REPORT ON BIOTECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP IN EGYPT, MARCH 19-21, 2007

UNCLAS CAIRO 001127

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

USDA FOR FAS/OCBD/TSCB/SBEASLEY; OSTA/MABI/ARUDE; OFSO/IOD/RHAGER
STATE FOR NEA/ELA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR
SUBJECT:REPORT ON BIOTECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP IN EGYPT, MARCH 19-21, 2007

REF: CAIRO 05872

Sensitive but unclassified. Not for internet distribution.

1. (U) The Office of Agricultural Affairs (OAA) co-sponsored a
Basics of Biotechnology conference with the Agriculture Genetic
Engineering and Research Institute (AGERI) within Ministry of
Agriculture from March 19-21, 2007. The course focused on providing
general awareness on agricultural biotechnology in Egypt, with an
emphasis on biotechnology research, regulatory policy, technology
transfer and commercialization, and communication.

2. (U) The workshop was the third activity in a sequence of events
that will take place under a 12-month project to expand acceptance
of biotechnology in Egypt and to facilitate inter-ministerial
cooperation in its application and advancement. NOTE: The first
activity was the kick-off of the project in September 2006 (sEE
REFTEL). The second activity consisted of consultations between
ministry officials and a private consultant on procedural guidelines
necessary to establish a national competent authority within the
ministry. End note.

3. (U) The conference lasted three days. More than 100 attendees
from the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Environment, and Foreign
Affairs participated. Topics included global perspectives on
agricultural biotechnology, biotechnology regulation and research
programs in Egypt, international treaties and agreements related to
biotechnology and biosafety, environmental biosafety issues
associated with biotechnology crops, the biotechnology regulatory
system in the United States, and strategies for commercialization of
biotechnology products. World-renown experts demonstrated their
vast knowledge of the subject matter: a presenter from the
Philippines spoke on her countrys approach to accepting
biotechnology; a farmer from India spoke about the many benefits,
especially financial, that his family now receives as a result of
using biotechnology seeds.

4. (SBU) The Ambassador addressed the conference and encouraged
those in attendance to embrace change. He stressed that Egypt is a
great society, and there is one thing that all great societies
throughout history have in common: they welcome change and use it as
a tool to their benefit. The Minister of Agriculture and the
Minister of Environment also gave remarks to the assembly. NOTE:
Though the Minister of Agriculture gave an upbeat, progressive
speech in favor of biotechnology, the Minister of Environment was
less enthusiastic, infusing a sense of negativity throughout his
remarks by emphasizing the importance of working at a slow pace to
protect the environment. His remarks demonstrated his lack of
awareness of the current biotech situation in Egypt.

Ricciardone