Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology Madelyn
Spirnak cleared this cable.
ASHE