BOGOTA PROPOSAL FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY OUTREACH FUNDS

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000036 SIPDIS SIPDIS EEB/TPP/ABT/BTT: JOHN FINN AND GARY CLEMENTS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO KPAO PREL CO SUBJECT: BOGOTA PROPOSAL FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY OUTREACH FUNDS REF: STATE 16639 ¶1. SUMMARY: Embassy Bogota proposes an agbiotech outreach program in Colombia for 2008 focused on engaging executive branch officials, legislators, and agricultural industry representatives regarding policy and regulatory issues associated with agbiotech and its benefits as a tool in poverty reduction. While the GOC has generally been favorable to agbiotech and has an adequate regulatory framework, strengthening and reinforcing this approach should be a USG policy priority. Specifically, Colombian Congressional labeling efforts, resistance among some technocrats, and the slow regulatory approval process remain serious concerns. We need to bolster domestic constituencies that share our approach, and help them make the case that a modern agbiotech regime brings social as well as economic benefits to Colombia. END SUMMARY. BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. Colombia's approach to agbiotech has generally been favorable. The country has an established legal framework and approval process for agbiotech crops. The GOC has approved transgenic cotton, blue carnations and select varieties of corn for commercial production, with other crops in the approval process or research stage. Some agricultural institutes continue transgenic research for key crops such as sugarcane, flowers, coffee, and oil palm. Colombia is a major importer of U.S. transgenic corn, and has experienced limited anti-biotech agitation to date. Development of a homegrown agbiotech industry would serve as an important development tool and create a domestic constituency for Colombia to support agbiotech policies in international fora consistent with USG interests. Finally, the Uribe administration has made anti-poverty efforts and rural development significant goals. Demonstrating the links between agbiotech and these goals could help overcome barriers to agbiotech in Colombia. ¶3. Despite Colombia's overall positive environment for agbiotech, some concerns exist. A bill being considered by the Congress could damage agbiotech as it would require that all genetically modified products as well as food and feed products made from genetically modified ingredients to be labeled "transgenic" without additional explanation. Such labeling will give consumers the false impression that there is something wrong with the product and therefore have significant costs to the U.S. and Colombian agbiotech industry. In addition, the Ministry of Environment has argued that agbiotech can create a significant environmental hazard. There also appears to be misunderstanding of the requirements of the Cartagena Protocol, with some regarding it as a reason to oppose agbiotech. Finally, approval of new products by the interagency technical committee continues to be slow and cumbersome with technical personnel from the environment and health ministries often impeding the process. PROPOSAL TO PROMOTE AGBIOTECH DIALOGUE -------------- ¶4. Embassy Bogota believes the most effective program would be an informational exchange, which support the following USG objectives: (1) to stress the global scientific consensus on the safety of agbiotech products, (2) to publicize the benefits of agbiotech as a development tool, and (3) to facilitate opening markets and advocating responsible regulation, including minimizing the trade impact of the Protocol on Biosafety (Cartagena Protocol),and by encouraging trade facilitative guidance in the Codex Alimentarius. ¶5. PROGRAM : Promoting Agbiotech Dialogue DESCRIPTION: A three-day visit by a team of three U.S. agbiotech experts. The team would include individuals who can address the scientific health and environmental aspects of agbiotech, legislative and policy aspects of agbiotech, links between agbiotech research and industry, business and development benefits of agbiotech, and the public perception issues associated with agbiotech. The team would be in Colombia for three working days (with two additional days for travel between the U.S. and Bogota). Experts should be prepared to discuss health and environmental aspects of agbiotech, compare and contrast differences between the U.S. and Colombian legal and regulatory framework for agbiotech, explain the implications of the Cartagena Protocol, discuss how to link the agbiotech scientific research community with the business community and how to build agbiotech research capacity, illustrate business and developmental benefits of agbiotech, and discuss public relations issues associated with agbiotech. Experts will need to be highly credible and, ideally, have at least a working level proficiency in Spanish. SPECIFIC PROGRAM POLICY OBJECTIVES: Reduce possibility of enactment of a law that could harm the U.S. and Colombian agbiotech industry, promote efficient and responsible agbiotech regulation, educate local leaders about the WTO decision against the EU moratorium on biotech product approvals and the implications of the Cartagena Protocol, encourage links between the agbiotech scientific research community and the agbiotech business community and publicize the benefits of agbiotech as a development tool by stressing the poverty alleviation and food security benefits of the reduced inputs and increased yields offered by agbiotech. TARGET AUDIENCE: Congressional and political party leadership, legislators and legislative staff involved in agbiotech issues; Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Environment, Health, Commerce and Trade; regulatory bodies involved in agbiotech; National Technical Committee for Biosafety Issues (NTC-Bio); producer organizations (Asocolflores, Sociedad de Agricultores de Colombia, Asociacion Nacional de Empresarios de Colombia, Federacion Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Asociacion de Cultivadores de Cana de Azucar de Colombia, Federacion Nacional de Cultivadores de Palma de Aceite),and agricultural research institutes (Colombian Agricultural Institute-ICA, Agricultural Research Agency-Corpoica, Cenicafe, Cenicana, Cenipalma, Ceniflores, Intl. Center for Tropical Agriculture); and academic institutions (Univ. Nacional; Javeriana Univ., Univ. de los Andes). LENGTH: Approximately four 2-3 hour roundtable meetings with GOC legislative and executive branch policy officials, agbiotech regulators and producer associations in Bogota over two days; followed by a one day trip to research institutes outside of Bogota, possibly in conjunction with a local agbiotech event; plus one day travel to Colombia and one day return to the U.S. Total five day commitment by speakers. COST: Estimate cost of USD 25,000 to include transportation, accommodation, expenses, and interpretation as follows: Transport. USD 3,750 (USD 1,250 r/t air to Bogota x 3 persons) Local Travel. USD 1,500 (USD 500 r/t within Colombia x 3 persons) Per Diem USD 3,750 (USD 250/day x 3 persons x 5 days) Honorarium USD 3,750 (USD 250/day x 3 persons x 5 days) Interpret. USD 1,500 (USD 500/day x 3 days) Meeting Rooms USD 750 (USD 250/day x 3 days) Misc. USD 1,000 (materials, invitations, etc.) TOTAL USD 16,000 ¶6. PRESS COVERAGE. Post proposes to create radio newsfile op-eds with visiting experts, for distribution throughout Colombia via PAS' radio newsfile distribution and USAID's community radio program to ensure a wide audience. In addition, the op-ed text will be distributed for publication to trade magazines and journals related to the industry. We will also provide individual press opportunities for visitors to engage with reporters familiar with agbiotech issues. ¶7. CONTACT: Point of contact and control officer for proposed programs is Ari Nathan, Economic Section; tel: ( 57-1) 383-2451; fax: ( 57-1) 383-2053; email: nathana@state.gov. Nichols