A POSITIVE STEP FOR BIOTECH ACCEPTANCE IN HUNGARY

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000267


STATE FOR EB/TPP/BTT JACK BOBO, JFINN
USDA FOR FAS EPORTER, EJONES, DYOUNG, SNENON, GLAIDIG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO KPAO

SUBJECT: A POSITIVE STEP FOR BIOTECH ACCEPTANCE IN HUNGARY

REF: STATE 52602, STATE 160639


1. Summary. In keeping with the U.S. Government's strategy to
publicize the benefits of agricultural biotechnology and take
advantage of the favorable WTO ruling on agbiotech, Mission Hungary
conducted outreach activities primarily focused on American farmers
experience with biotech crops. This program was the third in a
series, since fall 2008, in Hungary. End summary.


2. In March 2009, two farmers from the State of Iowa conducted a
variety of outreach activities throughout Hungary as part of the
regional effort to build interest and confidence in biotech crops in
the EU. The program highlighted the practical experiences American
farmers have had with biotech crops (corn and soybeans),their
reasons for planting biotech crops, and the advantages biotech crops
provide to their farms and to the environment. The outreach program
included meetings with government and business representatives,
agricultural cooperatives, farmers and students.


3. It also follows up on a biotech-related visit by a group of
Hungarian Agricultural Parliamentarians to the United States in
2008, as well as a luncheon held by Ambassador Foley with Hungary's
Parliamentary Agricultural Committee Members. Questions regarding
technological advantages and potential benefits of the next
generation of biotech seeds were of primary interest.


4. In addition to conducting a courtesy visit with Ambassador Foley
in the U.S. Mission, the 2-member team held separate roundtable
discussions with the Grain Producers Association (18 leading grain
producers in Hungary),and a group consisting of the Hungarian Seed
Association, the Scientific Deputy Director of the Agricultural
Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences staff from
the U.S. Mission (10 participants). Representatives from
Hungary's Ministry of Agriculture were invited, but did not attend.
(Comment: At the time of the outreach visit, the EU was voting for
the lifting of Austria and Hungary's ban on the planting of biotech
plants. Given the sensitivity of the issue, Emboffs were told by
contacts that Ministry representatives were not attending the
discussion. End Comment). The team also held meetings with the
President and staff of KITE, a Hungarian agricultural service and
trade corporation (7 participants). The team also traveled to the
northeast region of Hungary and engaged in a discussion with
students at the University of Debrecen (approximately 60
participants). The program was arranged in close cooperation with
the U.S. Mission in Hungary as well as agriculture and university
contacts.


5. The team provided overhead presentations at all of the scheduled
events and allowed extensive time for discussions. They offered
insightful explanations into how American farmers viewed
biotechnology. The most important points of the presentations were
discussions about the benefits to crop management and the
environment, as well as the introduction of new biotech varieties
planned for commercial production. In addition, the team presented
the advantages biotechnology provides to farmers in the United
States in regards to reaching its energy objectives.


6. Most of the outreach discussions focused on the skepticism
Hungarian farmers had about biotechnology, primarily because of the
relatively small size of Hungarian farms which average 3-4 hectares
(7-9 acres). Some Hungarian farmers asserted that they already
produced surplus yields, which they exported to a protected EU
market. Therefore, they didn't need biotechnology. They argued
that increasing yields through biotech would only lead to a much
bigger problem with overproduction and result in lower prices.
However, when the team presented information about the expected
commercial release of drought resistance biotech corn varieties, the
tone of the Hungarian farmers changed and suddenly they showed
significant interest. The Hungarian farmers indicated that they
rely predominately on rain to irrigate their crops and that they
have also experienced extremely hot and dry summers in the past
several years. Thus, a drought resistant biotech corn variety would
certainly be useful in Hungary.


7. One criticism often heard in the discussions was the amount of
biotech misinformation that is prevalent in the public. According
to participants, most of the information available to Hungarians is
about the negative and unscientific side-effects of biotechnology
such as killing of bees and humans. Some even claim that one of the
reasons the United States entered the Balkan war was to spread the
root worm in the region. The team learned that a lot of the
misinformation is being driven by politicians and non-governmental
organizations, who in the words of one participant stated, "these
politicians do not know what they are talking about when it comes to
GMOs, but instead they see it as voting mathematics for the next
election."


8. One important result of the outreach program was the desire for
more information. Many of the outreach participants were surprised
to hear about the benefits biotechnology provided to American
farmers. On the whole, participants appreciated the information
presented by the team. In feedback discussions with participants
and organizers, the team learned that both speakers were viewed as
highly credible. Participants were particularly interested in
hearing more about the next generation of biotech varieties like the
drought resistant biotech corn and the advantages it could provide
to Hungarian farmers. Furthermore, because of the gas energy
problems Hungary experienced with Ukraine and Russia earlier in the
winter, farmers were excited to hear about the successful use of
biotech corn in producing renewable forms of energy such as
bio-ethanol.


9. The visit of the Biotech Team occurred at a sensitive time as
the EU was in the process of voting to lift Austria's and Hungary's
ban on planting biotech crops. Because of this sensitivity, Mission
Hungary carefully designed the activities to be low-key events to
prevent any public backlash against the team's visit. Fortunately,
there were no confrontations with anti-biotech supporters.


10. The Biotech Outreach Team would like to express its continued
appreciation to the Department of State's Office of Agriculture,
Biotechnology and Textile Trade Affairs and to the Office of
Scientific and Technical Affairs and Office of Capacity Building and
Development for their contributions and support.


11. Comment: While skepticism about biotechnology in Hungary
remains strong, continuing such outreach programs, particularly in
challenging misinformation circulated by anti-biotech groups can be
an effective tool. In a country where green biotechnology doesn't
really have a positive image, Mission Hungary believes that the
biotech outreach program is making inroads. As the Deputy Director
of the Hungary's Grain Producers' Association stated, "in my
opinion, it was successful."

LEVINE